SNP pledges to devolve power to Scotland's islands

Nicola Sturgeon will use a visit to Orkney and Shetland to unveil plans to hand new powers to Scotland’s Islands.

The SNP manifesto will include a pledge to devolve powers to island communities.

Sturgeon said: “Our island communities are part of the fabric of Scotland, and after years of neglect by the previous Labour/Lib Dem Executive the SNP Government has done everything we can to support them.”

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Sturgeon says NHS Orkney’s budget has increased by 60.7 per cent between 2006-07 and 2016-17, while NHS Shetland’s has risen by 33.9 per cent.

The party also highlighted the boost provided to islands by the Small Business Bonus Scheme.

Ahead of the visit, Sturgeon said: “We’re investing in island health and education services with record funding for the NHS and we are supporting island economies.

“We've increased the Air Discount Scheme from 40 per cent to 50 per cent, and completely frozen ferry fares for 2016-17 across the Scottish Government funded services.

“We’ve supported the huge potential of the islands food and drink industry, and backed energy production on the islands, supporting community owned energy projects as well as backing island calls for better connections to the mainland.

“When I became First Minister I appointed Scotland’s first ever Islands Minister, and we have worked closely with the Northern Isles and Western Isles to realise their vision to empower our islands.”