The Government has today voted to approve an Emissions Trading Scheme for the maritime sector which will introduce a new levy on operating the larger cross-Solent car ferries. The levy is intended to decarbonise the UK domestic maritime sector but there is currently a lack of grid capacity at Portsmouth or Southampton for local ferry operators to operate an electric fleet. The levy will apply to all vessels in excess of 5,000 GRT which includes Wightlink’s St Clare and Victoria of Wight. The UK Chamber of Shipping warned that tickets on affected routes could rise 15 per cent.
The Government is granting Scottish Islands an exemption from the levy until 2030, but the levy will apply to the Isle of Wight from July of this year. Northern Ireland will also benefit from a 50% levy reduction. Joe Robertson spoke against the proposal in Parliament, arguing that the Government should be helping reduce the cost of travelling across the Solent not making the situation worse.
Joe Robertson said, “The Government knows this will have an adverse impact on UK islands, because it has exempted travel to Scottish islands from this punitive levy. What it hasn't done is extend that exemption to all UK islands, which means my constituents on the Isle of Wight are now facing an additional cost of getting to and from home. There is no other way to travel to the Isle of Wight than by ferry. There is no other way of getting goods to the Isle of Wight.”
The East Wight MP went on to say, “The Maritime Minister has set up a series of meetings led by an independent chair, to oversee the ways and explore ways in which we can improve travel to the Isle of Wight, including cost. Yet at the same time, the Government puts cost onto travel to the Island. And we start from a position of disadvantage, compared to Scottish islands. Our ferries are already more expensive than to Scottish islands. Our ferries do not have public subsidy, unlike Scottish islands. While we seek support from the Government to ensure they give us a fairer deal, government makes our travel more expensive. I am not asking for a special Isle of Wight exemption. I am asking for the exemption the Government is already giving dozens of islands to apply to our Island.”
He concluded by saying, “Ultimately, global warming will not be solved by making it more expensive to travel to the Isle of Wight or any other island within the United Kingdom. I urge the Government to think again and extend its exemption to all UK islands.”
Meanwhile, 40 Island businesses have written to Ed Miliband, the Minister responsible for the levy, warning of the risk to the Island’s economy. In a letter co-signed by the Isle of Wight Chamber, they warn that Island businesses and residents are being treated as “second class citizens by the government.” The letter goes on to say that “This policy is being rushed through without any plans to put in place the necessary infrastructure.”
Conservative MPs voted against the new levy in the Delegated Legislation Committee but the Government majority in favour meant that the legislation passed and will take effect on the 1st of July this year.
The link to the full speech is below:
https://youtu.be/D7p__3t6pUk
