PRESSURE is growing on the Government to reinstate a cheap ferry fares scheme for lorries after an independent report found its removal had been economically damaging to the islands involved.
The loss of the Road Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) a year ago saw increases of up to 50% on some routes for hauliers, who face charges of almost £400 each way for their biggest vehicles.
The study by transport experts MVA Consultancy found fares for larger commercial vehicles rose by 23% on the Oban/Barra/South Uist route; 40% on Oban/Coll/Tiree; and 50% on Skye/North Uist/Harris and Ullapool to Stornoway.
The study, commissioned by ministers, added that the removal had had "a negative effect on the volumes and margins of small hauliers, who play an important role in offering choice in the market" and "squeezed the margin of trader-hauliers who are key to the economies of small islands like Coll, Tiree and Barra".
Some 88% of the island businesses surveyed said the removal of RET for commercial vehicles had been passed on in terms of higher transport charges.
The RET pilot saw 50% savings for ferry users in the Western Isles, Coll and Tiree and is being rolled out through the Caledonian MacBrayne ferry network. But in December 2011 it was announced it would be withdrawn from commercial vehicles at the end of March last year. After making several significant concessions, including restricting the cut to larger vehicles, ministers pressed ahead.
They defended the decision by saying that although commercial use amounted to about 40% of the cost of the RET pilot, evidence had shown only 7% of hauliers passed the benefits on to consumers. However, the MVA study found most hauliers had passed on the savings.
Angus Campbell, leader of The Western Isles Council, said: "The findings of this independent study are absolutely unequivocal. The Scottish Government now has the evidence that RET was working as planned and that there were real, substantial benefits to the fragile economies of Island areas."
Gail Robertson, co-ordinator of the Outer Hebrides Commerce Group, said: "For some [politicians] this report should give cause to hang their heads in shame. For others, we hope it encourages them to keep campaigning."
A Government spokesman said £331.2 million would be invested over the next two years in ferry services, including £2.5m to support hauliers to the Western Isles, Coll and Tiree.
Scottish Labour transport spokeswoman Elaine Murray MSP demanded that Transport Minister Keith Brown make a statement to Parliament on his decision to remove RET from commercial vehicles.
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