Freight

The consultation paper noted that the Scottish Parliament’s Net Zero Emission Transport (NZET) Committee recommended reconsideration of wider policy on the provision of freight capacity on Scottish ferry routes and the point at which profitable businesses should no longer be reliant on public subsidy of their freight costs.

For many respondents, the overriding issues were that any approach should not increase costs in a way that undermines local businesses and, by extension, the local economy, or result in even higher prices for island residents. Given its critical role, it was suggested that the ferry service should not be viewed as a profit-generating enterprise but as warranting a level of public subsidy that ensures the long-term viability of freight ferry services.

While there was occasional support for the status quo, most respondents were looking for some form of increased public subsidy for freight, with the most frequently made point that RET fares should apply to freight. Associated points included that this would bring significant economic and social benefit, including because high supply costs for businesses act as a brake on business development. Some respondents also addressed the consultation’s reference to profitable businesses, including by suggesting that some businesses are only profitable because subsidised ferry fares enable them to compete with companies on the mainland.