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Islands (Scotland) Bill SPICe Briefing Pàipear-ullachaidh SPICe Islands (Scotland) Bill Ailsa Burn-Murdoch The Islands (Scotland) Bill was introduced to the Scottish Parliament on 9 June 2017. This briefing provides an overview of the background to the introduction of the Bill, a brief summary of the Bill, and links to further reading. 4 September 2017 SB 17-61 Islands (Scotland) Bill, SB 17-61 Contents Executive Summary _____________________________________________________3 Background ____________________________________________________________5 Scotland's islands ______________________________________________________5 Scotland's Census 2011________________________________________________6 Demographics______________________________________________________6 Health ____________________________________________________________7 Economic Activity ___________________________________________________7 The path to legislation ___________________________________________________8 Our Islands, Our Future ________________________________________________8 Lerwick Declaration ___________________________________________________9 Empowering Scotland's Island Communities ________________________________9 UK Government Islands Framework _____________________________________10 Representing island communities - wider context ___________________________ 11 European Small Islands Federation ____________________________________12 The Smart Islands Initiative __________________________________________12 Changes impacting legislation ____________________________________________12 Scottish independence________________________________________________12 EU membership _____________________________________________________13 Consultation and Bill Introduction_________________________________________14 Bill Contents __________________________________________________________15 Part 2 - National Islands Plan ____________________________________________15 Part 3 - Duties in relation to Island Communities______________________________15 Part 4 - Representation of Island Communities _______________________________16 Constituency of Na h-Eilneanan an Iar____________________________________16 Local Government elections____________________________________________16 Part 5 - Development in the Scottish Island Marine Area _______________________17 Financial Memorandum _________________________________________________17 Related Briefings________________________________________________________0 Bibliography___________________________________________________________19 2 Islands (Scotland) Bill, SB 17-61 Executive Summary In Spring 2013, following the announcement that there would be a Scottish Independence Referendum, Scotland's three island authorities - Orkney, Shetland and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar - formed a joint constitutional working group. This culminated in the launch of the Our Islands Our Future campaign in June 2013, and subsequent commitments from both the Scottish and UK Governments to better support and empower Scotland's island communities. The Islands (Scotland) Bill was introduced to the Scottish Parliament on 9 June 2017. The Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee has been assigned as the lead committee in scrutiny of the Bill. According to the Scottish Government, the Bill- “ introduces a number of measures to underpin the Government's objective of ensuring that there is a sustained focus across Government and the public sector to meet the needs of island communities both now and in the future.” Scottish Government, 20171 The Bill focuses on provisions designed to strengthen and protect Scotland's island communities. Key provisions include- 1. The development of a National Islands Plan, which would set out the main objectives and strategy of the Scottish Government in relation to improving outcomes for island communities. Rather than set out a proposed plan, the Bill provides that, following further consultation, the first National Island Plan would be laid before the Scottish Parliament within 12 months from the date on which the Act comes into force. 2. The introduction of duties, placed upon Scottish Ministers and other relevant public bodies, to have regard to island communities in exercising their functions. Under the Bill public authorities, when introducing a new or revised policy, strategy or service, would have to prepare an island communities impact assessment when the impact on island communities is likely to to be different from the effect on other communities. 3. The protection of the Scottish parliamentary constituency boundary of Na h-Eileanan an Iar from variation. 4. The allowance of exceptions, for inhabited islands, to the standard three or four member ward rule for local government electoral wards. 5. The introduction of a regulation-making power for the Scottish Government to create a licensing scheme, following a request from a local authority, in relation to works in or under the sea in the coastal waters surrounding islands for up to 12 nautical miles. Whilst this Bill does not, in light of Scotland's decision in 2014 to remain part of the UK, reflect any constitutional change for the islands, it does reflect some of the aspirations and themes present in the Our Islands Our future campaign and the subsequent Scottish Government commitment to the islands. Other early aspirations for the islands have been, or are likely to be, reflected in legislation and policy relating to public bodies, the Crown Estate, community empowerment and local democracy. There is, however, a lack of detail on what might be included in an islands plan, and it is likely that stakeholders will be concerned about the lack of explicit reference to key concerns such as infrastructure and access to public services. 3 Islands (Scotland) Bill, SB 17-61 Embedded in much of the early policy stance and external campaigning on behalf of the islands was a focus on strengthening the voice of island communities within the EU. What remains to be seen is the impact that Brexit may have on Scotland's islands, and how the Scottish and UK Governments will react to this. This briefing aims to give an overview of the background to the Bill's introduction, and highlight the areas covered by pre-legislation campaigning which do not feature in the Bill. Although detail is given on each section of the Bill, an effort has been made to avoid replicating the detail provided in the Scottish Government's Policy Memorandum, including its summary of consultation responses. 4 Islands (Scotland) Bill, SB 17-61 Background Scotland's islands At the time of the 2011 Census, there were 93 inhabited islands in Scotland, with a population of 103,700 - 2% of Scotland's population 2 . Of these islands, only five are connected to the Scottish mainland by bridge or causeway 3 . Residents of more remote islands rely on ferry crossings and air travel to reach the mainland and larger islands, and key services such as secondary and higher education, care, and medical services. Scotland has three island authorities - Orkney, Shetland and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles). In addition, the Highland, Argyll and Bute and North Ayrshire local authorities cover island regions as well as mainland regions. 5 Islands (Scotland) Bill, SB 17-61 Figure 1: Scotland's islands Scotland's Census 2011 Scotland's Census findings show, in broad terms, how island communities differ from the mainland. 2 Demographics The population of the islands increased by 4 per cent between 2001 and 2011, more than reversing the 3 per cent decrease recorded between the 1991 and 2001 Censuses. The average island resident was older than in Scotland – their median age was 45 (it was 41 in Scotland). While 21% of island residents were aged 65 or over, the proportion nationally 6 Islands (Scotland) Bill, SB 17-61 was 17%. The proportion of island residents aged under 16 fell from 20% in 2001 to 17% in 2011 2 . Health According to the National Records for Scotland's report, Scotland’s Census 2011: Inhabited islands 2 , island residents- “ reported their general health as marginally better than the Scotland population as a whole: 83% of island residents reported their health as being ‘Very good’ or ‘Good’ compared with 82% for Scotland. The proportion of island residents with a long-term (lasting 12 months or more) health problem or disability that limited their day-to-day activities was just under 20%, similar to the proportion for Scotland.” National Records of Scotland, 20152 Economic Activity The proportion of island residents aged 16 to 74 who were in employment increased from 63% in 2001 to 67% in 2011. Island residents were more likely to be self-employed (13%) or part-time employees (16%) than in Scotland as a whole (7% and 13% respectively). For island residents aged 16 to 74 in employment, the proportions working in ‘Agriculture, forestry and fishing’ (7%) and ‘Construction’ (11%) in 2011 were higher than in Scotland (2% and 8% respectively). The proportion of island residents working in the ‘Services’ sector increased from 70% in 2001 to 74% in 2011 2 . 7 Islands (Scotland) Bill, SB 17-61 The path to legislation Figure 2: Timeline showing the steps leading to, and including, the introduction of the Islands (Scotland) Bill. Our Islands, Our Future In Spring 2013, following the announcement that there would be a Scottish Independence Referendum, Scotland's three island authorities - Orkney, Shetland and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar - formed a joint constitutional working group. The aim of this working group was to consider the relevance, potential
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