Meeting of the Parliament 05 March 2025
The motion makes an important point about ensuring that investment does not unfairly focus on one area. I understand the sentiment that is contained in the motion, and, although I recognise the point that it is trying to make, I observe that many of my constituents consider that the central belt of Scotland is often the national focus of the SNP Government. Much of what I am about to say will focus on the islands.
Visitors often remark on how much enterprise there is throughout the northern isles. Regardless of size, there is an enormous amount of enterprise, which is driven in part by geography and a can-do attitude.
Members need look no further than Scotland’s growing space sector. Situated right at the top of the UK, Unst is hosting Europe’s first fully licensed vertical launch spaceport at SaxaVord, which is well placed for low earth orbit satellite launches. Its development grew from the vision of an entrepreneur who recognised the potential of the location and who, with support from the community and local authority, has made it happen. The spaceport recently gained a significant endorsement by way of rocket manufacturer Orbex, which moved from the Scottish Government-backed Sutherland spaceport to SaxaVord.
Shetland is at the heart of energy generation, whether it is oil and gas—which have contributed enormously to the wider economy—or new technologies and renewables such as wind and tidal. One of the world’s most successful wind farms, Burradale, is in Shetland. In Orkney, the European Marine Energy Centre has attracted wave and tidal developers from around the world for the last 20 years.
People often gloss over the contribution that women make to the economy, but during this week of international women’s day, I will not. In my constituency, the long history of Fair Isle knitwear has global reach. Today, we see innovation from new designers who have modernised the world-renowned product, such as French textile artist Marie Bruhat, who has made her home in Fair Isle. There is also production from local factories who export to the far east. Orkney fashion designer Kirsteen Stewart said in an interview that she was
“inspired by the island’s female role models”
to build her successful fashion and design business—women’s enterprise putting the northern isles on the map.
The northern isles can contribute even more to the national economy with investment in infrastructure that is taken for granted on mainland Scotland. Ferries are our roads, and tunnels should be considered national infrastructure and not simply a link for those who live on the islands. Tunnel action groups from Unst and Yell have instructed Norwegian consultants to carry out sonar investigations to progress the ambition of a tunnel network in the northern isles. Funds for that have been raised through private donations—not public money—and the final report should contribute to the determination of potential tunnel alignments. It is another demonstration of the can-do and enterprising attitude, which recognises where the future lies.
A tunnel network is important, as it would speed up delivery of time-sensitive seafood products, including from the growing salmon industry, which is another example of rural and island enterprise. Decades ago, crofters started small-scale salmon farming, and it is now a multi-million pound industry that reaches markets far beyond our shores and contributes to Scotland’s economy.
The UK Government committed levelling up funding for a new Fair Isle ferry and harbour infrastructure, but the external ferry service between Shetland and Aberdeen is under considerable pressure and disruption. Although weather and pump-room flooding may not have been foreseen, the annual dry-dock periods are known yet little has been done to ensure that there is any kind of backup resilience so that businesses and passengers are not left on the quayside.
Digital connectivity across Scotland lags in the areas that are furthest away from our major cities, yet it is essential to conduct business today. The radio teleswitch shut-down is the latest example of a raw deal for rural and island Scotland. Areas of high fuel poverty and poor weather are causing concern and alarm in my constituency as the fundamentals of heating technology change. There is a lack of forthcoming answers from the industry, and no pragmatic, can-do attitude is forthcoming to resolve the issue for rural and island Scotland.
There are many more examples, but with limited time I will conclude. Scotland is overly centralised, and that has got worse over the past 18 years. Too often, island and rural communities are at the back of the queue, and the failure to provide the core connections that they need—broadband, ferries, tunnels and roads—is holding back their economies and businesses. It is important that they are given better infrastructure and more power so that Scotland can reach its potential in renewables, food and drink, forestry, tourism and other critical industries that are rooted in rural and remote areas. It is time that the Scottish Government faced up to that.