Scottish Parliament's Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee hear from Shetland and Orkney

London, 17 April/GNN/ -- News Release issued by The Scottish Parliament on 17 April 2008 Ferries are vital to national transport links. This is why the Scottish Parliament's Transport, Infrastructu

Committee Convener Patrick Harvie MSP said:

"The issue of ferry services in Scotland is understandably of significant
interest to the population of the Shetland and Orkney islands in terms of
their economy, tourism and environment. The Committee want to hear about
everything from the frequency, cost and availability of ferries to how they
fit in with local transport links.

"We think it is important that local people in Lerwick and Shetland have
a chance to see and hear first-hand the Committee's inquiry in action. We
are also keen to hear the views of ferry users in the Orkney Islands which
is why we plan to hear from a range of local community groups who use both
internal and external ferry services, regional transport partnerships and
local authorities serving both Orkney and Shetland."

Public Meeting
If you would like to attend the meeting please call the Parliament's Public
Information Office on 0131 348 5411. You would then collect your tickets on
the day from Lerwick Town Hall where the meeting will open at 1.30pm.

Fact finding visits
The Committee will spend a second day island-hopping round the Shetland Isles
smaller islands using the internal ferries. They hope these mini-fact finding
trips talking to ferry users and staff will further inform their inquiry.

Background
As part of the committee's inquiry a public meeting has already taken place
in Oban, while individual committee members have conducted fact-finding trips
to Dunoon, Gourock and Arran. Members will also hold discussions via video
link with groups from Lewis, Barra, Tiree and Uist on 22 April and hope to
visit Mallaig on 20 May.

Further updates on the progress of the Committee's inquiry will appear on
the Committee's homepage on the Scottish Parliament website. The Committee
hopes to publish a report by Summer 2008.

Further details are available on the Parliament website at The
Scottish Parliament - Committees -Transport, Infrastructure and Climate
Change. Information on the Committee's inquiry can be found here:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/s3/committees/ticc/inquiries/FerryInquiryHome.htm

The contact for members of the media is:
Ann Donald: 0131 348 5605 RNID TypeTalk calls welcome
Email: ann.donald@scottish.parliament.uk

For specific Committee information contact:
Steve Farrell: 0131 348 85211 RNID TypeTalk calls welcome
Email: steve.farrell@scottish.parliament.uk

For public information enquiries, contact:
0131 348 5000; Textphone: 0131 558 7676, RNID Type talk calls welcome
Email: sp.info@scottish.parliament.uk
Visit our website at: www.scottish.parliament.uk

Source: Scottish Parliament

2008-04-17 19:12:57 0339285 PRNEWSWIRE