Sir,
The views expressed by Archie Harper and Dr David Wilson in their letters of 20th April, go a long way to explain the SNP / Dr Allan's complete failure to effectively intervene in the issue of the appalling air services to these islands, and indeed on the issue of Cal Mac.
It appears that the SNP, if represented by the views of these two correspondents, asserts that the appalling services and constant failures of private companies such as Flybe / Loganair, operating air services to the islands is not an issue that the SNP government can or should intervene in. They are seemingly powerless to do so as these companies are private companies.
Such a position beggars belief, but also finally answers the question many of us has pondered over as to why Dr Allan has sat back for so long and done almost nothing to remedy the situation.
I would like to remind both correspondents that whilst Flybe might be a private company the public own HIAL, out of whose airports they run, and the public own the air routes themselves.
This also of course has huge and serious ramifications in the debate about Cal Mac and privatisation. If SERCO win the tender to operate the Clyde and Western Isles ferry routes, will the SNP then say that Serco is a private company and if its services are poor, the government have no right or ability to intervene?
Kowtowing attitudes to big business might be writ large in the SNP's manifesto when it comes to tax, but it is also dominant in their transport policy as well, and that is very damaging for these islands.
It is now clear -
Peter Urpeth
6a New Street
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Isle of Lewis
Letter: SNP "failing" on island transport services
22 April 2016