UK Government’s 10 point plan for islands 17/8/14
The UK Government has drawn a 10 point plan for the Scottish islands:
- It includes what is called “islands proofing” so government policy and legislation takes account of islands’ priorities. This should be an existing requirement under European law but has been largely ignored by government.
- Economic benefits: A new Islands Working Group will be supported by a dedicated position in the Scotland Office and have its agenda set by the islands, covering priorities like Islands Innovation Zones, construction costs and community benefit.
- A new Oil and Gas Islands forum: The framework recognises the islands are vital to
meeting the UK’s energy needs. The UK Government says it will work with the Islands
Councils to assist strategic decision-
making on future priorities for the oil and gas industry. This will allow the councils to work more closely with the UK Government and industry.
- Renewable energy: No guarantee of a sub-
sea interconnector cable to boost the local economy. Instead, the framework includes a commitment to the Renewable Energy Delivery Forum, focussed on getting transmission links to the islands. The UK Government also shares the three islands councils’ ambitions for deployment of renewable energy and for research and development activity, and it says it will ensure that obstacles to securing the necessary infrastructure are tackled effectively.
- Social needs: The UK Government will work with the councils on the particular challenges in the areas of transport, postal services, digital connectivity and fuel poverty.
- Transport: This includes seeking an extension to the Air Discount Scheme and a commitment to consider fiscal measures to support transport connectivity with the island groups.
- Postal services: The UK Government is to work with retailers, consumer groups and enforcers to ensure parcel delivery charges to remote regions are fair and transparent, in line with the UK statement of principles for parcel deliveries.
- Digital connectivity: The UK Government is committed to fund the Mobile Infrastructure Project, working to provide improved mobile coverage in areas of the UK which are most difficult to reach, aiming to address market failures in these areas.
- It seeks to it provide parity of minimum service level between the UK mainland and islands areas by delivering standard broadband of at least 2Mbps to all premises in Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles. Working closely with the communications industry, the UK Government is committed to fund research to identify new technologies to support delivery of superfast broadband services to the most difficult to reach areas of the UK. The UK Government will also work collaboratively with the three Islands Councils, as well as the Scottish Government and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, to identify how these technologies can be implemented in Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles.
- Crown Estate: Hopes that control of the seabed would transfer to the island councils has not happened. The framework pledges to strengthen the transparency and accountability of the Crown Estate.
- EU and representation on government bodies: A dedicated point of contact to offer advice and guidance to the islands within the UK Representation to the EU. The framework includes increased island representation on other government bodies, including the Scottish Business Board and PILOT.