THERE is no cash available for a subsidised service between Penzance and the Isles of Scilly, the government has said.
Patrick McLoughlin, the Secretary of State for Transport, said the country needed to focus on cutting the deficit and not on securing a year round subsidised link to the remote islands.
But he added that he would strive to push forward the fledgling harbour developments in Penzance and St Mary's.
"It is very difficult to find extra subsidies because the country hasn't got that kind of money, we are trying to cut the deficit," he said.
"I am well aware that there is an urgency for the harbour developments and not to miss deadlines and opportunities."
Ongoing transport link issues were laid out for Mr McLoughlin at a meeting today which also included members of Penzance and Isles of Scilly councils and west Cornwall MP Andrew George.
"I couldn't give them any promises," said Mr McLoughlin.
"What I wanted to do was meet local people and hear about the issues they have got."
During the meeting he was told about the need for an all year round link between the mainland and islands and the importance of building a hard runway at Land's End Airport to secure reliable fixed wing flights.
"He was primarily listening," said Liberal Democrat MP Mr George.
"We told him speed was very important."
As part of his visit to Cornwall, Mr McLouglin also cut the first turf to formally mark the start of work on the £27million Camborne-Pool-Redruth link road.
