Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 08 October 2019
08 Oct 2019 · S5 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
National Islands Plan
That is the first question that I have responded to from Beatrice Wishart and I welcome her to the chamber.
As I outlined in my response to John Finnie, we will very much engage with both local authorities to see what we can do. The commitment is there to work with both councils but, as the member may know, significant capital costs are required to upgrade ferry services in Shetland and Orkney, and it is too early to say where we will get to. It is not just an issue of recurrent funding; a capital investment is required in both areas. We are sympathetic to both authorities, given the position that they find themselves in with historical pre-devolution arrangements being extended to the current date, and we are trying to work with them constructively. I hope to keep members informed of progress on that.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Linda Fabiani)
SNP
The next item of business is a statement by Paul Wheelhouse, the Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands, on “The Proposed National Islands Plan”. ...
Dr Alasdair Allan (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP)
SNP
I have just been told that the Gaelic translator is stuck in traffic, so I will translate myself.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Oh. We shall have double the time for Mr Allan’s question. I call Paul Wheelhouse. You have up to 10 minutes, please, minister. 15:14
The Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands (Paul Wheelhouse)
SNP
Today marks an important step forward in the historic journey for our islands that began with the passing of the Islands (Scotland) Bill on 30 May last year....
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
The minister will take questions on the issues raised in his statement. I will allow around 20 minutes for that. We are pushed for time so I would appreciate...
Jamie Greene (West Scotland) (Con)
Con
I thank the minister for advance sight of the statement. The islands ministerial role might be a coveted role, given the beauty and variety of Scotland’s isl...
Paul Wheelhouse
SNP
I recognise the importance of ferries, which were one of the islanders’ top priorities in relation to connectivity and transport. We are not dodging the issu...
Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I thank the minister for advance sight of the statement. As the translator is not here, I will stick to English with my questions. In the islanders’ respons...
Paul Wheelhouse
SNP
Colin Smyth makes a very fair point. I have mentioned the implementation plan a number of times. We had started work on it in order to take forward the 104 c...
Dr Alasdair Allan (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP)
SNP
Mar a tha fhios aig a’ mhinistear, tha crìonadh na h-àireimh-sluaigh am measg nan dùbhlan as motha a tha ro na h-Eileanan an Iar. Tha “fàs àireamh-sluaigh” a...
Paul Wheelhouse
SNP
That is a very important question, which builds on the point that was made by Colin Smyth. I recognise Dr Allan’s concern about depopulation. His view has be...
Jamie Halcro Johnston (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
The single issue that was raised most by participants in the consultation’s discussion events was transport. The proposed plan recognises the considerable co...
Paul Wheelhouse
SNP
Jamie Halcro Johnston makes a reasonable point about fixed links. We will reflect on that issue if it has been raised by islanders and has not been reflected...
Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP)
SNP
Having a workable islands plan is important, but it is critical that islanders can access the mainland and that visitors can visit our islands. We are curren...
Paul Wheelhouse
SNP
I recognise the huge frustration that the situation that has arisen will be causing, not just for Mr Gibson but for his constituents. I note that Peel Ports ...
Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Lab
The plan deals with depopulation by promising another plan. We all know what is needed to address depopulation: people need a job, a home and access to trans...
Paul Wheelhouse
SNP
Without any disrespect to Rhoda Grant, I point to the fact that the local authorities themselves have been encouraging us to develop an implementation plan. ...
John Finnie (Highlands and Islands) (Green)
Green
The First Minister declared a climate emergency and said that everything would be up for review. On page 24 of “The Proposed National Islands Plan”, the Sco...
Paul Wheelhouse
SNP
I recognise John Finnie’s and his colleagues long-standing opposition to investment in major roads. We may have to disagree on that. I also point out to Mr F...
Beatrice Wishart (Shetland Islands) (LD)
LD
I thank the minister for early sight of his statement, and recognise the work that has been done to get to this point. The Government recognises that transpo...
Paul Wheelhouse
SNP
That is the first question that I have responded to from Beatrice Wishart and I welcome her to the chamber. As I outlined in my response to John Finnie, we...
Stewart Stevenson (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP)
SNP
What progress is being made to introduce other measures that are in the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018?
Paul Wheelhouse
SNP
I will flag up two main areas where we are taking forward additional work under the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018. The first relates to island communities impa...
Donald Cameron (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
On page 34, the plan refers to the Scottish Government’s reaching 100 per cent—R100—target. Given that islands will be some of the last places to be digitall...
Paul Wheelhouse
SNP
Donald Cameron raises an important matter. Digital connectivity came out strongly in the feedback from islanders on the things that they want investment in. ...
Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD)
LD
I thank those who were involved in facilitating the consultation and the plan, but the leader of Orkney Islands Council has criticised it for having no commi...
Paul Wheelhouse
SNP
I have already given fairly full answers to two members on the point about internal ferry services, so I will use this answer to refer to the freight service...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
That concludes questions on the minister’s statement. Unfortunately, we did not manage to take questions from Tom Arthur and Angus MacDonald.