Emergency fund to support lifeline transport links to the Isles of Scilly

Vital transport links to the mainland for people living on the Isles of Scilly have been safeguarded during the COVID-19 pandemic, thanks to an emergency package of up to £10.5 million including services to the Isle of Wight is granted by the government.

The funding – agreed jointly by the Department for Transport and Her Majesty’s Treasury – will support the continuation of sea and air links to the Isles of Scilly over the next 3 months.

More than 2,200 people live on the Isles of Scilly and this fund will help ensure these communities continue to have access to vital medical services on the mainland while protecting the flow of supplies to these regions.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Steve Barclay MP said:

"Services like these play a vital role in providing communities in these more remote areas with the essential supplies they need – which is particularly important as we face the COVID-19 pandemic.

That’s why I’m delighted to award this much-needed funding today to these services operating in the Isles of Scilly and Isle of Wight and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank their employees for their continuing efforts in challenging circumstances."