Chamber and committees

I want to move on to the issue of carbon neutral islands. My colleague Dr Allan mentioned the differences in transmission charges. The other side of that is that our islands are brilliantly situated to contribute to the blue economy and renewable energy, whether we are talking about tidal power, community wind turbines, small hydro power schemes, the community heating network scheme in Iona or the big W1 project off Islay and Tiree. I would like some information on how the Scottish Government is working and what it is doing to ensure that islands are supported in their drive to carbon neutrality.

I feel that I am kind of giving you a road trip round the islands in my constituency, cabinet secretary.

On Friday, I was on Jura, which is experiencing population growth and attracting younger populations. Quite rightly, the development trust and the community council there are incredibly proud of the work that they have been doing. However, they raised concerns about volunteer fatigue and who will take the island on to the next stage. Given that islands are not the same and that each has its own unique character, how is your work focusing on the differences across the islands? We can also talk about learning from other islands, as well as those in our own communities.

Ariane Burgess asked about housing, which was also raised as an issue when I was on Jura. I know that you have visited Colonsay, where a fantastic partnership exists between the community, the Scottish Government and the salmon business there. One suggestion that was raised by people on Jura was about how to raise funds for housing through community share ownership or wider share ownership of housing. There are lots of innovative ideas, and I am pleased to hear that you hope to get out and listen to communities. I would hope that the listening process is the short part and that the action is the big part. I would be interested to know how you plan to move forward with the ideas that communities have suggested about those issues.

I have the privilege of representing Argyll and Bute, which includes lots of amazing islands. You mentioned the Kerrera road project, which has made a huge difference. The island communities are working together to find different solutions to their problems, whether they be with housing, renewables or community land and asset ownership. Many of those issues fall under different ministerial portfolios. How do you work with your colleagues to ensure that the specifics of the islands are included in all policy areas?

That is very helpful.

When I was on Islay at the weekend, I visited the Bowmore distillery. I spent a couple of hours with the distillery manager, who told me about the increasing time that he spends on greening the process. The distillery has looked at transportation, water usage and power consumption, and it is trying to improve the heating in the adjacent swimming pool. There are lots of projects going on. I know that other distilleries on the island are also following plans. Whisky is a really important industry for Scotland and contributes billions of pounds to the UK Treasury. What engagement has the Scottish Government had with the UK Government to ensure that places such as Islay get appropriate investment to support the important and immediate work that is needed to reduce carbon footprints?

Earlier, you talked about the five-year review that is coming up. How do you plan to get involved in that? What conversations have you had with NatureScot to date?

I represent Argyll and Bute, and I recognise the goose issue, as it is an issue on some of the islands in my constituency. You are correct to say that Islay produces whisky; it is also, over the winter, home to about 15,000 barnacle geese and Greenland white-fronted geese. Of course, it is also home to farmers and, importantly, crofters. We must consider the whole range of users.

I want to go off on a slight tangent. Driving around Argyll and Bute, I can see that there is a vast increase in the number of Canada geese. Given the increase that there has been in the number of greylag geese since the petition was first lodged, I am interested in how other things have changed around goose numbers—I am thinking specifically of Canada geese, which are not indigenous to Scotland.

Pat Togher, do the health and social care partnerships across Scotland have a similar co-ordinated approach?

That is very helpful—thank you very much, Gayle. Do any of the local authority representatives have anything to add to that?

I was very interested to hear about the meeting of local authority chief executives. I am interested to know how you are learning from what you are each doing, and whether that has changed how you have been operating.

You are on my screen just now, Ms Ritchie, so I direct that question to you first.