Rhoda Grant: Progress on flights at Wick is to be welcomed
Holyrood Notebook by Rhoda Grant
Just after the election in July, I caught up with Caithness Chamber of Commerce and asked about progress with the Public Service Obligation to reintroduce flights from Wick airport after their collapse last year.
As a result, I wrote to the Scottish and UK governments and this month received a belated reply from the Westminster Aviation Minister, Robert Courts.
I had originally written to Michael Gove, as UK Secretary for Levelling Up, as he visited the Highlands for a meeting with Lib-Dem MP Jamie Stone and had professed an interest in hospitality and connectivity, albeit broadband connectivity and not connectivity by air routes.
Given the Tories' promises about levelling up, I was sure Mr Gove would find a pocket of cash to help the chamber and Highland Council achieve their PSO – a form of permitted state aid which maintains scheduled air services on routes vital for economic development of regions – to bring back Wick to Aberdeen and Edinburgh flights.
But Mr Gove didn’t seem keen on shaking the magic money tree for the far north and passed me to Mr Courts.
The minister outlined the Department of Transport policy only covers a PSO to protect London routes in danger and his department would not contribute funding towards Wick routes as it was the Scottish Government’s responsibility.
He did add that his department had been working with Highland Council to secure local funding for the route.
How very disappointing. I’m not sure there are local pots of cash hidden down the back of the sofa, and also the local Tories are expert at talking a good game – but where is their Westminster government support where it is most needed?
I see that airlines are now being asked to bid for the Wick routes and I do hope that goes well and that there is enough money to keep this vital service in the air.
On a connected note, I welcome that strike action over air traffic control plans has been suspended due to talks between Highlands and Islands Airports and the Prospect union.
However, I am still concerned about the downgrading of Wick and Benbecula airports, especially with offshore developments around Caithness and Sutherland and the need to make Wick more attractive for air travel and inward investment.
Meanwhile, with the launch of Lib-Dem MSP Liam McArthur’s Assisted Dying Member’s Bill, I have received letters from constituents asking my views.
I sat on a previous health committee considering similar legislation and had the opportunity to scrutinise the arguments. I voted against previous bills and, while I will listen to the arguments again, I have not heard anything that has changed my mind.
It became clear to me that what was required was a right to palliative care, something sadly missing in Scotland today, and I have continued to work on ensuring that everyone has a right to die at home with appropriate palliative care.
At the start of the pandemic, it became clear very different values were placed on lives. Disabled and older people were being actively persuaded to sign “Do Not Resuscitate” forms and there was a general understanding that they would not be admitted to hospital for life-saving care if they contracted Covid-19.
Therefore, as a society, I do not believe we have the underlying values that would protect the most vulnerable if such legislation were enacted.
- Rhoda Grant is a Labour MSP for the Highlands and Islands.