New proposals to protect island communities

Proposed legislation aimed at strengthening and protecting island communities in Scotland has been published at Holyrood.

The Islands (Scotland) Bill involves a requirement to “island proof” future laws and policies and to give the Western Isles Scottish parliamentary constituency statutory protection against boundary changes.

Further measures in the bill include changes to regulations to enable council wards on the islands with one or two members, and the creation of a National Islands Plan which will be reported on each year.

ABERDEEN