Skip to content
Law Society of Scotland
Search
Find a Solicitor
Contact us
About us
Sign in
Search
Find a Solicitor
Contact us
About us
Sign in
  • For members

    • For members

    • CPD & Training

    • Membership and fees

    • Rules and guidance

    • Regulation and compliance

    • Journal

    • Business support

    • Career growth

    • Member benefits

    • Professional support

    • Lawscot Wellbeing

    • Lawscot Sustainability

  • News and events

    • News and events

    • Law Society news

    • Blogs & opinions

    • CPD & Training

    • Events

  • Qualifying and education

    • Qualifying and education

    • Qualifying as a Scottish solicitor

    • Career support and advice

    • Our work with schools

    • Funding your education

    • Social mobility

  • Research and policy

    • Research and policy

    • Research

    • Influencing the law and policy

    • Equality and diversity

    • Our international work

    • Legal Services Review

    • Meet the Policy team

  • For the public

    • For the public

    • What solicitors can do for you

    • Making a complaint

    • Client protection

    • Find a Solicitor

    • Frequently asked questions

    • Your Scottish solicitor

  • About us

    • About us

    • Contact us

    • Who we are

    • Our strategy, reports and plans

    • Help and advice

    • Our standards

    • Work with us

    • Our logo and branding

    • Equality and diversity

  1. Home
  2. News and events
  3. Legal news
  4. Islands Bill seeks sustainable growth in communities

Islands Bill seeks sustainable growth in communities

14th June 2017 | government-administration

A bill to support the needs of island communities has been introduced to the Scottish Parliament.

The Scottish Government's Islands (Scotland) Bill seeks to create the right environment for sustainable growth and empowered communities. It will provide for the creation of a National Islands Plan, setting out Government strategy for improving outcomes for island communities in relation to public functions, and require future legislation and Government policies to be "island proofed", through a duty on relevant authorities to prepare an impact assessment where the carrying out of their functions is likely to have a significantly different effect on island communities than on others.

It also offers statutory protection for the Na h-Eileanan an lar Scottish parliamentary constituency boundary, greater flexibility around councillor representation within island communities by allowing electoral wards to return only one or two concillors, and extended powers to island councils in relation to marine licensing.

Islands Minister Humza Yousaf commented: “This Government is committed to promoting islands’ voices, to harnessing islands’ resources and enhancing their wellbeing. The measures in this bill underpin this ambition.

"In particular, the provision to ‘island proof’ decision making across the public sector will ensure the interests of islanders are reflected in future legislation and policy from the very outset.

“The National Islands Plan will set out the strategic direction for supporting island communities, continuing the momentum generated by the ‘Our Islands Our Future’ campaign and the work of the Islands Strategic Group."

Click here to access the bill and related papers.

Add To Favorites
Law Society of Scotland
Atria One, 144 Morrison Street
Edinburgh
EH3 8EX
If you’re looking for a solicitor, visit FindaSolicitor.scot
T: +44(0) 131 226 7411
E: lawscot@lawscot.org.uk
About us
  • Contact us
  • Who we are
  • Strategy reports plans
  • Help and advice
  • Our standards
  • Work with us
Useful links
  • Find a Solicitor
  • Sign in
  • CPD & Training
  • Rules and guidance
  • Website terms and conditions
Law Society of Scotland | © 2025
Made by Gecko Agency Limited