News / Election 2011: ADS and oil spill exercise
AS THE second full week of Scottish Parliament election canvassing got under way on Monday just two of the five candidates were out on the campaign trail.
Local candidate for the LibDems, Tavish Scott, vowed to reverse the recent cut backs to the popular Air Discount Scheme (ADS) implemented by the SNP minority government, earlier this year.
The scheme, which offers a 40 discount on air fares for islanders for travel to and from Scotland, was introduced by Mr Scott when he was transport minister in 2006.
On Monday, he said: “As Shetlanders return home after the Easter school holiday break, local people tell me how important ADS is. I am appalled that the SNP cut voluntary, community and business travel from ADS without any consultation.
“The SNP have totally ignored the united voice of Shetland pointing out how helpful ADS has been and why it should be retained. What the nationalists don’t seem to understand is that passenger numbers on our lifeline air routes mean that the market will never offer low air fares.
“The Liberal Democrats will restore business travel to the ADS and extend the 40 per cent discount to cover the airport charges as well as the airline fare.”
Meanwhile, independent candidate Billy Fox welcomed the news that an exercise simulating a Deepwater Horizon style accident to the West of Shetland will be carried out next month.
But he warned that a table top exercise should not be confused with the “real thing” and called on the government to implement all measures available to prevent a similar accident from happening in the deep waters to the west of the isles.
He said: “They are undoubtedly a valuable learning process, but there can sometimes be an inclination for simulated disasters and subsequent responses to go rather too smoothly. This can lead to a conclusion that these events can be acceptably dealt with, albeit with damaging consequences.
“While there is merit in carrying out such an exercise, there is no doubt that prevention of a blowout is the number one priority. West of Shetland the oil industry will be operating in deeper water than the Gulf of Mexico and in more extreme conditions.
“The world cannot afford another Deepwater Horizon disaster; we must press the Scottish and UK governments to ensure every possible regulation and technical measure is put in place to avoid it.”
The other three candidates are Sandy Cross for the Conservatives, Jamie Kerr for Labour and Jean Urquhart for the Scottish nationalists.
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