Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Cross-Solent Ferries

26 March 2024 · 1 other contributor · 4,212 words

Opened by Bob Seely Con Isle of Wight

Responding minister: Huw Merriman

Transport

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Bob Seely raised concerns about cross-solent ferries in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • The relationship between ferry firms and the Isle of Wight residents is deteriorating due to unreliable timetables and high debt levels.
  • Wightlink and Red Funnel's services have declined under private equity-style ownership, with Red Funnel's valuation increasing from 200 million to 370 million.
  • The government is asked to support a Bill for a UK ferries regulator and to explore central funding for healthcare-related ferry visits.

Key requests to Government

The Minister should consider supporting a Bill for a UK ferries regulator, demand the rights to sign off on firms' timetables as they do for rail services, and explore options such as central Government funding for healthcare-related visits and beefed-up powers for the transport infrastructure board.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Bob Seely Con Isle of Wight

The relationship between the ferry firms and the people of the Isle of Wight is breaking down. The ferries are a genuine lifeline, but they have no public service obligation. Services from Wightlink and Red Funnel have worsened due to private equity-style ownership, leading to issues such as unreliable timetables, high debt levels, and inflated valuations. For example, in 2023, Wightlink had tangible assets of £85 million with an operating profit of £15 million, while Red Funnel's valuation rose from £200 million in 2007 to £370 million in later years.

Other contributors (1)
  • Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

    Commends the hon. Gentleman for bringing forward the debate, mentioning a similar issue in Strangford with a ferry that connects Portaferry to South Down, suggesting retention of ferries under Government control as an alternative approach. The hon. Member raised significant concerns about ferry services on the Isle of Wight, highlighting issues such as monopolies and inflated valuations affecting both residents and businesses. The Minister should address these problems to ensure better connectivity and fairer pricing for Island users.

Government Response

Huw Merriman

The Government are committed to supporting reliable ferry services for the Isle of Wight, particularly during the pandemic when significant funds were provided to the Isle of Wight Council. The minister acknowledges that while cross-Solent ferries are vital, they operate in a commercial market where intervention is limited unless local solutions can be found. He commends the work done by Bob Seely on his recent plan for ferry services, including better pricing and transparency. The Government will consider the report thoroughly after consultation with constituents and the Isle of Wight Council. Additionally, he highlighted the ongoing independent review into Red Funnel's service disruptions last week and the maritime Minister's upcoming meeting with the company to discuss recommendations.

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