Self-Catering in Rural Scotland: ASSC Publishes Response to the Islands Bill
The Scottish Government has introduced an Islands Bill, which is currently being scrutinised by the Scottish Parliament’s Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee.
The Bill encompasses a disparate set of issues and aims to strengthen and protect Scotland’s island communities by:
- Developing a National Islands Plan;
- Introducing duties on Ministers and relevant public bodies to have regard to island communities in exercising their functions;
- Protecting the Scottish parliamentary constituency boundary of Na h-Eileanan an Iar;
- Allowing exceptions, for inhabited islands, to the standard three or four member ward rule for local government electoral wards; and
- Introducing a regulation-making power for the Scottish Government to create a licensing scheme in regard to works under the sea in coastal waters surrounding islands.
The ASSC welcomes the central thrust of the Islands Bill and its objective of ensuring that the needs of island communities are met now and in the future.
Briefing Paper – Self-catering in rural Scotland