Scotland's biodiversity minister Lorna Slater is visiting the Isle of Rum today (Friday 12 May) to hear islanders' views on the future of the crumbling state-owned Edwardian pleasure palace Kinloch Castle.
But a local Conservative MSP has accused the Scottish Greens minister of "hypocrisy" for using a private ferry, rather than a CalMac ferry, for the official visit.
On Friday, the CalMac ferry departs Mallaig at 12.45pm, and arrives at Rum at 2.10pm. It then departs Rum at 5.20pm, arriving back at Mallaig at 6.45pm.
Another boat was hired to take a group of eight people, including the minister, on Friday morning. The Scottish Government said it would ensure the best value for taxpayers, and allow Ms Slater to "maximise time on the island".
A spokesperson said: "The minister travelled to Rum this morning to meet with islanders to discuss key issues including the future of Kinloch Castle.
"She will be travelling with members of the Isle of Rum Community Trust, as well as NatureScot and Scottish Government staff, by a charter operated by Western Isle Cruises. This will maximise time on island and support a small local business.
"Eight people, including islanders, staff and the minister, are travelling on the boat for the meeting on Rum.
"In terms of ministerial travel costs, these are determined in accordance with the Scottish Government's travel and subsistence policies, to ensure the best value for the Scottish taxpayer, and will be published in the normal way."
But the Conservatives questioned why Ms Slater did not take a CalMac ferry. Tory MSP for the Highlands and Islands, Donald Cameron, said: "Lorna Slater’s hypocrisy and lack of self-awareness is breath-taking.
“The Greens are forever lecturing the public on the need to use public transport, yet she’s happy for the Scottish Government to charter a private boat to take her to and from Rum.
“Her excuse for doing so – that, essentially, the CalMac timetable doesn’t suit – will go down like a lead balloon with Scotland’s island communities.”
However, the Isle of Rum Community Trust development officer, Steve Robertson, told the BBC this was "a storm in a teacup".
"Lorna Slater is coming over to do a very important meeting to try and move things forward for the community.
"It makes people feel disappointed that that's the story when for us a taxi charter boat is a normal part of island life. We have to use these to make the island anything like sustainable.
"She can take the ferry service if she wants to have the meeting on the ferry and fit in with the very narrow options to spend time on Rum."
The Isle of Rum Commuity Trust added on Twitter: "Sometimes charter boats have to get used because the ferry timetable can't accommodate everyone's needs, no matter how much we would like it too.
"A good example of this is the school boat which brings the Eigg, Muck and Rum island teens home for the weekend. School times and ferry times don't work together.
"Further, what do want a ferry service for? Ourselves, as islanders? Tourists? Or visiting officials? Lorna Slater came and gave her time to listen to the islanders and their issues.
"The fact that she came on a charter boat is pretty much a non issue when Highland Council, NatureScot, Mowi, even CalMac use them too. It's not much different to using a taxi rather than the bus when the bus timetable doesn't work for you."
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