Islands Conference

Speaking at the Our Islands Our Future Conference in Orkney, Minister for Local Government and Planning, Derek Mackay said:

“We believe that the people who live and work in Scotland are best placed to make decisions about the future. The Lerwick Declaration, our response to the enthusiasm of the Our islands, Our future proposal, and the Ministerial Working Group, will see the Scottish Government and the island authorities consider the opportunities for island communities in the context of the referendum and the further devolution of decision-making responsibility to the islands.

“For example, we believe that Scotland’s communities should benefit from development of the seabed and marine resources. The UK Parliament’s Scottish Affairs Committee report on the Crown Estate in Scotland, published in March 2012, recommended the devolution of the Crown Estate in Scotland – a position that has also received cross party support in the Scottish Parliament.

“The UK Government has ignored these recommendations and there is no commitment now or in the future to allow island communities to benefit directly from the development of their coastal waters.

“Research commissioned by the Scottish Parliament last year estimated that the UK Government’s policies would remove a staggering £15 million from the islands’ economies by 2014-15 - £6 million from the Western Isles, £5 million from Orkney and £4 million from Shetland.

“Taking action on the crown estate clearly requires the powers of independence. Just as a vote for independence provides an opportunity to consider how the challenges faced by islands could be addressed by all the mechanisms of government – including economic policy, taxation policy, capital investment and borrowing decisions, infrastructure improvements and welfare policy.

“I will be working closely with the three island councils to develop proposals which address the issues and aspirations set out by the islands in their campaign, with the Scottish Government firmly of the view that only independence offers the opportunity for such progress.”