The Na h-Eileanan An Iar SNP branch has secured a debate on current flight and subsidy arrangements in Scotland at the SNP’s national conference in Aberdeen next month.

The branch, urged by local members, had written a proposed resolution asking the Government to develop a long-term aviation strategy for the Highlands and Islands.

Dr Frances Murray, branch secretary for Na h-Eileanan An Iar and a councillor with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, said: “Securing this discussion has been a priority for the branch for a number of months and we are glad to see this debate on lifeline links has made it onto the National Conference Agenda.

“The PSO/ADS (Public Service Obligation / Air Discount Scheme) scheme has not had an in-depth review for nearly 20 years, and recent events have shown that it is no longer fit for the modern-day demands on our air links.

“Growing costs and instability in global affairs have called into question the viability of some lifeline links and we hope the wider movement will join us in this call.”

The resolution “notes with concern the extreme costs that continue to face island residents and family members”. It states “the time has come to modernise and integrate” the Air Discount Scheme “within a wider set of reforms to Highlands and Islands air travel, to ensure that island residents pay a fair and sustainable price for vital air travel”.

The resolution has been backed by SNP Shetland, Craigentinny and Duddingston branch, and the SNP MSP for Shetland, Hannah-Mary Goodlad.

Meanwhile, the branch has also urged isles MP Torcuil Crichton to “work with Westminster” to devolve remaining powers over aviation to Scottish Government, to empower change.

Euan Smith, press officer for SNP Na h-Eileanan An Iar, added: “Further, we would ask our local MP to work with Westminster to devolve the remaining powers to the Scottish Government, as they do not seem to have any interest in the matter.

"The powers to make a real change remain in Westminster's hands, and islanders cannot wait for the latest drama in London to end, we need to start vital work on fixing this issue and welcome recent Scottish Government movement in this area.”

The resolution will be debated on Saturday 17 October at the party’s national conference in Aberdeen. Members will have the choice to pass it, remit it back or vote to not make it policy. 

The full resolution to be presented to conference is as follows:

22 PSO/AIR DISCOUNT SCHEME Conference recognises the support provided by Scottish Government to the communities of Barra, Tiree and Campbelltown through their Public Service Obligation (PSO) contract, and welcomes the fact that 50% of the cost of eligible airfares across other island routes are paid for by the Scottish Government through the Air Discount Scheme for island residents. 

Conference however notes with concern the extreme costs that continue to face island residents and family members whether it be travelling for work, hospital appointments or family occasions. Conference also notes the ongoing uncertainty facing some of the seemingly less commercially viable routes on the current network, despite the critical nature of these transport connections, with a commercial operator in the position at present of making decisions on lifeline services. 

Combined with the challenges of demographic change, the difficulties of ferry and road travel due to weather disruption in the winter, as well as the opportunities inherent in the local revitalisation and repopulation improved transport links would bring, Conference believes that examples should be drawn from other countries who successfully provide lifeline air services to their islands and rural areas. 

Conference therefore calls on the Scottish Government to develop a long-term aviation strategy for Scotland’s Highlands and Islands, with a view to expanding the number of island air routes that are designated as PSOs and ensuring routes and timetables meet passenger needs, increasing reliability and long-term sustainability of air services, while lowering costs for passengers. Conference further notes that the ADS was introduced more than two decades ago and believes that the time has come to modernise and integrate the scheme within a wider set of reforms to Highlands and Islands air travel, to ensure that island residents pay a fair and sustainable price for vital air travel.

NA H-EILEANAN AN IAR BRANCH, SHETLAND BRANCH, HANNAH MARY GOODLAD MSP, LONDON BRANCH, CRAIGENTINNY & DUDDINGSTON BRANCH