SNP ministers’ claims that they had to cut a plane discount scheme to the islands due to European Commission (EC) rules have been dismissed as a “smokescreen”.
New figures showed the number of journeys made under the air discount scheme (ADS) had fallen by more than 60,000 over the past three years.
MSPs representing the Northern Isles have been at loggerheads with the Scottish Government since ADS was removed for business travel.
Ministers insist the EC has confirmed that ADS – which provides a 40% discount to those living in Colonsay, Orkney, Shetland, the Western Isles, Islay, Jura, Caithness and north-west Sutherland – is solely for personal use.
A parliamentary answer to Orkney Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur showed the number of ADS claims had fallen from 185,633 in 2010 to 124,959 in 2013. Mr McArthur said the reduction was not surprising because island businesses could no longer afford to travel.
He said when Shetland MSP Tavish Scott introduced ADS as transport minister in 2006, he made clear it was to help those living in island communities.
“Without any prior warning or consultation, however, SNP ministers decided to remove this support from small businesses in Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles,” he said. “Attempts to blame the EC were a smokescreen, as it was Scottish ministers who requested a change in the scheme to allow cuts to be made.”
Mr Scott said: “I still hope that the Nationalist government will change this badly thought out decision.
“That would especially be the case given the first SNP transport minister endorsed the original ADS I had introduced which helped businesses too.”
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “The air discount scheme is designed to benefit individuals by reducing the cost of air fares for residents in eligible areas of the Highlands and islands.
“Mr McArthur is well aware that the scheme does not cover the travel costs of businesses, public bodies and organisations which are not considered part of the third sector.”