The Net Zero, Energy & Transport Committee wants to bring an end to the current system for managing Scotland’s lifeline services which it says ‘is not working’.

But the committee says state-owned CalMac should still benefit from a direct award of an extended ten-year contract on the west coast of Scotland.

Meanwhile, consideration should be given to CMAL and Transport Scotland being merged to create a new Ferries Scotland agency which ‘could streamline decision-taking and improve the understanding and importance of ferry services’.

The committee supports a move to increase the length of CalMac contract from eight to ten years to ‘ensure continuity of service and avoid disruption’ with the current contract due to expire in September next year.