Carmichael raises prospect of powers for islands
HANS J MARTER
NEWLY appointed Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael has raised
expectations that Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles leaders can expect
substantial progress in their efforts to gain more powers.
The Liberal Democrat MP for Orkney & Shetland said they had a friend in
Government as he met their council leaders in London yesterday.
Mr Carmichael, who replaced Michael Moore in a Cabinet reshuffle last week,
said: “I believe it is possible to make substantial progress in terms of
what the isles councils are perusing, without legislation.
“There now needs to be a ‘nuts and bolts’ discussion between Whitehall and
the three islands councils about the changes they want to see and how that
can be achieved.
“I will be keeping a close eye on that. I have already spoken to the three
islands councils about the role the Scotland Office will have in holding
the ring and making sure that the necessary resources are being put into
place so that the momentum is being maintained.”
The islands delegation also met with the new fishing minister, George
Eustice, who gave a commitment to visit Shetland in the near future.
The leaders held further meetings with Treasury, about the Crown Estate,
and discussed the renewables strike price with officials from the
Department of Energy and Climate Change.
The councils’ ‘Our Islands – Our Future’ programme for more autonomy
includes gaining control of local marine resources, renewable energy
developments and public sector reform.
Mr Carmichael said that he wanted to see the organisation engaging far more
with local people so that communities could directly benefit from the
development of marine renewable energies.”
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