Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has received an official request for military aid to the civil authorities for Scottish ferry routes; and what (a) assets and (b) capabilities the armed forces have to provide such support.

In response to a request from the Scotland Office, Defence has deployed a Military Assessment Team to Scotland to investigate the feasibility of military assets providing a temporary replacement for the Corran ferry service. A Military Aid to the Civil Authorities (MACA) request has not been received.

The UK's Armed Forces maintain a range of capabilities with the ability to transport assets across water, including landing craft and landing rafts. These are, however, not directly analogous to civilian ferry craft.