Chamber and committees

We have undertaken detailed engagement on the islands bond. We would not want it to duplicate or cut across other Government initiatives, as that would not make sense.

I will hand over to Erica Clarkson to provide more information on that.

As you can see from the strategic objectives that we have set out in the plan, it touches almost every other part of Government. An important part of my role in Government is engaging with my colleagues to ensure that our islands and rural areas are taken into account when policy is formed. Island community impact assessments, which were introduced under the landmark Islands (Scotland) Act 2018, are important in that respect. Such assessments are an obligation and a critical part of the process.

In addition, I engage with my ministerial colleagues on cross-cutting issues. I mentioned some of the groups that we have for continuous engagement. One of those is the islands strategic forum with local authorities. There will often be another minister there from the relevant policy area to discuss matters with local authorities and chief executives. It is important to have cross-portfolio working, whether in transport, health or housing. A variety of ministers have come along to previous meetings. Such engagement is critical. Ensuring that issues relating to islands are considered across other portfolios is a vital part of my role in Government.

I can jump in and answer anyway.

Now that we are out of the EU, that engagement is a bit more difficult. We are not members, so we do not have exactly the same connections or involvement that we would like to have had and to maintain. However, we still look to engage closely with our European neighbours, particularly on issues such as the ones that we have been discussing, which affect us all. I know that there will be similar challenges in other parts of the EU.

As we have talked about in previous responses, we do not want to reinvent the wheel. It is important to look at what is happening elsewhere and to engage with our European counterparts. As an example, the 26th United Nations climate change conference of the parties—COP26—was a great forum; I took part in an islands event and engaged with my equivalent ministers in other Administrations in Europe and further afield to talk about how to address the similar challenges that we face. That continuing engagement is really important in allowing us to see what learning we can take from one another.

Francesco would like to come in.

It is disappointing to hear that theme come out of the survey. We want to encourage people and young islanders to return to and live and work in our island communities. A few different issues come out of the survey: we have an ageing population, and younger working-age people move away and do not return. It is important that we do what we can to address those issues.

Various initiatives are under way in relation to student retention. We have to tackle issues such as the lack of affordable housing and connectivity, whether that be transport or digital. We need to make it as easy as possible for people who want to come to live and work in our island communities. It is important that we address those multifaceted issues.

That is important, and it touches on the example that Jenni Minto raised. Industry has played a critical part in solving some of those problems, so it needs to be part of that conversation. I hope that such engagement will take place through the remote, rural and islands housing action plan. We must make sure that we are doing that in the right way, through collaboration.

Our planning policy is important in encouraging that. We previously had a discussion in committee on NPF4 and its focus on vacant and derelict properties and bringing them back into use. We need to knit those different strategies together and work collaboratively to ensure that we are delivering and providing affordable houses where they are needed by communities and suiting the needs of businesses now and into the future.

There is a transport section in the annual report, and within that are the objectives and commitments that we have made in relation to ferries.

You are absolutely right that connectivity is vital in getting goods and services to islands, as well as for people to access healthcare appointments and live their day-to-day lives. There are issues in relation to that and there are a number of pieces of work that are on-going. I talked about the strategic transport projects review and the consultation that has been under way. There is also the islands connectivity plan. We aim to have the draft of that plan available for consultation towards the end of this year. It will be the replacement for the ferries plan and will consider the issues you mentioned.

Francesco Sindico spoke about the importance of partnerships. You are absolutely right that a lot of exciting work is happening on Islay. Those critical industries, which are looking at their sustainability and the impact that that has right through the supply chain, are taking a positive lead. It is critical that we work with them so that we do not duplicate anything that is already happening but do support their work.

I know that the bus provisions had been delayed because of the pandemic and because of on-going work with Brexit. We are due to engage with local authorities and with communities on that, too. I would be happy to take away that issue to look, in particular, at what more support we can provide.

As a Government, we have already given that commitment. I am happy to provide that assurance again today.