National Islands Plan and Island Communities Impact Assessments

Overview

This consultation supports the development of the National Islands Plan as set out in Part 2 of the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018.

We want the National Islands Plan to be a document that builds on what works well on Scottish islands, and addresses the challenges faced by islands and their communities.

Why your views matter

The Plan will set out how the Scottish Government, local authorities and other public agencies might work to improve outcomes for island communities. Scottish Ministers will be asked to report back to Scottish Parliament every year on progress towards the goals included in the National Islands Plan.

The Plan, therefore, is key to how we will all work together with island communities in the future. It is vital that as many people as possible who live, work and interact with Scotland’s islands and their communities take part in this consultation. We want to hear people’s experiences and especially, their views about what we can build on and do differently in the future. The questions set out below aim to give people the chance to shape the National Islands Plan in a way that truly responds to their interests and aspirations.

One of the key measures in the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018 is to require everyone who makes or designs new polices, strategies or services to consider how these will impact on islands. Island Communities Impact Assessments will be one way in which relevant authorities can consider the impact of these polices, strategies or services on islands. Guidance will be developed on how these impact assessments will operate and we believe that your input to this consultation will help us with this. We want to hear your views on both the National Islands Plan and the Islands Communities Impact assessments, we will use your feedback to develop them for launch later in 2019.

Read the consultation paper.

Co-chomhairleachadh air Plana Nàiseanta nan Eilean agus Stiùireadh air Measaidhean Buaidh air Coimhearsnachdan nan Eilean. (Consultation on the National Islands Plan and Guidance on Island Communities Impact Assessments (Gaelic Version).)