Stephen Flynn: “It took an obscene amount of time for the Glen Sannox and Glen Rosa ferries to be built.”

A third of the fleet is going to be brand new, which means you are not going to have so many ships breaking down, which will completely change the landscape.

This investment will help local authorities deliver the bus priority measures, passenger facilities and wider improvements they believe are needed to make their local bus services more reliable.

This will provide immediate relief for impacted businesses but we will continue to work closely with the Highland Council, HIE and Cairngorms National Park Authority on what further support may be required for the area in the longer term.

The Scottish Government fully recognises the economic and social importance of rural connectivity in Scotland and this reaffirms our continuing support for air services from Wick, including through our subsidy of Wick John O’Groats Airport.