Chamber and committees

The minister’s letter to the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee on 11 January stated:

“We have reviewed the available scientific evidence to reassure ourselves that this approach is the most appropriate and proportionate.”

Can the minister set out the evidence base that guided the Scottish Government to that decision?

Does Rachael Hamilton think that many rural communities would find it helpful if local authorities had the power to consider whether a given community had too many second homes? Would that help young people who are trying to find a house?

As others have said, ensuring that young people in Scotland’s rural and island communities have a say is not only a good idea but essential for the survival of those communities. My island constituency often faces unique challenges that have an impact on all age groups, and one challenge that has already been alluded to—demography—has been compounded even more since Westminster’s decision to take Scotland out of the European Union against our will.

Historically, my Western Isles constituency has faced the serious consequences of having a decreasing population, whether because of the impact of global conflict such as the first world war, if one wants to look that far back, or because of a more general perception of a lack of opportunity for young people. However, if we listen genuinely and actively, we can hear many good news stories to tell about young people in rural Scotland.

I am thinking, for instance, of Uist Beò in my area. It represents a group of young people who have dedicated themselves to making Uist a home for their families and a base for their businesses in the face of the sometimes daunting challenges to those things. Members of Uist Beò were in attendance at the recent meeting of the Scottish Rural and Islands Parliament and its youth counterpart. Indeed, many of the younger islanders from Uist were in attendance and, to use their words, they “did not hold back” in providing their valuable input and experiences to help ministers to strengthen future generations of island communities.

To some extent, of course, young people can already express their views to legislators, either directly or through their members of the Scottish Youth Parliament. However, the Scottish rural and islands youth parliament has a different function. It provides young islanders and young people aged between 16 and 30 from throughout rural Scotland with opportunities to assemble and discuss and agree policy ideas. As MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, I believe that the Scottish rural and islands youth parliament can play a hugely important role in constructively collaborating and influencing policy making.

There are many successes that show the ways in which Scotland values its young people. I am thinking, for instance, of Scotland’s investment in social housing in rural areas, free bus passes and the imminent introduction of free ferry journeys for young islanders. However, there is still a great deal to do, and I am sure that the Scottish rural and islands youth parliament will have a role in achieving that. When it met most recently, in November 2023, it was able with one clear voice to express young people’s desire for the housing market to be reformed in rural communities and to ask members of this Parliament to develop housing policies that will empower them and their communities. The Scottish Government’s continued support, including up to £30 million for the rural and islands housing fund, will be helpful in that respect.

However, it cannot be overstated how critical affordable housing is to ensuring the future of young people in our rural and island communities, so I welcome the Scottish Government’s acknowledgement of what the Scottish rural and islands youth parliament has said on that and many other issues.

I hope that we all recognise the work that the body does, its unique role, and the way that it involves young people directly in how our policies are developed and pursued. In that vein, and as a member who represents an island constituency, I am delighted to support the motion that the minister lodged to recognise the work that the Scottish rural and islands youth parliament does.

I absolutely agree that the ambition to own their own home is a great ambition for people to have, but does the member recognise that there are parts of Scotland where the free market in houses that currently exists means that owning a home is entirely outwith possibility for many young people?

Is allowing farmers to develop one of the aims behind what would seem to be the policy objective of early payments or getting money into farmers’ accounts early? Does that represent a departure from policy elsewhere in the UK? If so, what is the budget implication of that? What is the plan for that?

Obviously—you would expect me to point this out—islands have very distinctive needs. Are we getting nearer to understanding of that being mainstreamed across departments?

On the subject of the marine directorate’s major research vessels, is an element of a spend-to-save approach required for the future? Are you making plans for how the vessels might have to be maintained or replaced in the future?

It has been briefly touched on, but you will not be surprised to hear me mention crofting. How many of the budget lines are seeking to meet the Government’s objectives on crofting? Can you say more about those aims, please?

What support for science and enforcement is provided in the budget? What changes have you had to make?

Are there any budgets outwith those that you can say anything about that are relevant to the Government’s aims for the islands?