Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the announcement of a £48 million award to the Council of the Isles of Scilly for passenger and freight vessels, who will own the vessels; how much private sector finance has been committed; whether the Council had to put the operation of the vessels out to competitive tender; whether an Option Assessment Report was provided; and, if such a report was provided, whether they will place a copy in the Library of the House.

The Council of the Isles of Scilly submitted a full application which included an Options Assessment Report. The Department for Transport reviewed these documents through a detailed assessment process. The process was set out in full in the Fund’s Technical and Explanatory Notes published on GOV.UK. Officials from the Department for Transport will be writing to the Council of the Isles of Scilly to discuss further business case requirements, as set out in the Fund’s technical note and FAQs published on GOV.UK.