Scottish Government Debate: Supporting and Strengthening Scotland's Island Communities

S5M-02686 Humza Yousaf That the Parliament recognises the significant contribution that island communities make to Scotland’s cultural and economic wellbeing; commends the role of the Our Islands, Our Future campaign, led by the councils of Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles in championing islands’ interests; acknowledges that there is more to do to address some of the challenges faced by Scotland’s islands, including remoteness, declining populations, connectivity and creating sustainable economic development, and notes the establishment of the Islands Strategic Group, the Scottish Government’s forthcoming Islands Bill and proposals for a National Islands Plan, which will seek to strengthen and support the unique needs of Scotland’s island communities. S5M-02686.2 Donald Cameron As an amendment to motion S5M-02686 in the name of Humza Yousaf (Supporting and Strengthening Scotland's Island Communities), insert at end "; acknowledges the contribution of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) to business development in island communities, and notes significant concerns that a new national board for HIE, Scottish Enterprise and other agencies may lead to a centralisation of services at the expense of the local skills, knowledge and expertise of HIE." S5M-02686.4 Rhoda Grant As an amendment to motion S5M-02686 in the name of Humza Yousaf (Supporting and Strengthening Scotland's Island Communities), insert at end "; recognises that more must be done to address issues that can lead to depopulation, including fuel poverty, high living costs and poor access to essential services, which disproportionately have an impact on the islands; believes that island communities should be involved in decision-making with regard to transport links and that there should be full and meaningful consultation with local people and businesses, for example, communities in Arran and Ardrossan must be involved in any changes to their ferry services, and further believes that powers being removed from local government will impact disproportionately on islands and their ability to make decisions and that the disempowering of Highlands and Islands Enterprise will impact on home-grown solutions to boost islands’ economies." S5M-02686.1 Liam McArthur As an amendment to motion S5M-02686 in the name of Humza Yousaf (Supporting and Strengthening Scotland's Island Communities), leave out from “, and notes” to end and insert “; further acknowledges the Islands Strategic Group and the forthcoming Islands Bill but notes the financial and administrative powers that have been removed from island communities, including Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles, since 2007; agrees that the centralisation of key public services and functions has reduced local accountability to island communities; calls for an active islands plan to provide a framework within which the unique interests across island communities are considered, and further calls for the decision by Scottish Ministers in 2011 to exclude isles-based businesses from the Air Discount Scheme to be reversed and for ferry fares on routes serving Orkney and Shetland to be reduced from 2017, in line with existing reductions on west coast routes."