Western Isles businesses paid £3,537,000 to Caledonian MacBrayne in transport charges in the last financial year, it was revealed this week.

The figures came to light following a written question by Western Isles MP Calum Macdonald to the Secretary of State. Mr Macdonald had asked the annual revenue earned by Cal-Mac from carriage of commercial goods vehicles on all routes to and from the Western Isles in 1995-96.

Scottish Office minister Lord James Douglas-Hamilton said that the figure was £3,537,000.

"This figure comprises all revenue earned from the carriage of commercial vehicles on the company's Oban-Castlebay-Lochboisdale, Mallaig-Castlebay-Lochboisdale, Uig-Tarbert-Lochmaddy and Ullapool-Stornoway services," said Lord James.

Mr Macdonald said that the figures showed a dramatic jump in transport costs in 1995-96 as compared with 1994-95 - a 30 per cent or £1 million increase.

Said Mr Macdonald, "These figures represent the real cost of remoteness and peripherality faced by local businesses in the Western Isles when trying to compete with business on the mainland. Island businesses face a 'transport tax' of £3.5 million before they even open their doors in the morning. And the total cost is probably higher, when air-transport costs and non-Caledonian-MacBrayne shipping costs are included."

Mr Macdonald said that a responsible and supportive Government should be trying to reduce such a figure.

"Against that background of a £3.5 million handicap, Government policies like the air passenger tax, the Skye bridge tolls and the cuts in local government budgets are simply crazy," said Mr Macdonald.

He went on, "From 1980 to last year, the figures increased only in line with inflation. But last year it jumped by £1 million or 30 per cent, a devastating blow to island business. No wonder the islands are in their deepest recession for years ."

Prospective SNP candidate for the Western Isles, Dr Anne Lorne Gillies said that part of the revenue increase was due to the fact that cement, which previously came on cargo ships, was now coming by road and then by Cal-Mac.

"Until there is a proper integrated transport system with reasonable costs we will continue paying exorbitant prices for essentials," said Dr Gillies.

Original article Stornoway Gazette Jan 27 1997.