Convener welcomes appointment of Islands Minister

The convener of the OIC has welcomed the appointment of Derek Mackay MSP as Scotland’s first Islands Minister.

Councillor Steven Heddle said it was encouraging for the Our Islands Our Future campaign that Mr Mackay will serve as Minister for Transport and the Islands.

As Local Government Minister, Mr Mackay chaired the negotiations with the Councils in Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles that led to the publication of Empowering Scotland’s Islands by the Scottish Government earlier this year. This outlined a wide range of measures in response to the arguments made by Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles to have more control of the decisions that affect them, and the ability to develop their economies for the benefit of the people that live here.

“Having a Minister for the Islands was one of the commitments the Government made in response to Our Islands Our Future,” Councillor Heddle said.

“It is good to see the post created so soon after the referendum as part of First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s new ministerial team. It is particularly welcome that transport – a key concern for islands and a focus of our campaign – is the other part of Mr Mackay’s brief.”