2 June 2015

Plans for more autonomy for Scotland’s islands are at the heart of a consultation that will be published later this summer, the First Minister has announced.

Nicola Sturgeon spoke to council leaders and officials during a meeting of the Convention of the Highlands and Islands (COHI) in Kirkwall – her first visit to Scotland’s islands since becoming First Minister.

FM @NicolaSturgeon in Orkney to speak at the Convention of the Highlands and Islands. #springcohi2015 #ScotIslands pic.twitter.com/KpE2biyXNg

— First Minister (@ScotGovFM) June 1, 2015

She said the consultation would help draft a future Islands Bill to provide more power, equality and protection for the Islands to allow them to build a more prosperous and fairer future for their communities.

It follows the publication of the ‘Empowering Scotland’s Island Communities’ prospectus in Orkney last June – the most comprehensive empowerment package for our islands put forward by any government.

The First Minister also confirmed there will be a full consultation across Scotland in due course on the long term arrangements for managing Crown Estate assets, she said:

“We have previously committed to looking at devolving more autonomy to our islands and decentralise decision making to those who live and work in these unique parts of Scotland. We want to work to make our islands stronger and let them flourish.”

Vision for the islands #springcohi2015 @ScotGovFM @JohnSwinney @DerekMackayMSP @MarcoBiagiMSP http://t.co/Bonb2W9zUK pic.twitter.com/bOysJRhs6Y

— Fergus Ewing MSP (@FergusEwingMSP) June 1, 2015