Seòmar agus comataidhean

I mentioned the project in the Western Isles. Other projects were undertaken where we know that childcare can be an issue—we are taking forward a childcare pilot project on Mull—and I can write to the committee with more information on them.

Members of the committee will, no doubt, be aware that we have undertaken a consultation in relation to the HPMA process and that we will analyse its results. We talked earlier about island communities impact assessments, and a partial one was undertaken for that process. We have to ensure that we are taking into account those other impacts, and we will do so through the processes that we have specified, as well as undertaking our own engagements throughout.

I was in Shetland last week to meet with people in the industries concerned to hear their views on that process and its potential impacts, and to listen to people’s concerns, which is essentially what we have to do. We also have to ensure that we are listening through the consultation exercise and that we give the full analysis of the responses that we have received before we set out the next steps.

The committee members will be well aware of the concerns. We have had a number of debates in relation to that subject recently—Beatrice Wishart had a members’ business debate in which she outlined her constituents’ concerns about the HPMA process. We are listening to those concerns because we have to consider the national islands plan’s objectives around the importance of populations as well as all the other strategic objectives that I have set out.

We aim for there not to be conflicting policies in the portfolio. Obviously, with agriculture, fisheries, land reform and forestry sitting in the one portfolio—you will no doubt be aware of the various pieces of legislation that will be introduced relating to those areas—we have to ensure that those policies are aligned and working for our island communities.

We have had the consultation; we need to go through the process of analysis before setting out our next steps. You can see from the commitments that we have set out in the national islands plan, which cover 13 strategic objectives, that work is on-going.

I should just say that Cameron engaged extensively in that work and undertook the consultation.

One thing that has been great throughout the process has been having the islands team. In my opening remarks, I thanked them for the work that they do, because having an islands team, with the officials that we have, has been critical in ensuring that we have islands representation across all parts of Government. We talked a bit about that and about the extensive engagement in relation to the island communities impact assessments.

The team is also heavily involved in the population work that we are undertaking. The ministerial population task force draws in other parts of Government, so, in that sense, the work is extensive.

The officials in the islands team have been involved in the process for longer than I have, so they will probably be able to give a better indication of how the process has been. Having that team is critical. You can see from the objectives that we have set out in the report that they cover every part of Government, which, of course, includes aspects for which I am not responsible. I see my role as one of making sure that our island communities’ voices and concerns are represented in each area when other policy decisions are being taken across Government.

I will hand over to Francesco Sindico.

The growth deals—I would include the islands growth deal in that—dovetail quite well with the objectives that we have set out. The deals have a low-carbon focus and are about having sustainable, thriving communities.

There is good cross-over in relation to our objectives and what the growth deals are seeking to achieve.

If you have read the plan and the implementation route map, I cannot see how you could come to that view, because it is also recognising, as I was staying at the start of the committee—