Transport Scotland - Serco NorthLink Ferries income and expenditure statistics: FOI release

Information requested

(1) How much income has Serco NorthLink Ferries posted in the last five years of the NIFS3 contract? Please show a total but also include a breakdown for ticket sales, cabin bookings, pod bookings, restaurant sales, bar sales, shop sales (including vending machines), gambling machines, cinema ticket sales and vehicle bookings and anything else I have missed.

(2) How much expenditure has Serco NorthLink posted in the last five years of the NIFS3 contract? Please provide a total but provide a breakdown for fuel costs, staff wages, harbour costs, ferry maintenance, gambling licences, alcohol licences, costs/licences regarding the preparation or sale of food (if applicable), costs of food and drink stock, TV licences, TV packages, and anything else that I have missed.

(3) Give details of what travel on board costs for passengers (i.e. fares, accommodation, vehicle boarding etc).

(4) How much would travel on board costs for passengers without subsidies? (i.e. fares, accommodation, vehicle boarding etc).

Response

Question 1
While the Scottish Government does not have this information broken down in the way requested, the total figure is available in row 26 of sheet 9.14a of published Transport Scotland statistics. 

Question 2
While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide the information you have requested because an exemption under section 33(1)(b) of FOISA (Substantial prejudice to commercial interests) applies. Disclosure of this information would, or would be likely to, substantially prejudice the commercial interests of Serco NorthLink Ferries. This exemption is subject to the ‘public interest test’. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption. We recognise that there is some public interest in release because of open and transparent government. However, this is outweighed by the requirement to prevent a detriment effect on commercial interests.

Question 3
All of the information you have requested is available from 2026 Ferry fares to Orkney and Shetland | NorthLink Ferries. Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website(s) listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.

Question 4
While the Scottish Government does not have this information broken down in the way requested, without subsidy the service would have cost users an additional £46,711,438 over the period July 2024 to June 2025.

The Scottish Government does not have the information in the format you have requested because the subsidy is based on the bid made by Serco NorthLink Ferries to operate the service, plus fuel and vessel leasing costs. You may wish to ask Serco NorthLink Ferries for details of the information you are looking for.

As such, I hereby provide you with formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.

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.