Committee
Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee 21 March 2018
21 Mar 2018 · S5 · Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee
Item of business
Islands (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2
Some of my thinking is in line with what Liam McArthur has just said. The amendments are part of a package, so they all do the same thing. For example, section 3(2), which is on the islands plan, says: “Scottish Ministers in relation to improving outcomes for island communities”. My amendment 30 would add to that, so that it would say: “improving outcomes for islands and island communities”. That would suggest that islands have a value in themselves, as well in the people who live on them. The bill is entitled the Islands (Scotland) Bill, but it deals almost exclusively with island communities. I agree that the communities are the number 1 and most important thing for any island. However, we have uninhabited islands—we have heard about examples in Orkney—that are of huge importance with regard to wildlife, the environment and our whole history as a country and a culture. The one that I am most interested in is St Kilda, which is officially uninhabited, although the military and the National Trust for Scotland have a presence there. The story of St Kilda and how the population struggled and was evacuated in 1930 is of huge importance. My key point is that uninhabited islands should be referred to in the bill. Liam McArthur’s amendment 10 is gentler than mine—I do not know whether it is common for a Government member to take a more extreme line than the Opposition. It says that an island community “may include a single uninhabited island”, which I feel is, if not weak, then gentler, and certainly not compulsory. It also talks about an uninhabited island contributing “to the natural or cultural heritage or economy of an inhabited island”. I have reservations about that wording, because I think that islands such as St Kilda have a value in themselves and not just in relation to an inhabited island. In addition, some uninhabited islands might have more of a link with the mainland, but they are still important in their own right. This might be a weakness on my part, but I accept that St Kilda would be covered by amendment 10, because its strongest links have traditionally been with the Western Isles and Skye. I am happy to listen to what other members and the minister have to say. My bottom line is that I would like uninhabited islands to be mentioned somewhere in the bill.
In the same item of business
The Convener
Con
Item 2 is stage 2 consideration of the Islands (Scotland) Bill. I welcome back the Minister for Transport and the Islands, Humza Yousaf, and his officials fr...
The Convener
Con
The first group is entitled “Purpose of Act”. Amendment 28, in the name of Colin Smyth, is the only amendment in the group.
Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I am conscious that we have a number of amendments to get through today, so I will keep my comments relatively brief. As members will know, a purpose clause ...
John Mason
SNP
As I said in the chamber yesterday, I am in favour of purpose clauses. I would like the Government and anyone else who intends to introduce a bill to start w...
Stewart Stevenson
SNP
I understand and have sympathy with what Colin Smyth is trying to do, but his amendment risks diluting the bill’s ambition. All it talks about is creating “s...
Peter Chapman (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
I am minded not to support amendment 28. Although we discussed the matter at stage 1 and thought that such a provision might be necessary, I do not feel that...
Mike Rumbles (North East Scotland) (LD)
LD
The Scotland Act 1998 says: “There shall be a Scottish Parliament.” As Donald Dewar said, “I like that.” It is really important to set out the purpose of a...
John Finnie
Green
I am supportive of Colin Smyth’s amendment 28. Although I suspect that you would not want us to do this, convener, we could spend all day discussing every wo...
Jamie Greene
Con
I strongly feel that the bill should have an objective, given the evidence that we have heard and after speaking to islanders at many of the focus groups. Th...
Humza Yousaf
SNP
I will speak to a number of amendments on which, where we, as a Government, can be helpful and reflect, we will, because we want to progress the bill in the ...
Jamie Greene
Con
Before we move to a vote, I want to clarify the minister’s position on that. Minister, are you saying that, at stage 3, you would not consider including a pu...
Humza Yousaf
SNP
I will come back to that, as I am just coming to that very point. I have a problem with putting the purpose on the face of the bill, but I think that we can ...
The Convener
Con
Thank you, minister. I ask Colin Smyth to wind up and to press or withdraw amendment 28.
Colin Smyth
Lab
I agree with John Mason’s point that a purpose clause should be introduced at as early a stage as possible. I had no control over the wording of the draft bi...
The Convener
Con
Amendment 10, in the name of Liam McArthur, is grouped with amendments 30, 41, 44, 60, 63, 66 to 68, 72, 74 to 77 and 88.
Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD)
LD
I welcome the work of the committee on the bill, and I thank the convener and other committee members for taking the time to come up to Orkney to hear direct...
John Mason
SNP
Some of my thinking is in line with what Liam McArthur has just said. The amendments are part of a package, so they all do the same thing. For example, secti...
Stewart Stevenson
SNP
In 1930, Hirta, which was the only inhabited part of the St Kilda group, was actually part of Inverness-shire rather than the Western Isles—but that is histo...
John Mason
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Stewart Stevenson
SNP
Yes, he will.
John Mason
SNP
Does he accept that, for an uninhabited island, having a community on it would be a positive outcome?
Stewart Stevenson
SNP
Yes, but I am not sure that that would be an outcome for the island; it would be an outcome for the community on the island. I am conflicted on the matter, ...
Peter Chapman
Con
I agree with amendment 10, as I think that it is important that uninhabited islands are referred to in the key definitions of the bill. Sections 1 and 2 r...
Richard Lyle
SNP
I support amendment 10. I ask John Mason not to move his amendments in the group and to discuss the issue with the minister. I do not doubt John Mason’s ent...
John Mason
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Richard Lyle
SNP
I have finished. Laughter.
John Finnie
Green
I support Liam McArthur’s amendment 10, and I support John Mason’s amendments. We can dance around, and I appreciate that lawyers will forever chew over the ...
Humza Yousaf
SNP
I welcome the opportunity to speak to this group of amendments on uninhabited islands, which I appreciate is an issue of significance for many. The bill’s fo...
John Mason
SNP
Will the minister give way?
Humza Yousaf
SNP
Of course.