<html>
<head>
<meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8">
</head>
<body>
<i>From Liam McArthur MSP:</i><br>
As I discussed on BBC Radio Orkney this morning, the establishment
of a ferries task force is welcome but it is not the first such task
force to be launched by this Scottish Government.<br>
Former Transport Minister, Humza Yousaf made a similar pledge to
people in Orkney back in 2018. It rarely met, had no real
ministerial input and went the same way as SNP pledges on RET.<br>
Given the importance of these lifeline service, that can’t be
allowed to happen again. If Mr Swinney is serious about wanting to
find a resolution to this long running saga, he can’t simply
announce and retreat.<br>
He must stay the course and make clear to his officials that he
expects to see this task force agree such a plan for delivering the
new ferries that are urgently needed. Orkney’s island communities
need and deserve nothing less.<br>
Listen to my interview on Around Orkney here:
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001gmn7">https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001gmn7</a>.<br>
<br>
<br>
</body>
</html>