Question reference: S5W-32862
- Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 28 October 2020
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Current status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 3 December 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-25788 by Paul Wheelhouse on 8 November 2019, when it plans to start working with trade unions organising Scotland’s ferry workers to build the legal case for making a direct award of the next Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract to an in-house operator.
Answer
Humza Yousaf’s Statement to Parliament of 24 May 2018 confirmed that the Scottish Ministers would continue to build a case for making a direct award to an in-house operator that satisfies both the application of the Teckal exemption and the State aid rules, well in advance of the existing Clyde and Hebrides contract ending in 2024.
We have discussed this with the Unions and we will engage with them proactively on this issue, in advance of this work being taken forward in earnest.