Clean bill of health for island ferry services welcome – Reid

3.46.00pm GMT Wed 28th Oct 2009

Commenting on the report by the European Commission which concluded that the tendering process for the CalMac island ferry services was within EU state aid rules, Liberal Democrat MP for Argyll and Bute, Alan Reid said: “This report gives a clean bill of health to the tendering process for the island routes undertaken by the 2003-07 Scottish Executive.

“It demonstrates that Liberal Democrats in Government managed to preserve and expand ferry services, while conforming to complicated EU rules.Alan Reid MP: Argyll & Bute

“The EU have accepted the SNP Government’s decision to launch a tender for the Dunoon-Gourock route later this year with the successful operator taking over from CalMac before June 2011.

“The SNP must now commit to a tendering process for the Gourock to Dunoon route which will result in an unrestricted passenger and vehicle service on that route.”