Islands Bill Report

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has welcomed the publication of the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee's Stage 1 Report on the Islands (Scotland) Bill (») (Opens in a new window or downloads a file).

Leader Roddie Mackay said: "This is a very welcome step forward in progressing the Islands Bill. The Comhairle has been campaigning long and hard for many of the measures recommended by the Committee including ‘Island proofing’ – by which new legislation will have to be considered for its effect on Island communities. It is also to be welcomed that the Committee has recommended that in the event that an island community is disadvantaged by legislation then there should be a means to revisit that legislation.

Protection of the parliamentary constituency of Na h-Eileanan an Iar is also long overdue and affords the Western Isles the same protection as the Shetland and Orkney constituencies."