The Scottish Government has officially confirmed plans to explore establishing a single ferries body for Clyde and Western Isles routes, setting the stage for merging CalMac and CMAL.

First Minister John Swinney announced the proposal as he outlined his Programme for Government at Holyrood yesterday afternoon (Tuesday, September 1), which also included plans to reduce Scotland's 14 health boards to just two.

Currently, CalMac operates the ferries and CMAL owns and procures vessels, a setup that has been slammed during the ongoing ferry chaos.

The Programme for Government 2026 (Transport section) explicitly states: “Ministers will explore the establishment of a single ferries body for the Clyde and Western Isles routes.”

Mr Swinney also said he intends to bring Transport Scotland into ‘core government’ and create a single national environmental body, as well as the moves on ferries and health boards.

The First Minister signalled that the changes would be “structural, but also cultural,” aiming to improve public services over the next five years.