Richard Quigley MP Welcomes Minister To Discuss Ferry Costs And Emissions Scheme

Richard Quigley MP has welcomed the Minister for Industry to the Isle of Wight for talks on the potential impact of the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) on cross-Solent ferry services.

The visit, which took place on 11 June, included a roundtable discussion hosted by the Isle of Wight West MP, bringing together senior representatives from the Island's ferry operators, local government, business organisations and central government departments.

Among those attending were the chief executives of Wightlink and Red Funnel, the Leader of the Isle of Wight Council, representatives from the Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce, Visit Isle of Wight, the UK Chamber of Shipping, as well as officials from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and the Department for Transport.

The meeting focused on concerns surrounding the Emissions Trading Scheme, with ferry operators warning that the policy could increase operating costs and lead to higher ticket prices for passengers.

The Minister heard directly from local stakeholders about the Island's unique transport challenges and the potential consequences of applying the scheme to cross-Solent services.

While the ETS was introduced under the previous government as part of efforts to reduce carbon emissions, Mr Quigley has repeatedly argued that it is unsuitable for the Isle of Wight.

He says there is currently insufficient infrastructure to support greener alternatives, with viable replacements for conventional marine fuels not expected until at least the mid-2030s.

The MP believes the Island's reliance on ferry services should be recognised in a similar way to arrangements in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Richard Quigley MP said:

"Everyone on the island knows that our ferry services are already too expensive, so I have been clear from the beginning that despite the noble environmental objectives of the scheme, the Island must be recognised for its unique reliance on the ferries, just as is the case with Scotland and Northern Ireland.

"I will keep working with whoever I need to in order to bring our ferry fares down."

Mr Quigley said he will continue working with ferry operators and government ministers to secure what he describes as a fairer deal for Island residents.

He has also welcomed the upcoming first meeting of the Cross-Solent Transport Group, which aims to address long-standing concerns around ferry costs and service reliability.