SNP MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Alasdair Allan, has welcomed confirmation that government funding has been allocated in this year’s budget for a new vessel to replace MV Lord of the Isles, the main CalMac vessel serving Lochboisdale in South Uist. 

Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop was speaking at a ferries summit today in South Uist, which was organised by the South Uist Business Impact Group. She confirmed that with the money set aside this year for the vessel’s replacement, procurement could potentially be undertaken over this summer. This follows community engagement and consultation on vessel design which has already taken place over recent months. 

Commenting, Alasdair Allan said:

“The news from Fiona Hyslop today that money has been allocated to replace MV Lord of the Isles is a vote of confidence in ferry services from Lochboisdale.

“Disruption across the network since January this year has been particularly difficult for the communities of Barra and South Uist, and it will be a great relief once the remaining five major vessels still being completed join the fleet over the coming year or so, significantly strengthening CalMac services’ resilience and capacity.

“However, clearly we must keep pace with investing in and replacing our vessels, and I so am pleased that, as well as the ten new small vessels now about to be built, that the procurement process can soon also begin for the MV Lord of the Isles’ replacement.

“This was one of the asks of the South Uist Business Impact Group going into today’s meeting with the Cabinet Secretary, as well as the establishment of a resilience fund for local businesses affected by disruption. It was very encouraging to see the Scottish Government meeting both of these requests so comprehensively today.”

SNP MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Alasdair Allan, has welcomed yesterday afternoon’s announcement from the Scottish Government that a resilience fund will be established to support island businesses. The support will assist island businesses with the impact of challenges such as travel disruption locally.

The details of the fund’s operation will be discussed today at a meeting of the South Uist Business Impact Group, which will be attended by the Western Isles’ MSP Alasdair Allan and Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop, who is undertaking a range of engagements locally this week.

Commenting, Alasdair Allan said:

“I welcome this announcement from the Transport Secretary on this additional support for our islands, particularly as local businesses and residents in Uist endure another challenging period where the effects of the wider network resilience are significantly affecting them.

“While I think everyone would agree that a consistent, reliable ferry service from every port is what islanders want and need, the disruption caused in recent weeks and months by a number of major vessels being out of service simultaneously have again highlighted the lack of resilience in the network at present, until the new vessels are in service.

“This initial £4.4m in funding, being put in place for island businesses in areas and sectors of most acute need, is an important step forward in the Scottish Government’s continued support for our islands’ economy. This is in addition to the existing 100% rates relief for island hospitality businesses, which I know has been hugely helpful for many enterprises locally, and also the further financial support included in the Islands Cost Crisis Emergency Fund since 2022.

“I look forward to today’s meeting with stakeholders in South Uist where more of the detail of the resilience funding will be discussed.”

702,000 FUNDED PRESCRIPTIONS DISPENSED BY NHS WESTERN ISLES LAST YEAR - SAVING HOUSEHOLDS AN AVERAGE OF OVER £400

With this week marking the 14^th anniversary of prescription charges being scrapped by the SNP Scottish Government, Alasdair Allan MSP has highlighted that the policy saves the average household in Scotland over £400 a year.

Latest figures from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) show that over 113 million prescriptions (including 702,020 by NHS Western Isles) were dispensed in Scotland in 2023/24 – meaning that on average people in Scotland received 20.8 prescriptions free of charge last year.

Based on the £9.90 charge per prescription item currently in place in England, the average household in Scotland saved £436.72 in 2023/24 because of the policy.

In one of his first acts as Scottish Tory leader, Russell Findlay outlined his plans to re-introduce charges if he ever came to power – a move which would cost each person £206 per year on average.

A report by Trussell Trust last year showed that in England, 68% of working households receiving Universal Credit have gone without essentials such as prescription medication due to the costs involved.

Isles MSP Alasdair Allan said:

“The SNP is proud to have abolished prescription charges in Scotland, ensuring that everyone across the Western Isles has access to the medication they require based on their needs rather than the ability to pay.

“The SNP believe that healthcare should be free at the point of use for everyone. Prescription charges, which Russell Findlay plans to re-introduce, are nothing more than a tax on ill health.

“In the face of soaring energy bills, which were allowed to rise again yesterday despite Labour’s election promise to bring them down, people in the Western Isles are still living through a cost-of-living crisis - making it more important than ever that they can access the medical treatment they need without worrying about the cost.

”With Labour continuing to hint at an increased level of private healthcare involvement in the NHS, only the SNP can be trusted to put the people of Na h-Eileanan an Iar first and protect them from having to pay for their vital medication.”

ENDS

Notes:

The SNP Scottish Government has extended eligibility for the Pension Age Disability Payment to the Western Isles and 12 other local authority areas, ahead of its national rollout as the 15^th devolved Social Security payment on 22^nd April. 

The new payment is for people of State Pension age living with disabilities or long-term health conditions, taking a fairer and more respectful approach than the existing UK-wide Attendance Allowance, which (for example) only classes people as terminally ill if they are expected to live for 12 months or less.  

The PADP automatically entitles the terminally ill to the highest level of payment, regardless of how long they are expected to live. The payment, which is not means-tested, will be worth between £290 and £434 a month, increasing to between £295 and £441 a month from 1 April 2025.   

Commenting, SNP MSP Alasdair Allan said:

“Despite the UK Labour government’s spate of cruel decisions, such as cutting the Winter Fuel Payment and slashing PIP provision, the Scottish Government is doing all it can to mitigate against these cuts and delivering the financial support that our older disabled people deserve. 

“I welcome the rollout of the Pension Age Disability Payment to the Western Isles, particularly with the change that terminally ill people are automatically entitled to the highest level of payment, regardless of estimations about life expectancy – a marked change from Westminster's Attendance Allowance.

“This new benefit marks another step forward in the SNP Government’s commitment to creating a fairer, more compassionate social security system tailored to the needs of the people in the Western Isles, with the principles of dignity, fairness, and respect at its heart.

"I urge all those in the Outer Hebrides who think they may be eligible to apply today.” 

https://www.gov.scot/news/pension-age-disability-payment-opens-for-applications-in-13-local-authority-areas/