I wrote to the Scottish Government recently to ask them to recommit to our rural & island communities and make clear an SNP Government will work for them.
I am glad the First Minister recognises the importance of these communities, and the need to listen to them in order to support their needs.
You can read the full letter below:
The full text of the letter:
Dear Emma
Thank you for your letter of 27 May, regarding the ending of the Bute House Agreement and the implications for policies affecting rural and island areas.
As a government, we recognise the incredible opportunity in our rural and island communities, as well as the significant and unique challenges they face. We are committed to ensuring communities feel that our policies are heard by, and work for them. Both Scotland’s first National Islands Plan (published in 2019) and the Rural Delivery Plan (to be published in the lifetime of this parliament) capture the spread of actions and interventions that government is, and will be, taking which impact rural and island communities respectively.
The National Islands Plan was drafted after significant consultation with island communities. The Plan aims to meaningfully improve outcomes for Scotland’s islands in a way that increases their resilience, wellbeing and sustainability. Following a public consultation held last year, and in response to the feedback we received from islanders, the Scottish Government will publish a new National Islands Plan next year. Development of the new Plan will be informed by close collaboration with island local authorities, communities and delivery partners to ensure we identify the most effective policies and investments to continue building a sustainable future for our islands. The Rural Delivery Plan is also being drafted with the extensive input from communities across Scotland.
I have confirmed that tackling the climate crisis is a top priority for this Government. As the recent significant investments in renewable energy facilities at Ardersier and Nigg have shown, Scotland can share in the enormous economic growth and job opportunities offered by the global transition to net zero. We must take the public and businesses along with us, as we are doing by supporting people through the cost crisis with our free public travel schemes. Scotland’s economy grew by 57 per cent at the same time as we cut our greenhouse gas emissions by nearly half so we believe that there are lots of opportunities to improve our economy as we play our part in tackling the climate emergency. Our commitment to a just transition to net zero by 2045, five years ahead of the UK, is unwavering
Our approach to the Net Zero Transition provides a monumental opportunity, which we must embrace, and one that is central towards achieving our mission to tackle poverty and protect people from harm. I agree that it is vital that we do not have a detrimental impact on those in, or at risk of, fuel poverty as we decarbonise homes, but instead drive progress towards our ambitious statutory targets. Our forthcoming ESJTP will set out our vision for a future net zero energy system that delivers affordable, secure and clean energy and provides high quality jobs and economic opportunities.
Our Carbon Neutral Islands project demonstrates how local communities can be empowered to pursue locally tailored and developed decarbonisation efforts that not only benefit the environment but also support local economies, facilities and community wellbeing. Whilst the project currently directly support six islands, it is intended to benefit all Scottish islands. The project is developing its approach sharing good practices with other islands.
Scotland’s Island communities already face the highest levels of fuel poverty and we recognise the additional costs of delivering services to island communities. Since December 2022, our Island Cost Crisis Emergency Fund has already provided £2.4 million to mitigate against some of the distinct challenges faced by islanders; including a colder climate, higher fuel and energy costs, and reduced consumer choice.
Last month, in recognition of the unique challenges islanders face, I announced an additional £1 million round of the Islands Cost Crisis Emergency Fund to help local authorities support island communities through cost of living pressures, with a renewed focus on tackling child poverty. This is in addition to the £4 million allocation to island local authorities announced earlier this year in connection to the ongoing review of the Special Islands Needs Allowance. Additionally, the Minister for Climate Action chaired a rural energy consumers working group last year which progressed a range of meaningful, collaborative actions, within our limited powers, to support rural communities. You can find more information on the working group here.
However, as you will know, the key fiscal and legislative levers remain with the UK Government and we will continue to call for the introduction of a social tariff scheme to provide the right and fair support for some of the most vulnerable energy consumers across the whole of Scotland, including rural and island communities.
From your time as Minister with responsibility for Population, you will be aware of the priority which the Scottish Government places on addressing depopulation, across both the levers the Scottish Government has to support sustainable communities, and in supporting regional and local partners to implement targeted interventions which support population attraction and retention. The Ministerial Population Taskforce will monitor and evaluate the implementation of the first phase of the Addressing Depopulation Action Plan, with an aspiration to expand this programme of work in future.
I hope this response provides you with assurance of this government’s commitment to continuing to listen to and support rural and island communities, particularly on issues around carbon emissions, following the ending of the Bute House Agreement.
Kindest regards,
JOHN SWINNEY
Emma Roddick MSP 