Fares on lifeline ferry services will be frozen next year while islanders will also benefit from a greater discount on air fares between their communities and the mainland.

Derek Mackay, the minister for transport and islands, pledged there would be no increase in fares on all Scottish Government-subsidised ferry routes for 2016/17 for passengers, cars and commercial vehicles.

He also told MSPs at Holyrood the air discount scheme, which cuts the cost of flights for those living on remote communities, was being increased to the maximum permitted amount.

Mr Mackay made the announcements during a debate on Scotland's islands at Holyrood in which he stressed to MSPs the "significant contribution our lifeline ferry services make to the social, cultural and economic wellbeing of our islands".

He said: "We're committed to affordable ferry fares and I'm therefore pleased to announce a freeze on fares for 2016/17.

"This is across all Scottish Government-subsidised ferry services and includes passengers, cars and commercial vehicles."

The minister went on to announce greater discounts in air fares for those living in eligible areas such as Colonsay, Orkney, Shetland, the Western Isles, Islay, Jura, Caithness and North West Sutherland.

Mr Mackay said: "We will increase the air discount scheme discount from 40% of the core fare to 50%, that will be the maximum allowed under the terms of the scheme, and this increase will apply to bookings on or after January 1 next year.

"I'm sure this extension will be welcomed across the islands and more remote communities in Scotland."

While the moves were welcomed, opposition MSPs raised concerns about the cost of flying to the islands.

Labour's Ken Macintosh said: "These island routes do receive government subsidy and it is important they work for the islanders they are supposed to serve."

He claimed the fares for the routes were "already off the scale", saying a typical return flight to Stornoway could often cost £370 and is "enough to fly a whole family to Spain and back".

Mr Macintosh added: "It is time for an immediate review of these air services, looking at the business model used, the size and investment in the aircraft and the number of seats available."

Liam McArthur, Liberal Democrat MSP for Orkney, welcomed the increase in the discount but added it was "disappointing" that island-based businesses were excluded from the scheme.

"This cut has increased costs for local businesses in Orkney at a time when the need to remain competitive with counterparts on mainland Scotland has never been greater," he said.

Tory MSP Mary Scanlon argued cheaper fares for all could increase tourism for the islands, saying: "It is still much cheaper to go from Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen to many, many, many capitals of Europe, significantly cheaper, than to go by air than go to our islands, so I would like to see more be done so more tourists can visit our islands."