Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the statement by Harland and Wolff that they intend to submit a bid to the Council of the Isles of Scilly to compete with the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company for the conditional offer of £48 million from the Levelling Up Fund to the Council for the purchase and operation of new vessels, whether they plan to instruct the Council, if it wishes to proceed with the funding offer, to seek expressions of interest followed by tenders from these companies and other reputable operators.

The Levelling Up Fund grant to the Council of the Isles of Scilly is dependent upon obtaining an approved compliant full business case for replacement vessels and harbour works. The council, is considering its options, including an open procurement process through the publication of a Prior Information Notice (PIN) to seek other interested parties. It would be inappropriate for the DfT to comment on the council’s approach at this stage.