National Islands Plan: annual report 2024

Ministerial Foreword

Through this latest Annual Report, I am pleased to present an overview of the progress made by the Scottish Government on the implementation of the National Islands Plan published in 2019.

Improving outcomes for Scotland’s islanders is a key priority for the Scottish Government. Although much has been achieved since the introduction of the Islands Act in 2018, there is still more to do.

As this document sets out in detail, a wealth of investments and policy interventions have been delivered over the last twelve months in support of our vision for resilient and successful island communities.

We have continued to invest in digital connectivity, including by launching a£40.7 million procurement aimed at delivering gigabit capable connectivity in Orkney and Shetland. We have supported transport infrastructure, with the opening of the Stornoway Deep Water Terminal unlocking substantial economic opportunities for the Western Isles. Thanks to a new £3 million round of the Islands Programme capital funding scheme, we have contributed to ten critical infrastructure projects ranging from airfield terminal buildings and regeneration of historic town halls, to the redevelopment of community hub buildings..

Unfortunately, the cost of living crisis continues to have a disproportionate impact on many island households. At the start of the 2024-25 financial year, I was pleased to announce the allocation of an additional £1 million from the Islands Cost Crisis Emergency Fund to help our local authority partners support their communities, with a strengthened focus on tackling child poverty. This funding was instrumental in helping those most in need, including funding for free breakfasts in schools, support for local food banks, and the ongoing provision of warm hubs.

I know that our islands continue to face a housing shortage that hinders economic growth and puts further pressure on our islands’ population figures. Last July, our Young Islanders Network published the results of a survey which told us that 62% of 12-25 year olds plan to leave their islands in future due to a lack of suitable accommodation. As you will read in this report, we are taking steps to address housing shortages, but we know the demand for homes remains high. The Arran Affordable Homes Scheme, for instance, saw 18 new affordable homes built at the village of Lamlash tenanted within 24 hours.

We are deeply aware of the lifeline nature of the ferry services and the wide-ranging impacts that disruption can cause among island communities. We intend to deliver six new major vessels to serve Scotland’s ferry network from early 2025. MV Glen Sannox is the first of these and came into service in January. With significant infrastructure upgrades at ports and harbours already underway, we continue to work with partners to provide certainty and improve reliability.

I want to express my thanks to all the islanders who participated in our Islands Survey in 2023. We truly value your contributions which help us design and deliver policies that can make a real difference to your lives. When the final results were published in September 2024, I was encouraged to learn that the vast majority of islanders intend to stay in their communities for the near future, and that many business owners are optimistic about their growth. However, the results further impressed the urgency of acting on a range of issues, including public transport, fuel poverty and access to health services.

In April 2024, we published the analysis of our National Islands Plan consultation and I would like to thank everyone who contributed either by submitting a response through the online portal or by participating in one of our engagement events. We have listened very carefully to all of your feedback, and as a result of this feedback, I have instructed my officials to start work on a new National Islands Plan which will be published in the months to come. We are already working with island communities, local authorities and a vast range of delivery partners to ensure the new Plan addresses the results of the consultation and delivers tangible change.

Over the coming year, we will continue to be guided by islanders and will work alongside you to address challenges and harness opportunities in our common journey towards building resilient, successful and empowered communities.

Mairi Gougeon

Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands