‘Significant progress’ towards islands prospectus

June 3, 2014 at 9:50 am

The Island Areas Ministerial Working Group has today made “significant progress” toward a prospectus heralding new powers for Scotland’s islands.

Derek Mackay, minister for locagovernment andplanning, chaired the last meeting of the group yesterday, in Kirkwall, which was attended by the leaders and chief executives of the three islands councils, as well as the minister for environment and climate change, Paul Wheelhouse.

Mr Mackay said: “I welcome the progress made today with the leaders of Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles. We are now in a position to finalise our prospectus for the islands imminently, based on today’s discussions, which will set out an exciting path for empowering all of Scotland’s island communities.”Speaking on behalf of the three Island Councils, Orkney Island Council convener Stephen Heddle said: “The Scottish Government sent a strong team to Kirkwall for this final meeting – we appreciate the commitment they’ve shown to the Island Areas Ministerial Working Group.

“The subjects at the heart of our negotiations over many months are of key concern to island areas and have placed significant demands on the Government in responding to them.

“It was a long and intense meeting today and it covered many of these key areas. We feel we have made good progress and we now look forward to addressing a number of issues which are still outstanding before the Prospectus is concluded.”