TALKS over reinstating a ferry link between Rosyth and Europe were due to take place last Wednesday.

Dunfermline and West Fife MP secured a commitment from cabinet minister Alister Jack to discuss the issue.

Mr Chapman raised the idea during Scottish Questions in Parliament last week, when he highlighted a "hat-trick" of reports centred on export figures since Brexit, the need to reduce lorry emissions, and the HGV driver crisis, as reasons to consider reinstating a direct ferry connection.

In response, Mr Jack conceded there were merits to the proposal and agreed to meet Mr Chapman to discuss the matter further.

Mr Chapman said: "I welcome the Secretary of State’s commitment to meet with me about this, and we will be meeting this Wednesday to discuss the proposals and to see how we overcome some of the barriers, such as adequate resources and personnel from Border Force, which, if not offered, could scupper the project.

“Since the freight-only service between Rosyth and Zeebrugge came to an end in 2018, there has been no direct ferry link between Scotland and Continental Europe.

“Since then, we have seen a significant change in circumstances which makes reinstating a ferry link an extremely attractive proposal.

“These changes include the woeful effects of Brexit on UK and Scottish exports, combined with the crippling lorry driver shortage and the need to reduce emissions from lengthy HGV routes from Scottish businesses to the Channel ports.

“I’m looking forward to making the case to the Secretary of State that a direct ferry service between Scotland and Continental Europe could go some way to addressing these issues and boost trade and tourism for Scotland."

Mr Chapman has been campaigning for the re-establishment of a passenger and freight ferry service between Rosyth and Europe for years.

The ferry link between Rosyth and Zeebrugge was freight-only and was operated by DFDS.

The service replaced a passenger and freight offering that was operated initially by Superfast Ferries between 2002 and 2008, and then by Norfolkline until 2010.

The Rosyth ferry had been operating since 2002, initially by Superfast Ferries and then Norfolkline, but stopped carrying passengers in 2010 when it became freight-only.