Rural Delivery Plan: Ministerial Working Group minutes - October 2023

Attendees and apologies

Chairs

• Shona Robison, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance (Co-Chair) 
• Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands (Co-Chair)

Attendees

• Fiona Hyslop, Minister for Transport
• Jenny Gilruth, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills
• Joe Fitzpatrick, Minister for Local Government Empowerment and Planning
• Lorna Slater, Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity 
• Mairi McAllan, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition
• Michael Matheson, Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care
• Paul McLennan, Minister for Housing 
• Richard Lochhead, Minister for Small Business, Innovation, Tourism and Trade
• Shirley Ann Somerville, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice 

Officials 

• Alison Irvine, CEO Transport Scotland  
• Amanda Fox, Head of Rural Economy  
• Anna Densham, DD Land Reform, Rural and Islands Policy
• Annabel Turpie, Director of Marine Scotland
• Anne Aitken, DD Planning, Support & Improvement Division
• Caroline Lamb, DG Health and Social Care
• David Signorini, Director of Environment and Forestry
• Donald Inch, Rural Economy Policy Manager  
• George Burgess, Director of Agriculture and Rural Economy
• Graeme Beale, Analytical Unit Head
• Gregor Irwin, DG Economy
• Harry Huyton, Special Advisor
• Joe Griffin, DG Education and Justice
• John Burns, Chief Operating Officer NHS Scotland
• John Paul Marks, Permanent Secretary  
• Kate Anderson, Rural Economy Team Leader
• Kate Higgins, Special Advisor
• Ken Thomson, DG Constitution and External Affairs
• Louise Macdonald, DG Communities
• Mairi Macpherson, DD Improving Health and Wellbeing
• Neil Rennick, DG Justice
• Sean Neill, Director for Local Government and Communities
• Shirley Rogers, Director of Performance, Delivery and Resilience
• Steven Lynch, Operations and Events Manager

Apologies

• Neil Gray, Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy

Items and actions

Introductory remarks  

Deputy First Minister (DFM) welcomed everyone to the meeting.

DFM briefly updated on actions from the first Ministerial Working Group:

• ministers had used the summer recess to discuss the Rural Delivery Plan (RDP) with rural stakeholders, leading to positive conversations. A successful travelling Cabinet had included visits around Inveraray. It was important to continue to engage with our rural communities at every opportunity given the contribution they make to Scotland as a whole
• DFM confirmed that an update on the Rural Lens Toolkit would be provided at the next Ministerial Working Group
• the document comparing and contrasting Scottish Government and UK Government policies on rural issues is under development and will be shared with the group upon completion
• DFM confirmed that skills will be included in the scope of the Rural Delivery Plan

Action point 

Ministers should continue to engage with rural stakeholders as opportunities arise.

Action point 

Officials should provide an update on the Rural Lens Toolkit to the next Ministerial Working Group.

Working towards strategic objectives

DFM noted that officials in RESAS have explored how rural areas are performing against the National Performance Framework, and explored available evidence to examine data trends in areas articulated in the commitment in the Rural Delivery Plan.

The evidence demonstrates successes, opportunities and challenges in rural Scotland, across the key portfolio areas involved in this Plan - Economic development, Transport, Housing, Social justice, Population, Digital connectivity, Education and Skills, and Health and Social care.  

GB presented the key findings from the evidence base.  This included:

• describing the various definitions of rural Scotland that were applied across different data sets
• the ability of the National Performance Framework to monitor performance in rural Scotland
• the key trends emerging from the evidence base which identified new challenges as well as supporting the persistence of some longer standing challenges

It was confirmed that the most recent census data had been incorporated into the evidence presented although this would exclude islands specific-data which is generally released after the national statistics. 

There was discussion of the trends and challenges illustrated by the evidence presented and how the analysis could continue to be refined in preparation for sharing more widely.

Key messages arising from the evidence demonstrated that a place based approach is needed, given the differences that are arising between accessible and remote rural/island areas relating to population growth, economic activity, demographics, pressure on services, and delivery of services. DFM welcomed the presentation, noting it would contribute to understanding where support is needed, support intervention impact assessment, and inform work to identify future priorities, supporting development of the Plan.

Action point 

Further research to enable a greater understanding of the drivers and contributory factors on the changes in rural poverty to include consideration of what action may be taken to address these challenges. 

Action point 

Following publication of the Census Island report, provision of further analysis of population changes within islands and rural coastal communities.

Action point 

Officials to prepare a Comms plan around the dashboard.

Communication aid: evidence of the Scottish Government delivering for rural

DFM noted that Paper 3 is intended as an aide to convey the ways that the Scottish Government has, is and will be delivering for rural areas. The version shared with the group is a proof of concept, and not the finished article. The group was asked for views on whether it is a clear, coherent and consistent communication tool?

The paper was welcomed by the group, who noted the substantial positive activity taking place in Scotland’s rural communities, and the importance of communicating this.

Members welcomed the tangibility of the contents and requested that the contents focus more closely on the most significant outputs and impacts currently being delivered and planned.

Discussions highlighted the importance of communicating place-based outputs and the range of activities taking place across the full geography of rural Scotland. 

Action point 

Update the Communication Aid to demonstrate delivery of outputs and outcomes.

Action point 

Ministers to attend SRIP if they have availability, and discuss the RDP with stakeholders.

Action point

Officials to explore how to represent in the Rural Delivery Plan the Scottish Government’s capacity to harness innovation when finding solutions to long term challenges.

Stakeholder engagement

DFM noted that Paper 4 provided the structure for engagement and strategic approach in ensuring stakeholders are actively involved, and able to inform the direction of the Rural Delivery Plan. Paper 4 focuses on testing the purpose, scope and priorities. It was indicated that the SG will continue to develop plans and engage stakeholders throughout all stages of the Plan’s development, via pre-existing events. The intention is to continue existing open and honest dialogue and develop engagement to allow us to test our thinking at an early stage. Ministers noted the importance of capturing and reflecting the views of the full spectrum of stakeholders across Scotland.

The importance of in-person dialogue was emphasised. It was noted that a key opportunity to engage with stakeholders was the Scottish Rural and Islands Parliament, held on 1st-3rd November.

Action point 

All members of the MWG to review the stakeholder plan and provide comments to officials.

Action point

Officials to review the prioritisation framework to ensure appropriate engagement with stakeholders on the RDP.

Next steps

DFM summarised the next steps, including:

• a request for more in-depth research exploring the drivers of rural poverty
• develop a performance-monitoring framework for the RDP
• establishment of investment priorities, opportunities and gaps aligned to the proposed outcomes resulting from cross SG logic modelling
• engagement with external stakeholders to seek views on policy priorities determined through previous engagement (NCRA, SRIP and NIP)
• develop a communications plan
• maximise engagement opportunities to reach as many people as possible

Next meeting 

The date for the next meeting of the Ministerial Working Group will be confirmed at a later date.