Alistair Carmichael, MP for the Northern Isles, has stepped up pressure on the UK Government to implement a cut in VAT to support the Tourism Industry in Orkney and Shetland.

Alistair Carmichael, MP for Orkney and Shetland, yesterday led a debate on the Future of the maritime industry across the UK. Focusing on pay and training, Mr. Carmichael criticised UK Government for its willingness to collect tax, but its unwillingness to enforce minimum wage on seafarers in the UK.

Alistair Carmichael MP, Northern Isles has welcomed a deal secured between Serco Northlink and Seatruck, which will see an end to many staff being paid less than £4 an hour, considerably less than the minimum wage of £7.20.

Alistair Carmichael, Northern Isles MP, has today called on the government to reconsider their approach to the roll out of smart meters and warned that island communities must not be left behind because of their poor connectivity. Mr. Carmichael asked for the Government to take its time to ensure the right choices are made now rather than sleepwalking into a crisis in two years time.

Alistair Carmichael, Northern Isles MP, asked in the House today for the Minister for Immigration, Mr. Robert Goodwell MP, to consider how best to tailor the immigration system to take into account the different needs of different parts of the country.

Alistair Carmichael, Orkney and Shetland MP has called on Fisheries Minister, George Eustice to put pressure on EU negotiators to revisit the deal struck in 2013 between the Faroe Islands and the EU in the annual debate on Fisheries ahead of the December council meeting on fisheries.

Northern Isles MP Alistair Carmichael challenged BT Openreach to improve internet resilience in Orkney and Shetland following a massive volume of complaints that the local MP and MSPs have received.

Telecommunications in the county were disrupted last week by a lightning strike that saw many homes and business without service for some days.

Today in the House of Commons, Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael sought reassurance that the Government would support Small and Medium sized businesses in the Food and Drink Sector from the uncertainty in the UK Economy caused by the vote to leave the EU.

Commenting at the Autumn Statement Mr. Carmichael said:

“Can I welcome those elements of the statement, which are positive. The spending on infrastructure, especially on Broadband and mobile phone signal, the freeze in fuel duty, and the changes to Universal Credit, are all steps in the right direction. We wanted to see the extra cash given to the NHS and social care, that is needed as winter is coming on, it risks becoming acute. But I understand the difficulties that face the Chancellor today. He has a £122bn black hole as a result of Brexit so instead of using the NHS as a political football, will he work with people across the parties and of no party to identify where the money can be got because frankly, it is too important to be treated like this.”

Northern Isles MP Alistair Carmichael has today challenged the Minister for Foreign Affairs over the treatment of UK Citizens who are volunteering to aid refugees on the island of Chios.