Thanks to On The Wight reader, David Jones, who got in touch to let us know that Isle of Wight MP Andrew Turner had this week raised the issue cuts in ferry services in Parliament.
According to Hansard, Andrew Turner asked, “Wightlink, the largest ferry company serving the Isle of Wight, has recently axed all overnight services on one route and reduced them on others. Although it does not affect tourism, these are lifeline services for islanders. In 2009, a market study found that the threshold to involve the Competition Commission had been reached, but it was decided not to make a referral. Will the Leader of the House arrange for a statement to be made on what alternative remedies might be available?”
“No public service obligation,” says Lansley
He received the following response from Leader of the House of Commons, Andrew Lansley, “I know that my hon. Friend has been in correspondence on this matter, because we have discussed it with our right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, and I know that he is also in correspondence with the Department for Transport. Without going into detail, let me say that there is no opportunity to intervene over any lack of competition in relation to these services. From the Department for Transport point of view, neither is there a case for a public service obligation. I will ask both Departments to meet him in order to discuss the service as a whole and what the Government’s relationship to it might be.”
Working with Trades Union
As some may know, Andrew Turner met with representatives of the Isle of Wight Trades Union on Friday (11th January).
Steve Butler from IW Trades Union reports to On The Wight the outcome of the meeting. It was agreed that “the Ferry service cuts instigated by “WightLink” should be re-instated. That would give more opportunity for people to work in Mainland employment and also enable Islanders to have more access to Mainland venues for social occasions.”
They urged the MP to seek talks with Government Departments to obtain some form of subsidies for inward investment that is needed to enable companies to set up businesses.
Impact on business and employment
They feel that the, “high cost of ferry services is a barrier in bringing materials to the Island and then returning any finished product to the Mainland. This is extremely important for the provision of employment now and also in the long term. We are mindful that profits made by “WightLink” were £8.6m up to Dec 2012.”
The IW Trades Union also say they are willing to form a delegation with the Solent Ferry Users Group (SFUG), Chamber of Commerce and if interested the IW Council to meet any Minister or Secretary of State to achieve their objectives.
Image: TomBream07 under CC BY 2.0
