Fifth meeting of island working group

The Island Areas Ministerial Working Group met for the fifth time today in Stornoway.

Local government minister Derek Mackay chaired the meeting with the leaders of the three islands councils — Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles. — where discussions included state aid, legal and constitutional status, integration of public services, revenues and funding settlement, and planning and creative industries.

The final meeting of the group is scheduled for Kirkwall in June, where it is expected to finalise discussions and reach an agreement on a prospectus for the islands.

Speaking on behalf of the three councils, Leader of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Angus Campbell, said: “As we move closer to the referendum, the time is coming for people to see what is being proposed for island areas. The islands councils and the Scottish Government are making real progress on moving towards the prospectus to be produced as a result of the Our Islands Our Future initiative.

“We have also made progress with the UK Government and we are confident that the islands’ position will be strengthened as a result of the discussions we have been undertaking on behalf of our communities.”