The Scottish Parliament’s rural economy committee will take evidence from shipping company, Cal Mac, on the delivery of the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services
Martin Dorchester, chief executive, and Robbie Drummond, finance director, of Cal Mac’s parent company, David MacBrayne’s will appear before MSPs on Wednesday.
The ferry firm is is wholly owned by the Scottish Government.
The Scottish Government also determines policies and proposals for the development of Scotland’s domestic ferry services.
Committee members are likely to ask the pair how they intend to increase passenger and vehicle traffic by the targetted 10% and commercial traffic by 12% over the course of the contract.
Scottish Parliament to quiz Cal Mac bosses
23 January 2017
They will be keen to find out what impact would a failure to meet their own growth targets have on taxpayer support for CalMac services?
The timescale for introducing smart ticketing on CalMac services will be requested.
Cal Mac will be pressed to give details on its plans to increase local employment opportunities, especially the creation of more apprenticeship opportunities.
The sessions comes in the middle of a winter when South Uist has been left without a ferry service for long periods. Presently the MV Lord of the Isles is out of service for essential repairs with no relief vessel available.