Islands Summit held in Kirkwall

Scotland’s three Island Councils have met with UK Government Minister Andrew Dunlop at the second annual Islands Summit held in Orkney.

The summit provided the local authorities representing the Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland with the opportunity to discuss issues of key importance to the ‘Our Islands Our Future’ campaign.

Areas covered included renewables, digital connectivity, islands proofing, emergency towing vessels, and plans for an ‘Islands Deal’.

Speaking on behalf of the three Councils, Steven Heddle from Orkney Islands Council, said: “I welcome the Minister’s commitment to ongoing support for our efforts to overcome the particular challenges our islands face – and further strengthen our economies for the good of our communities and the country as a whole.

“Our discussions were positive and covered areas as diverse as support for islands renewables, UK Government backing for an Islands Deal, and the need for a suitably high standard of universal service obligation for digital connections.”

The annual summit is one of the commitments set out in the Framework for the Islands, published in August 2014 as part of the UK Government’s response to the ‘Our Islands Our Future’ campaign.

The first summit was held in March 2015.