Islands MSPs call for Parliament to revisit the Islands Act
Orkney's MSP Liam McArthur and Highlands and Islands MSP Kristopher Leask have today called for the Scottish Parliament's Rural Affairs committee to conduct post legislative scrutiny of the Islands (Scotland) Act, in a letter co-signed by other MSP colleagues representing island communities.
The cross-party appeal comes as we approach the tenth anniversary of the legislation being passed by parliament and follows engagement with various island stakeholders who have expressed frustration that the legislation has failed to live up to expectations.
In the letter, the MSPs identified specific concerns around island impact assessments and the island-proofing of legislation, which does not appear to be conducted consistently and often seems to act as a ‘tick-box exercise’ rather than affecting meaningful change.
Commenting on the appeal, Mr McArthur said:
"The Islands Act was a landmark piece of legislation that set out to make structural changes to how laws and policy are developed and implemented. The aim was to avoid a one-size-fits-all approach that has for too long failed to recognise and meet the circumstances and needs of island communities.
"Nearly a decade on, that ambition has not been realised. You would be hard-pressed to find many islanders who feel confident that 'island-proofing' is being carried out with any rigour or consistency.
"The upcoming anniversary provides a timely opportunity for the Scottish Parliament to take stock and identify where meaningful reform is needed. I hope that the Rural Affairs Committee will give serious consideration to this request and engage closely with island stakeholders, whose knowledge and expertise will be essential in informing any change.
“We all have a shared interest in making sure legislation passed by parliament does what it says on the tin. That is certainly true of the Islands Act but this is unlikely to happen without greater use of post legislative scrutiny."
Mr Leask said:
“Islanders know first hand the reality of delivering and accessing services, doing business, and working in an island setting.
“It's only right that ten years on parliament re considers whether the Islands Act has delivered a policy environment which bakes in this consideration.
“I've seen time and time again examples of initiatives or funding mechanisms that simply don't recognise the additional challenges and different contacts we face.
“I'm delighted to be coming together with Liam and a broad group of other MSP's from across the Highlands and Islands encouraging parliament to take up this issue."