Islands working group meets

October 30, 2014 at 10:13 am

Scotland’s Island Councils and Local Government Minister Derek Mackay, held a discussion this week on the way forward for the Our Islands Our Future campaign and the Scottish Government’s prospectus for the Islands Empowering Scotland’s Island Communities.

The group discussed the potential for the Smith Commission to devolve powers enabling the delivery of the prospectus including devolution of the revenues from all Crown Estate assets in Scotland, including leasing income from the foreshore and seabed.

Minister for Local Government Derek Mackay said: “Empowering Scotland’s Island Communities is the most comprehensive package put forward by any Government and sets out how island communities could have greater control over their local economies and natural environment.

“The extension of the powers of the Scottish Parliament is essential to allow our prospectus to be delivered to the benefit of communities in all 93 of Scotland’s islands and our coastal areas.

“The Scottish Government submission to Lord Smith’s Commission proposes the full devolution of the revenues from all Crown Estate assets in Scotland, including leasing income from the foreshore and seabed which we would then allocate to island and coastal communities.

“I was pleased that the leaders of the Island Councils confirmed their support to this approach and I look forward to further engaging with the Our Islands Our Future campaign to work towards securing these benefits for communities in these unique areas.”

Leader of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Councillor Angus Campbell, speaking on behalf of Our Islands Our Future, said: “This was a very good meeting and took forward our aspirations under Our Islands Our Future. We have always said that whatever the outcome of the referendum we would seek to take forward those parts of Our Islands Our Future and the respective Government responses that could be taken forward. This will require commitment and ongoing work and we have started that process with this first post referendum meeting.”