Throughout the ferries debacle which has consumed so many millions of pounds, not to mention column inches, there appeared to be one small light at the end of the pier – the certainty of reform in how this disrespectful, failed orgy of incompetence is organised.
We had the Scottish Government’s word for this, backed up by a few millions in consultants’ fees. These may have been a mere bagatelle in the great scheme of things – I’m told the repair bill for a single aged ferry is currently running at £14 million – but enough to persuade the innocent of serious intent that something better might come out the other end.
In March 2021, the Scottish Government appointed Ernst & Young, whose services don’t come cheap, “to undertake an independent review of ferry governance arrangements among the tripartite of Transport Scotland, Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd and David MacBrayne Ltd” aka CalMac. It even had an exciting name – Project Neptune.
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In September 2022, after much delay, the then Transport Minister, Jenny Gilruth, made a statement at Holyrood. She was going to “consider some of the learnings from Project Neptune” and all sorts of other soothing platitudes, before returning with an answer. Ms Gilruth is long gone but now we have the answer. Nothing is going to change.
This week – more than another two years having drifted by – the Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, Rhoda Grant, asked when the Scottish Government “expects to announce proposals for future governance arrangements for Hebrides and Clyde ferry services,........