Dave Thompson MSP

Dave Thompson, SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch has declared today (06/10/15) that he will be campaigning for a Local Authority and a Constituency for Skye, Lochalsh and Lochaber.

Dave made his campaign known as part of a debate on the “Provisions for a Future Islands Bill” Consultation, which came off the back of last year’s “Our Islands, Our Future” Campaign.

The Bill proposes that island communities acquire additional powers, and stronger representation in the Scottish Parliament, and the creation of a National Islands Plan.

As part of that Bill, Mr Thompson would like to see the West Highlands and Islands, from Uig in Skye to Glencoe in Lochaber, having its own Local Authority and its own Scottish Parliamentary Constituency.

Mr Thompson said, “This Bill is a fantastic opportunity for everyone to help shape a fairer and more prosperous future for our Islands and help to drive important islands-specific legislation, which will have a significant impact on the lives if islanders for years to come.

“As part of the process we have a great opportunity for the West Highlands and Islands, from Uig in Skye to Glencoe in Lochaber, to have its own Local Authority and its own Scottish Parliamentary Constituency.

Dave went on, “The electorate of Skye, Lochalsh and Lochaber is around 27,000, compared to around 22,000 in Na h-Eileanan an lar, 18,000 in Shetland and 17,000 in Orkney, and Skye, Lochalsh and Lochaber has islands and remote mainland communities akin to islands and suffers from all the problems of connectivity that the three main island groups do.

“The roads are risible, the telecoms are terrible and the air services are absolutely non-existent. I hope the Minister will seriously consider my proposal and I will respond formally to the consultation so he can do so and will also write to him to ask for a meeting to pursue the matter”.

Note:

Dave’s speech below (To be checked against delivery).

Empowering Scotland’s Island Communities

Thank you Presiding Officer.

I echo my colleagues in welcoming this important debate, following the Scottish Government’s launching of its consultation on a proposed Islands Bill, on the back last year’s “Our Islands, Our Future” Campaign. The Bill proposes that island communities acquire additional powers, and stronger representation in the Scottish Parliament, and the creation of a National Islands Plan.

As an ex-islander myself, having spent 10 years in Stornoway, I very much welcome the section on Island Proofing, which will ensure that the Government will take into account the needs of the islands at the earliest possible stages of policy formulation.

The proposed Bill is a fantastic development, and especially so, for my constituency of Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, which includes many islands and remote coastal areas.

In considering this proposed Bill I have reflected, particularly, on my nearly five years as constituency MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, and have concluded that there is an immensely strong case for the West Highlands and Islands, from Uig in Skye to Glencoe in Lochaber, to have its own Local Authority and its own Scottish Parliamentary Constituency.

Mike Russel is right to complain that this debate is dominated by Orkney, Shetland and Na h-Eileanan an lar, which are little different to Skye, Lochalsh and Lochaber in terms of the challenges they face, and I give notice to the Minister that I am starting a campaign today to get such recognition for Skye, Lochalsh and Lochaber.

In this, I have the support of Ian Blackford, MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber, and will work closely with him to convince the Minister and bring this to fruition.

The electorate of Skye, Lochalsh and Lochaber is around 27,000, compared to around 22,000 in Na h-Eileanan an lar, 18,000 in Shetland and 17,000 in Orkney.

Skye, Lochalsh and Lochaber has islands and remote mainland communities akin to islands and suffers from all the problems of connectivity that the three main island groups do.

The roads are risible, the telecoms are terrible and the air services are absolutely non-existent. I hope the Minister will seriously consider my proposal and I will respond formally to the consultation so he can do so and will also write to him to ask for a meeting to pursue the matter.

Of course island communities like these in Skye, Lochalsh and Lochaber need ferries and, since the Scottish Government came to power in 2007, it has invested significantly to support lifeline ferry services, including the commissioning of new vessels and harbour infrastructure.

A record £1,000 million has been invested, and, with the Road Equivalent Tariff, now fully rolled out, this will mean a reduction in the cost of ferry travel for all passengers, coaches and small commercial vehicles to all of Scotland’s islands and also very much welcome the ferry change for 2016/17.

All of this on top of the recent excellent news from Calmac that new direct daily return sailings will be put on between Lochboisdale in South Uist and Mallaig in my constituency, as well as an increase in sailings between Mallaig and Armadale in Skye.

Although the increase in sailings between Mallaig and Armadale is to be welcomed, I would caution the Minister that total capacity must also be maintained and even increased. These improvements exemplify clearly that the Scottish Government is committed to essential ferry services for the communities that rely on them, ensuring that our islands remain attractive and accessible to visitors.

Of course, in the context of devolution for the islands, it is not just about essential ferry services, but also air services. As I said earlier, our air services in Skye, Lochalsh and Lochaber are absolutely non-existent, but there is hope on the horizon.

The Fly Skye campaign group have been promoting the case for the restoration of passenger air links to the Island of Skye for a number of years and there is no doubt that the reintroduction of air links from Skye to the Central Belt would benefit the economy of Skye and Lochalsh and would bring it into line with other regions of similar populations to Skye, who already have a range of transport options.

Take Wick, for example. It is on the mainland and is around the same distance from Edinburgh as Skye, but it also has a well-used passenger airport.

The capital for such a service would be no more than £2.8 million and it is estimated that such a service would result in an additional annual spend in the local economy of around £300,000 and would create numerous jobs.

I would welcome support from the Government on this, as I believe a fully functioning air service to Skye is long over due.

This Bill is an important opportunity for everyone to help shape a fairer and more prosperous future for our Islands and help to shape important islands-specific legislation, which will have a significant impact on the lives of islanders for years to come.

This is an opportunity we should not miss, not only to consolidate island groups like Orkney, Shetland and Na h-Eileanan an lar but also to create a new peripheral and island Local Authority and Parliamentary Constituency in the West Highlands from Uig in Skye to Glencoe in Lochaber, which would be a huge step forward for the people of Skye, Lochalsh and Lochaber.