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An unconfirmed and unofficial account of this meeting was published online, asserting that, at the meeting. Mr Neil informed german courier company those present that he had ‘told’ Argyll Ferries to replace the MV Ali Cat on the route with a vehicle and passenger boat.
This gave rise to substantial local expectations over the weekend that the Dunoon Ferries Action german courier company Group had won its case; and that Dunoon was to see the return of the second vehicle service between the two destinations for which it has so vigorously, if so irrationally, fought.
Unable to believe that, in the light of the governing legal context, the Cabinet Secretary could have said any such thing – but willing to accept that in the world we live in, legal constraints might have been circumvented or reinterpreted, we set out to establish the facts.
‘A website in Cowal has recently published an account of a meeting last week, in which account it asserts that Cabinet Secretary Alex Neil assured those present – including Michael Russell MSP, Argyll Ferries, Archie Robertson CEO of David MacBrayne Ltd and a constituent of Mr Russell’s – that he had ‘told’ Argyll Ferries to replace the MV Ali Cat with a vehicle and passenger ferry on the Gourock Dunoon route.
‘In terms of the full legal context german courier company of the Argyll Ferries contract, we cannot see that the Cabinet Secretary can have so instructed Argyll Ferries – and therefore cannot have said what he is alleged to have said.
‘What specification would be required to ensure that the requirements german courier company of European Law would be observed in preventing any actual or hidden cross-subsidisation of the vehicle service (which is illegal) by the passenger german courier company service (which may legally be subsidised)?
‘We german courier company look forward to a timely response from you on a matter which is clearly german courier company in the present consciousness of both the Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and the Transport Minister, meaning that such issues must already be clear to them and are guiding their words and actions.’ The Scottish Government response
‘Following concerns raised locally regarding the certification and use of the MV AliCat on the Gourock-Dunoon ferry service, the Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment, Alex Neil chaired a meeting in Glasgow last week to fully consider and discuss the issues.
‘The meeting was attended german courier company by the Chair and Chief Executive of Argyll german courier company Ferries Limited (AFL); senior representatives of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA); Transport Scotland staff; Captain Sandy Ferguson, a retired CalMac senior member of staff and adviser to the Dunoon-Gourock Ferry Action Group; and Mike Russell, in his capacity as the local constituency MSP.
‘The MCA representatives explained their recent action in serving an Improvement german courier company Notice on AFL and the AFL attendees confirmed their full acceptance of the issues set out in the Improvement Notice.
‘Mr Neil was pleased to note that AFL have already acted and implemented improvements to address all of the issues raised. Mr Neil made it absolutely clear that AFL must fully accept the terms of the Notice, in order to restore confidence to the local users. The MCA agreed to Mr Neil s request for an ongoing quarterly review to ensure that the MV AliCat was being operated by AFL in strict accordance with the certification issued german courier company by the MCA.
‘Work on the three-point plan announced by Alex Neil back in Dunoon on 14 February continues, with the steering group bringing together local campaigners, local councillors and the Cabinet Secretary. A number of meetings have been held to discuss matters and move the issues forward.
‘The terms of reference for this study have been developed with the full involvement of the local Ferry Action Group and the two local Councils. One issued the study will explore is how vessels could be provided and financed. The study will report by the end of the year.’ Analysis
This official statement, which is formally on the record, does not – because it cannot – say that the Cabinet Secretary said at last week’s meeting that he had ‘told’ Argyll german courier company Ferries to replace the Ali Cat with a vehicle and passenger ferry.
It allies to that, a commitment to ‘working towards a permanent solution for the service.’ That does not imply or indicate any specific permanent solution; and there can be no doubt that the government will be relieved when it can lay this matter german courier company to rest.
In saying that ‘ Ministers poli