About the Bill
The Islands (Scotland) Bill was introduced by the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Connectivity, Fergus Ewing MSP, on 9 June 2017.
A Bill for an Act of the Scottish Parliament to make provision for a national islands plan; to impose duties in relation to island communities on certain public authorities; to make provision about the electoral representation of island communities; and to establish a licensing scheme in respect of marine development adjacent to islands.
SPICe Briefings
SPICe Briefing: Islands (Scotland) Bill
SPICe Briefing: Islands (Scotland) Bill in Gaelic - Bile nan Eilean (Alba)
Stage 1
14 June 2017 |
Approach paper |
26 June 2017 |
Launch of Call for Evidence |
13 September 2017 |
Evidence session with Bill Team |
20 September 2017 |
Evidence session with local authorities |
27 September 2017 |
Evidence session focusing on wards and constituency boundaries |
2 October 2017 |
Evidence session with Orkney and Shetland Islands Councils |
25 October 2017 |
Evidence session focusing on the islands plan/island proofing |
1 November 2017 |
Evidence session focusing on marine development |
8 November 2017 |
Evidence session with the Minister for Transport and the Islands |
Stage 2
At its meeting on 21 and 28 March 2018, the Committee considered the Bill at Stage 2. You can read the Minutes and Official Report of the meeting here:
Stage 3
On 30 May 2018, Parliament considered the Bill at Stage 3.
Official Report
Evidence
The Committee issued a call for evidence, which ran from 26 June 2017 to 25 September 2017.
Islands (Scotland) Bill survey (external site)
We encourage you to use our template to submit your view.
Read the submissions received
Visits and Events
As part of the Stage 1 scrutiny of the Bill, the Committee are committed to getting out and about to hear the views directly from Islanders on the Bill.
In August 2017, the Committee held an community engagement event in Craignure Community Hall on Mull to discuss the Bill.

In September 2017, the Committee hosted a video conference with the University of Highlands and Islands students from various islands to discuss the Bill.

In October 2017, the Committee visited Orkney to hold an external Committee meeting with Orkney and Shetland Island Councils. While the Committee was in Orkney, they met with local community members and businesses interest to discuss their views on the Bill.

In October 2017, the Committee visited the Western Isles to meet with various communities, organisations, representatives of public bodies and individuals to discuss their views on the Bill.

In November 2017, the Committee hosted a video conference with a geoup of community representatives from Arran to discuss the Bill.

Correspondence
Work by other Committees
Report
2nd Report, 2018 (Session 5): Stage 1 Report on the Islands (Scotland) Bill
Responses to the Stage 1 Report
The Committee received the Scottish Government's response on 2 February 2018.