| Call for Establishment of an Islands Committee |
07 May 2003 |
A Western Isles Councillor has called for the establishment of an Islands Committee as part of the coalition negotiations taking place between the Labour and Liberal Democrat leaders. In a letter to Liberal Democrat leader Jim Wallace, Cllr. Angus Graham said: “If legislation and initiatives are to be made relevant to Island needs and if our commmunities with their distinct culture and heritage are to survive and prosper, then it is aboslutely essential that an Islands Committee be formed in the Parliament and I would urge you to make this vital issue a condition in the forthcoming coalition negotiations.” Arguing for a inclusive approach from the Scottish Executive, Mr. Graham states that ‘Government monies are being directed towards national priorities often of little relevance to the people of the islands. Despite protestations to the contrary, the Executive has far too often adopted a ‘one size fits all’ approach. The concerns of central Scotland are not necessarily those of the Islands and vice-versa. If devolution is to be meaningful it must extend beyond Edinburgh and Glasgow”. He also criticises the major utilities who, he says, “are increasingly turning their backs on our communities”. Issued by Cllr Angus Graham 01851 820232 Ends Full copy of the letter follows: Mr. Jim Wallace MSP, 6 May 2003 Dear Mr. Wallace, SCOTLAND’S ISLANDS First of all can I take this opportunity to congratulate you on your re-election to the Scottish Parliament. Over the past four years a number of my colleagues and I have become extremely concerned at the increasing marginalisation of Scotland’s Island communities. To an increasing extent the political agenda is being set almost exclusively to reflect the issues and concerns of central Scotland to the exclusion of all others. Government initiatives and, therefore, Government monies are being directed towards national priorities often of little relevance to the people of the Islands. Despite protestations to the contrary, the Executive has far too often adopted a ‘one size fits all’ approach. The concerns of central Scotland are not necessarily those of the Islands and vice versa and, if the Parliament is to maintain the support of areas such as the Western Isles, it must reflect and address our concerns, for example, in the Island context transportation is crucial to the our economic and social viability and yet throughout the first four years of the Scottish Parliament no attempt has been made to seriously address transportation problems of the Islands. If devolution is to be meaningful it must extend beyond Edinburgh and Glasgow. Nor regrettably is the marginalisation of the Islands restricted to the political sphere. The major utilities are increasingly turning their backs on our communities. Employment opportunities in the water, gas, electricity and the telecoms industries have been savagely reduced throughout our communities and I very much fear that the situation is set to worsen. There is talk of surcharges for Island communities for electricity supply and the Island communities lack any broadband capacity with all of the economic and social benefits this would bring. What we have seen is a centralisation of decision making, a centralisation of employment opportunities and a centralisation of services and all of this in an era of supposed devolution. It would be difficult to exaggerate the level of concern felt, not only in the Western Isles but also in Orkney, Shetland and the Inner Isles at the growing centralist trend. Our communties are already fragile and unless Government legislation and initiatives begin to reflect and address the particular problems and issues facing our Island communities the future will look increasingly bleak. As a Member for an Island constituency you must be aware of all of these factors and of the urgent need to address them. Clearly action is required at a national level and I would urge you to initiate that action with the co-operation of your Island colleagues. If legislation and initiatives are to be made relevant to Island needs and if our commmunities with their distinct culture and heritage are to survive and prosper, then it is aboslutely essential that an Islands Committee be formed in the Parliament and I would urge you to make this vital issue a condition in the forthcoming coalition negotiations. Yours sincerely, ANGUS M. GRAHAM Nigel Scott
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