Prime Minister to sign off cross-Solent appointment

The Island’s two MPs have been told that the independent chairman of the new Cross-Solent Group will be a direct ministerial appointment – and will need formal approval from the Prime Minister.

The decision follows a round-table meeting convened by Maritime Minister, Mike Kane, during his visit to the Island in April. The group will be tasked with examining long-standing issues with cross-Solent ferry services, including pricing, timetables and reliability and looking at ways to address the concerns of ferry users, including residents, businesses and tourists.

According to the government website, direct ministerial appointments are used for “vital” time-limited roles where independent expertise is essential. Under the leadership of the chairman the body will “provide expert independent advice to the government” and seek to find solutions to the issues. The government is meanwhile is starting to collect the information it needs for the new body to achieve its aims.

West Wight MP, Richard Quigley, said: “It’s good news for the Island that the appointment of a chairman for the Cross-Solent Group will require the Prime Minister’s approval. It shows that our transport issues are finally firmly on the Government’s agenda and why we need action.”

East Wight MP, Joe Robertson, added: “I’m very encouraged that the Government is taking the Island’s cross-Solent ferry issues seriously, and that our concerns are now being recognised at the highest level. By September, we should have a new board in place with a Prime Minister-approved independent chairman, who will be empowered to examine key issues such as pricing and timetabling.

“Ferry companies will now have no choice but to engage with the board and hear some hard truths from those of us elected to represent Island residents. The Government will stay involved until a genuine, lasting change has been agreed.”

The two MPs underlined the importance of cross-party cooperation on the issue. Speaking at last week’s State of the Island Debate, Mr Robertson described how he had earned a hard glare from the Conservative chief whip after calling “Hear, hear” in support of a question from Labour’s Mr Quigley during Business and Trade Questions.

Mr Quigley, meanwhile, described how he had used a visual comparison to illustrate the issue to Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander: “I got out a map of the Isle of Wight and placed it over one of Swindon, where she lives, and said: ‘Every time you go out of that area, you’ve got to pay between £130 and £280—maybe even £300.’”