SNP MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Alasdair Allan, has urged any island businesses who have not yet submitted a response to his rural visa survey to do so ahead of next week’s deadline.

The islands’ MSP intends to close the survey by the end of April in order to begin analysing the collected data, publish results and make fresh representations on constituency businesses’ behalf regarding the potential for the introduction of rural visas.

The Scottish Government is supportive of the introduction of tailored visas for rural and island areas, having developed proposals for a visa scheme of this kind in 2022 in collaboration with local authorities and business sector organisations. However,

“I would like to thank all the island businesses who have already submitted responses to my survey. The information gathered through this exercise will, I believe, be very helpful in determining what levels of support there are across our islands for a rural visa scheme, and also how the lack of flexibility within the current system negatively impacts the ability of island businesses and organisations to recruit the staff they need at present.

“This remains a very challenging time for businesses, due to a combination of factors such as inflation, labour shortages, and ongoing export difficulties as a result of Brexit. Depopulation continues to detrimentally affect recruitment both for businesses and public services, and the inflexibility of the UK Government is very frustrating when it comes to, for example, minimum income requirements for non-UK workers, or tailored visa solutions which would benefit our island economies. Currently, the power to legislate on all matters related to immigration, as well as employment law, unfortunately remains reserved to the UK Government.

“I look forward to analysing and sharing the results of the survey, and would encourage any local island business or organisation that has not yet been able to complete the short online form to do so ahead of the 30^th April.”

The survey can be accessed here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XFZVFZX

SNP MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Alasdair Allan, has welcomed confirmation that government funding has been allocated in this year’s budget for a new vessel to replace MV Lord of the Isles, the main CalMac vessel serving Lochboisdale in South Uist. 

Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop was speaking at a ferries summit today in South Uist, which was organised by the South Uist Business Impact Group. She confirmed that with the money set aside this year for the vessel’s replacement, procurement could potentially be undertaken over this summer. This follows community engagement and consultation on vessel design which has already taken place over recent months. 

Commenting, Alasdair Allan said:

“The news from Fiona Hyslop today that money has been allocated to replace MV Lord of the Isles is a vote of confidence in ferry services from Lochboisdale.

“Disruption across the network since January this year has been particularly difficult for the communities of Barra and South Uist, and it will be a great relief once the remaining five major vessels still being completed join the fleet over the coming year or so, significantly strengthening CalMac services’ resilience and capacity.

“However, clearly we must keep pace with investing in and replacing our vessels, and I so am pleased that, as well as the ten new small vessels now about to be built, that the procurement process can soon also begin for the MV Lord of the Isles’ replacement.

“This was one of the asks of the South Uist Business Impact Group going into today’s meeting with the Cabinet Secretary, as well as the establishment of a resilience fund for local businesses affected by disruption. It was very encouraging to see the Scottish Government meeting both of these requests so comprehensively today.”

SNP MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Alasdair Allan, has welcomed yesterday afternoon’s announcement from the Scottish Government that a resilience fund will be established to support island businesses. The support will assist island businesses with the impact of challenges such as travel disruption locally.

The details of the fund’s operation will be discussed today at a meeting of the South Uist Business Impact Group, which will be attended by the Western Isles’ MSP Alasdair Allan and Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop, who is undertaking a range of engagements locally this week.

Commenting, Alasdair Allan said:

“I welcome this announcement from the Transport Secretary on this additional support for our islands, particularly as local businesses and residents in Uist endure another challenging period where the effects of the wider network resilience are significantly affecting them.

“While I think everyone would agree that a consistent, reliable ferry service from every port is what islanders want and need, the disruption caused in recent weeks and months by a number of major vessels being out of service simultaneously have again highlighted the lack of resilience in the network at present, until the new vessels are in service.

“This initial £4.4m in funding, being put in place for island businesses in areas and sectors of most acute need, is an important step forward in the Scottish Government’s continued support for our islands’ economy. This is in addition to the existing 100% rates relief for island hospitality businesses, which I know has been hugely helpful for many enterprises locally, and also the further financial support included in the Islands Cost Crisis Emergency Fund since 2022.

“I look forward to today’s meeting with stakeholders in South Uist where more of the detail of the resilience funding will be discussed.”

702,000 FUNDED PRESCRIPTIONS DISPENSED BY NHS WESTERN ISLES LAST YEAR - SAVING HOUSEHOLDS AN AVERAGE OF OVER £400

With this week marking the 14^th anniversary of prescription charges being scrapped by the SNP Scottish Government, Alasdair Allan MSP has highlighted that the policy saves the average household in Scotland over £400 a year.

Latest figures from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) show that over 113 million prescriptions (including 702,020 by NHS Western Isles) were dispensed in Scotland in 2023/24 – meaning that on average people in Scotland received 20.8 prescriptions free of charge last year.

Based on the £9.90 charge per prescription item currently in place in England, the average household in Scotland saved £436.72 in 2023/24 because of the policy.

In one of his first acts as Scottish Tory leader, Russell Findlay outlined his plans to re-introduce charges if he ever came to power – a move which would cost each person £206 per year on average.

A report by Trussell Trust last year showed that in England, 68% of working households receiving Universal Credit have gone without essentials such as prescription medication due to the costs involved.

Isles MSP Alasdair Allan said:

“The SNP is proud to have abolished prescription charges in Scotland, ensuring that everyone across the Western Isles has access to the medication they require based on their needs rather than the ability to pay.

“The SNP believe that healthcare should be free at the point of use for everyone. Prescription charges, which Russell Findlay plans to re-introduce, are nothing more than a tax on ill health.

“In the face of soaring energy bills, which were allowed to rise again yesterday despite Labour’s election promise to bring them down, people in the Western Isles are still living through a cost-of-living crisis - making it more important than ever that they can access the medical treatment they need without worrying about the cost.

”With Labour continuing to hint at an increased level of private healthcare involvement in the NHS, only the SNP can be trusted to put the people of Na h-Eileanan an Iar first and protect them from having to pay for their vital medication.”

ENDS

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