Publication of Islands Connectivity Plan and Strategic Approach: FOI release

Information requested

The following information on the publication of the Islands Connectivity Plan – Strategic Approach document:

• Which, if any, external stakeholders (Ferry Users Groups/committees, MSPs, councillors, ferries community board members, etc) were made aware of the document’s publication?
• Copies of internal discussion of the document’s publication including discussion around whether there should be a press release.

Response

With regards to your first request for information on external stakeholders that were made aware of the document’s publication, I have listed the stakeholders who were made aware of publication on the 2nd of May 2025 below:

• Serco Northlink Ferries
• Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited
• Highlands and Islands Enterprise
• Ferries Community Board
• Young Islanders Network
• Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland
• Argyll & Bute Council
• HITRANS
• Strathclyde Partnership for Transport
• Shetland Isles Council/ZetTrans
• Comhairle Nan Eilean Sar
• Orkney Isles Council
• Highland Council
• North Ayrshire Council
• CalMac Ferries Ltd

A letter was also sent to Parliament’s NZET Committee from the Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity, which was also published on their website on the 2nd of May 2025.

In relation to your second request for copies of internal discussion of the document’s publication including discussion around whether there should be a press release, I have attachedcopies of all email discussions involving the publication of the Islands Connectivity Plan - Strategic Approach paper.

Please note that other discussions between Ferries Directorate officials and Transport Scotland Press Office took place in person or via Teams meetings.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.

FOI 202500476240 - Information Released - Annex

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PDF

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3.6 MB