CONVENTION OF THE HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS MONDAY 15 MARCH 2021 VIRTUAL MEETING LIST OF DELEGATES Surname First Name Company Barron Bill Crofting Commission Brodie Chris SDS Bryan Amanda Crown Estate Scotland Burns Roddy Moray Council Burr Malcolm Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Caddick Carolyn Cairngorms National Park Campbell Angus NatureScot Cantlay Mike SFC Christie Alasdair Highland Council Cooper Alastair Shetland Islands Council Coutts Garry UHI Craigie Michael Shetland Islands Council Currie Robin Argyll and Bute Council Davidson Margaret Highland Council Dodds Alistair Highlands and Islands Enterprise Dudek Pam NHS Highland Foxley Michael West Highland College UHI Gallagher Alex North Ayrshire Council Kearney Liam Scottish Government Kemp John UHI Leadbitter Graham Moray Council Lewis Jane UHI MacInnes Mary Bord na Gaidhlig MacIver Calum Iain Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Mackay Roddie Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Mackenzie Rod Crofting Commission MacLennan Shona Bord na Gaidhlig McCutcheon Russell North Ayrshire Council McDade Xander Cairngorms National Park Milne Pippa Argyll and Bute Council Mitchell Frank SDS Mundell John Orkney Islands Council Pearce Hilary Scottish Government Robertson Boyd NHS Highland Robinson Gary NHS Shetland Sheridan Stephen SDS Stockan James Orkney Islands Council Thurso John VisitScotland Walker Todd UHI 1 Wright Charlotte Highlands and Islands Enterprise Yeates Damien SDS 2 CONVENTION OF THE HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS MONDAY 15 MARCH 2021 VIRTUAL MEETING John Swinney: Welcome to the Convention of the Highlands and Islands for our spring meeting and it certainly does appear spring-like out there. Welcome to everybody. Once again we’re meeting virtually and the discussion we’ll have today, despite the fact that we’re scattered across a whole range of geographies remains very focused on the work that is undertaken collectively in the Highlands and Islands, so I extend a warm welcome to colleagues from all of the organisations that are represented in our discussion today. A number of my ministerial colleagues are to be involved today. I can see on my screen so far, Fiona Hyslop and Fergus Ewing and there will be others that are involved. I will be around for most of the day. I’m going to have to duck out around about two- ish for other commitments and Fergus Ewing, you’ll complete the chairing of the meeting. This, of course, is the final meeting of the Convention of the Highlands and Islands before the Scottish Parliamentary elections on 6th May so a very warm welcome to everybody to the event. If I could just go through a few points of housekeeping before we go much further. If I could say to colleagues to switch off cameras unless you are – if you are not speaking at that particular time and to remain muted if you are not speaking. If we could use the raise hand function to ask to make a contribution, I think that’s probably the most efficient way of participating and my colleagues who are leading the sessions will look out for different indications from colleagues. The day’s structure is as follows. We’re shortly going to go on to have a discussion about the vital issue of population questions followed by EU exit and the various investment funds associated and implicated by EU exit. We’ll have a discussion on workforce and skills and then on crofting and on Gaelic and the post-COVID recovery. The meeting today will be recorded and transcribed so there will be full record of the discussions that we have and there will also be live tweeting with the Convention hashtag springcohi2021 which is all in the papers for colleagues. Before we go onto the first substantive item, let me just say a couple of things about the papers and the materials before the Convention today. The first is that we have an additional paper on the Regional Economic Partnership model for the Highlands and Islands. Now, this was obviously discussed at a previous session and I think there’s a lot of very substantial information within the paper and consideration I think needs to be given to what role such a model could perform in the Highlands and Islands and whether there is particular benefit in taking forward such an approach. Obviously, that’s an issue that we can come back to in the course of our discussions. It may come up in – like what I say just now, colleagues are free to make some comments, or it may also come up in the session on population. 3 The other opening comment in terms of follow on from our previous sessions is that there is an update on the outcomes that we agreed at the last session and I would simply say to colleagues that if they wish to make any comments in relation to those points, I’d happily take those forward just now, but I don’t see anyone seeking to make a contribution at – now. I’m just trying to work out – Charlotte, you wanted to make a comment about the Regional Economic Partnership. Charlotte Wright from HIE. Charlotte. Charlotte Wright: Just if that’s helpful just now, Deputy First Minister, I could just maybe outline what we’ve done since the last CoHI when this item was raised. Highlands and Islands Enterprise have had discussion with the Highlands and Islands Leaders Forum which was really helpful. Also, at each of the bilateral meetings that we hold with the local authorities and also been reviewed at senior officers’ groups. There has been really strong support for what exists at a local place-based level within the Highlands and Islands with a number of partnerships that are strong and effective at the moment. I think that probably reflects the fact that Highlands and Islands doesn’t operate as one economy, but due to its diversity, it operates as a number of economies. I guess a main concern that came out of a proposal for a Highlands and Islands- based REP was around duplication or any additional layering, but there was a consensus around if there was a potential role for a Highlands and Islands REP, it needed to have a clear focus. That could be around common agenda items not discussed elsewhere such as education and skills, connectivity in its wider sense and also what potential role that grouping could have in the post-EU funding which I guess we’ll talk about later. Also, about being a strong advocate voice for the region overall. Dependent on what came out of all of the discussions today, certainly HIE’s really happy to take this forward and see whether there is merit in such a partnership, what its role is and how we’d make sure it has a clear role and function. John Swinney: Thanks Charlotte. Can I ask Alex Gallagher to make a contribution. Alex. Alex Gallagher: Yeah, thanks Deputy First Minister. It’s on the outcome from the COVID impact – first outcome. I think I have little problem with what’s been said, but you may have seen – I’ve certainly seen in the press that Transport Scotland as CalMac too, increase the ferry charges. The charges were held down last year so we’re getting a double impact this year and in particular this has a big impact on the freight charges. I would think that if we’re looking at the islands recovering from COVID then I think this sort of impost is probably not very helpful. I don’t know if you can do anything about it, but I think it’s the wrong thing to be doing at this time and I don’t know if anyone else in the other islands feels it. I know for instance, on Arran, we’re now paying about £112 for a three-metre commercial carrier which is going to put cost onto essential foods on Arran. I think this is a not helpful move at this time and it doesn’t help the recovery. I think it’s bad for the COVID recovery and I thought it’s worth making a comment on it. 4 John Swinney: Okay, thanks Alex. I’ll take that point away and – well, if my officials can raise that with Paul Wheelhouse who’s the responsible minster. I see Roddie Mackay wants to come in. Roddie. Roddie Mackay: Yes. Just to reiterate that point. We’ve already written about it. It just seems that when the government is trying to do all it can to aid economic recovery in the islands post-COVID, it seems the left-hand is doing one thing and the right-hand is doing another. If we are going to increase these fare charges, it will have a damaging effect on our economies. I would support what Alex is saying there and look forward to feedback on it. John Swinney: Okay, I’ll raise that with Paul Wheelhouse in the light of the comments. Anyone else want to come in on that? Okay, right. Just trying to follow the raised hands here, but I think I’ve got everybody. I don’t think I’m missing anyone. Right, okay, that’s fine. On the point that – sorry, I’ll take that away and raise that will Paul. On the issues that Charlotte raised on the Regional Economic Partnership, I think the – you know, we’re – I certainly acknowledge the importance of avoiding duplication. We’ve already got a lot of good arrangements in place here. A lot of fora for discussion. This is one of them. There are leaders’ groupings and various other bodies. I think all of us want to be in a position where there is alignment between the different functions and priorities that are taken forward so if we keep that in mind but avoid duplication then we can perhaps reflect on what’s the most appropriate way to take forward such a concept.