Hansard

Good morning, convener and colleagues. For members’ benefit, I will make a brief opening statement, just to put something on the record. The laying of the draft Additional Powers Request (Scotland) Regulations 2019 is the next step in the implementation of the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018. As you may know, the Scottish Government has been working collaboratively with the six relevant local authorities to progress the regulations and the non-statutory guidance that will accompany them. The regulations will come into force in mid-November at the latest, subject to approval by the committee and Parliament. It will be for the local authorities, in consultation with their own local communities and relevant stakeholders, to decide what additional powers they might seek to request from Government. Some areas that have been suggested in our engagement with local authorities are economic development, digital connectivity, fuel poverty, health and housing. As you might know, the regulations will sit alongside measures resulting from the local governance review that are being taken forward by Orkney Islands Council and potentially others. I hope that that is helpful. I kept it brief.