Ferry operator P&O has proved itself to be a terrible employer – and now it seems like it can’t run services properly.
It sank its reputation in March when it sacked 800 experienced staff without warning in a bid to slash costs.
It looked to hire cheaper agency workers despite warnings from the RMT union over passenger safety.
P&O ferries ground to a halt and its service between Cairnryan and Larne only resumed last week.
If the operator thought it would be plain sailing from now on, it was way off the mark.
One of its ferries spent hours adrift in the Irish Sea after a “mechanical failure” yesterday. The vessel eventually docked safely in Larne.
But this latest fiasco makes it difficult to trust P&O to run vital ferry services.
Safety experts at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency had previously refused to allow the boat in question to sail as they were concerned the crew still lacked the knowledge to sail it safely.
We don’t know for certain what caused yesterday’s power outage.
But passengers will probably look at P&O’s decision to sack experienced staff and have serious questions about that decision.
When you use a ferry service, you take it for granted the ship’s crew know what they’re doing.
Can that now be said about P&O? The RMT has said the operator is no longer capable of safely running services.
Now the UK Government must intervene and take every step to ensure passengers are not put at risk by a company that lost all credibility weeks ago.
A nappy ending
The Baby Box is an overwhelmingly positive Scottish Government policy which gives parents essential items for their newborns.
A mattress, blanket, clothes and a thermometer all help make for a special initiative that makes a real difference.
Little wonder that the number of Baby Boxes delivered to expectant parents had reached 200,000 by November 2021.
Another plus point was the inclusion of a reusable nappy kit, which can be accessed via a voucher.
Reusables are better for the environment and using them instead of disposables can save families a lot of money.
So it is disappointing to learn that the take-up rate for the nappies is less than 20 per cent.
The Government is right to consider the reasons behind this figure and look at ways to increase the number of families who make use of these nappies.
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