Meeting of the Parliament 21 May 2025
Having local voices and engaging with communities is of course vital as we look to deliver critical services.
As I was saying, at the end of 2023 we carried out a public consultation to inform a review of the national islands plan. While the plan was found to be ambitious and comprehensive, those who responded were clear that more needs to be done to improve outcomes for island communities. Notwithstanding the tumultuous times that have had to be navigated in the delivery of the national islands plan, we fully accept the results of the consultation and recognise that island communities continue to face challenges in areas including some that have been touched on today, such as housing, transport and access to health and social care services. I stress clearly that we are listening, and we will continue to work with islanders to deliver real improvements.
Having heard what we did through the consultation, and having reflected on what islanders have told us, we have concluded that a new national islands plan is needed. We have heard that the new plan must be more targeted, with fewer objectives and an even stronger focus on delivering tangible and relatable commitments. In recognition of the demographic challenges that many islands face, population attraction and retention will be the key and overarching objective for the new plan.