National Islands Plan and islands communities impact assessment guidance: consultation

Consultation questions

We want the National Islands Plan to be a document that builds on what works well on Scottish islands, and which addresses the challenges faced by islands and their communities.  The Plan will set out how the Scottish Government, local authorities and other public agencies might work to improve outcomes for island communities.  Scottish Ministers will be asked to report back to Scottish Parliament every year on progress towards the goals included in the National Islands Plan. 

The Plan, therefore, is key to how we will all work together with island communities in the future.  It is therefore vital that as many people as possible who live, work and interact with Scotland’s islands and their communities take part in this consultation.  We want to hear people’s experiences and especially, their views about what we can build on and do differently in the future. The questions set out below aim to give people the chance to shape the National Islands Plan in a way that truly responds to their interests and aspirations. Please take part. 

Q1. If applicable, which island(s) do you live on or do you relate to?

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National Islands Plan 

Q2. If applicable, what is good about living on your island? Please state 3 things that you like about living on your island. 

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Q3 If you’ve moved away from your island, please tell us why you left (for example, was it for work opportunities or for education)? 

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Q4. If you’ve moved away from your island, please tell us what, if anything you miss about island life. 

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Q5. If possible, please can you give us some examples of good local initiatives/projects/activities, etc? 

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Q6. The Islands (Scotland) Act lists a number of areas that are relevant for islands and island communities. Please rank these in order of priority for you:

• Depopulation
• economic development
• environmental protection
• health and wellbeing
• community empowerment
• transport
• digital connectivity
• fuel poverty
• land management
• biosecurity

Do you feel that this list covers all aspects of island life? 

☐ Yes
☐ No
☐ Don’t know

Q7. If you answered no, is there anything else that you believe the National Islands Plan should address? 

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Q8. If applicable, are there any specific challenges about living on your island? Please state 3 challenges about living on your island. 

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Q9. If you’ve moved away, please tell us about any challenges that you experienced whilst you were living on your island. 

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Q10. If applicable, what could be done to make living on your island better? 

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Q11. How do you feel the National Islands Plan should address and respond to the distinctive geographical, natural heritage and cultural characteristics (including the linguistic heritage) of local island communities, including the needs of Gaelic speakers within those communities?

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National Islands Plan: General Questions Section:

So as many people and agencies as possible have an opportunity to help us shape the National Islands Plan, we would like to capture the views of relevant authorities, national, local and community groups, development trusts and other such partners with an interest in islands, 

Q12.  What should be the main objectives for the National Islands Plan? 

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Q13. What should be the key priorities for the Scottish Government in relation to the National Islands Plan? 

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Q14. What should be taken into account in terms of the functions of relevant authorities within the National Islands Plan? 

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Q15. How can we measure outcomes in relation to the National Islands Plan? 

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Q16. If you have any further comments or points that you think should be taken into account in the development of the National Islands Plan, please state these below. 

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Island Communities Impact Assessment 

Island Communities Impact Assessments will be one way in which relevant authorities can consider the impact of new laws, policies, strategies or services on islands. Guidance will be developed on how these impact assessments will operate and we believe that your input to this consultation can help us with this:

Q17. Can you name any policies, strategies or services that don’t work very well for your island?  Why do you feel they don’t work well? 

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Q18. On the other hand, can you name any policies, strategies or services that DO work well for your island? Please tell us what it is about these that works so well. 

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Q19. How can Scottish Ministers and other relevant authorities involve island communities in assessments? 

online surveys ☐
focus groups ☐
public meetings ☐
paper documents ☐
other (please comment) ☐

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Q20. Is there anything else you would like to tell us? 

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Island Communities Impact Assessments – General Questions Section:

Guidance on how an Island Communities Impact Assessment should be carried out is not present in the Islands (Scotland) Act. Rather, the Act enables Ministers to develop guidance about the duty to have regard to island communities, of which the Island Communities Impact Assessment forms part.^[16] The Scottish Ministers are also required to develop regulations “about reviews of decisions of relevant authorities relating to island communities impact assessments”.

So as many people and agencies as possible have an opportunity to help us shape guidance and templates for Island Communities Impact Assessments, we would like to capture the views of relevant authorities, national, local and community groups, development trusts and other such partners with an interest in islands.

Q21. What should be the main objectives for Island Communities Impact Assessments? 

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Q22. What do you think needs to be considered in the guidance and templates which will be developed to support the carrying out of Island Communities Impact Assessments by relevant authorities? 

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Q23. What should be taken into account in relation to the reviews of decisions of relevant authorities relating to Island Communities Impact Assessments? 

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Q24. If you have any further comments or points that you think should be taken into account in the development of Island Communities Impact Assessments, please state these below. 

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