MARITIME MINISTER REFUSES TO ENDORSE RED FUNNEL’S OWNERSHIP MODEL IN COMMONS QUESTIONING
Maritime Minister Mike Kane has declined the opportunity to express support for the ownership model of Isle of Wight ferry operator Red Funnel during Transport Questions in the House of Commons today (Thursday).
The Minister was responding to concerns raised by Joe Robertson MP (Isle of Wight East), who is the Shadow Parliamentary Private Secretary for Transport. Mr Robertson challenged the high cost of crossing the Solent, highlighting that Red Funnel is controlled by Canadian pension funds and charges Island residents up to £400 for a return car ferry journey.
When asked directly whether he supported this ownership and pricing model, the Minister declined to give support. Instead, he confirmed that the Government is establishing a new transport forum to examine pricing, ticketing, and reliability of ferry services.
During the exchange, Joe Robertson MP said:
“Isle of Wight Ferry Company Red Funnel is controlled by Canadian pension funds. It’s unregulated and charges Isle of Wight residents up to 400 pounds for taking a return car ferry crossing. Does the Minister support that ownership model and pricing structure for a lifeline transport connection in the UK?”
In response, the Maritime Minister stated:
“I thank the Honourable gentleman for his question. I could say it can cost you more on the Avanti up to Manchester, but that doesn’t help his constituents in the Isle of Wight, who have been struggling for quite some time. That’s why I went to the Isle of Wight, met with the Honourable Member and the Council.
“We’re establishing a local transport forum there and we’ve agreed a number of ways forward looking at ticketing and pricing and reliability of those ferries on the island. And I will continue to promise to be engaged, but I need the Honourable Member’s help as well in this.”
This exchange follows a meeting earlier in the week between Joe Robertson and the Minister for Devolution, Jim McMahon, who expressed his willingness to give a new Mayor for Hampshire and Isle of Wight powers over ferry companies.
