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Publication - Progress report

National Islands Plan Annual Report 2025

Published
20 March 2026
From
Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands
Directorate
Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate, +13 more … Culture and External Affairs Directorate, Digital Health and Care Directorate, Early Learning and Childcare Directorate, Economic Development Directorate, Energy and Climate Change Directorate, Environment and Forestry Directorate, Jobs and Wellbeing Economy Directorate, Learning Directorate, Lifelong Learning and Skills Directorate, Local Government and Housing Directorate, Marine Directorate, Population Health Directorate, Tackling Child Poverty and Social Justice Directorate
Topic
Arts, culture and sport, Business, industry and innovation, Children and families, +13 more … Communities and third sector, Cost of living crisis, Economy, Education, Energy, Environment and climate change, Farming and rural, Health and social care, Housing, Marine and fisheries, Public sector, Transport, Work and skills
ISBN
9781806438266

The Islands (Scotland) Act 2018 requires that a report is presented to Parliament each year setting out the progress made towards delivery of the National Islands Plan. This report sets out progress made during the 2025 reporting year.

View supporting documents Supporting documents

Fuel Poverty

Strategic Objective 5 – Reduce levels of fuel poverty

Commitment 5.1 Review how delivery schemes can work better locally and review funding for island communities.

The Warmer Homes Scotland scheme was re-launched in October 2023 with an enhanced focus on tackling fuel poverty through decarbonisation, delivering a broader range of measures per intervention, and operating under a significantly larger contract value.

Eligibility criteria for the scheme were developed in partnership with the Fuel Poverty Advisory Panel, ensuring that support is targeted to those most in need.

There are currently 7 accredited installers operating across the islands. In 2025-26, 397 island households have received improvements, representing a substantial contribution to reducing fuel poverty in some of Scotland’s most affected communities.

To guarantee fairness and accessibility, the scheme uses a standardised national customer price, meaning that households in island areas pay the same for measures as those on the mainland. This approach ensures that geography does not create barriers to accessing energy efficiency improvements.

Commitment 5.2 Develop a remote rural, remote small town and island Minimum Income Standard uplift, with the uplift for island areas to be determined separately.

Commitment fulfilled.

This commitment was fulfilled in 2021. Please see the National Islands Plan Annual Report 2021 for further details.

Commitment 5.3 Produce an Island Community Impact Assessment (ICIA) on the final Fuel Poverty Strategy, ensuring that representatives from island local authorities are fully involved in its development.

Commitment fulfilled.

This commitment was fulfilled in 2022. Please see the National Islands Plan Annual Report 2022 for further details.

Commitment 5.4 Carry out research and analysis to meet the requirements of the Fuel Poverty (Targets, Definition and Strategy) (Scotland) Act 2019 that will also enhance our understanding of the costs of living faced by families living in island communities.

Commitment fulfilled. This commitment was fulfilled in 2021. Please see the National Islands Plan Annual Report 2021 for further details.

Contact

Email: info@islandsteam.scot

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