Scotland's islands - helping to shape a new rural future ... whatever the outcome of the Brexit chaos

The Highlands and Islands has greatly benefitted over the years from European funding investment of £1.5 billion as a 'transition' area, to help reduce disparities and align living standards across Europe. European Territorial Cohesion Policies, associated European Structural and Investment Funds, the Common Agriculture Policy and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund have done much to shape economic development priorities and accomplishments at national, regional and local level in Scotland and the UK, as throughout Europe in recent decades.

The EU has provided farmers in our ‘Less Favoured areas’ with over 65% of their income. This money has transformed the economic and social wellbeing of our region in many ways, arguably to more positive effect than any comparable strategic policy initiatives of the Scottish or UK Governments.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund
To replace European Structural Funds following the UK's withdrawal from the EU, the UK Government has announced plans to establish a “Shared Prosperity Fund”. An all party parliamentary group conducted an initial inquiry into this Fund and their published recommendations in November 2018 show that major questions still remain unsolved:

·       How much funding will be available?

·       How will it be divided up across the UK?

·       What activities will be eligible for support?

·       Who will take the decisions about how the money is spent?

Discussing the Shared Prosperity Fund at the Scottish Rural parliament last October, North Ayrshire MP Philippa Whiteford reported that only 2% of the fund was intended for the rural economy of the UK! There is currently no indication of what proportion of the fund will come to rural Scotland, and to less favoured areas such as the Highlands and Islands in particular.

A consultation was to have taken place in Autumn 2018 for the fund to be established by 2020, but this has yet to take place. Assuming that we are still exiting from the EU, concern is now growing that nothing will be in place soon enough to ensure a smooth transition from EU funds on which the rural economy depends.

In Scotland, the National Council of Rural Advisers (NCRA) has come up with ideas for a new rural economy framework (Towards a new roadmap for the Scottish Rural Economy) that would support that transition, taking a top down approach. Island Councils have indicated that they would favour future funding mechanisms which restore decision making powers to regions i.e a more bottom-up approach.

This survey builds on the discussions at the S.I.F AGM in Tiree and is our chance to have a say as islanders. The Scottish Islands Federation invites your views to inform how a Shared Prosperity Fund might best operate in Scotland and what future regional and rural policies should look like.

Please respond by Friday 8 February, tick as many options as you wish and add your own suggestions. The responses will be collated and presented to the Scottish Government.

Question Title

* 1. Please tell us:

Your Name

Organisation (if applicable)

Your Island

Question Title

* 2. Who should be responsible for leading the design and delivery of the proposed UK Shared Prosperity Fund?

The UK government

Each of the devolved governments

Other (please specify)

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* 3. How should policy makers ensure that the economic needs of rural Scotland are taken into account?

	Most important	Important	Least important
a.Scotland should devise its own territorial cohesion policy replicating programmes such as LEADER and other European funding programmes.	a.Scotland should devise its own territorial cohesion policy replicating programmes such as LEADER and other European funding programmes. Most important	a.Scotland should devise its own territorial cohesion policy replicating programmes such as LEADER and other European funding programmes. Important	a.Scotland should devise its own territorial cohesion policy replicating programmes such as LEADER and other European funding programmes. Least important
b.There should be specific regional policies to favour assistance to the most disadvantaged regions and localities.	b.There should be specific regional policies to favour assistance to the most disadvantaged regions and localities. Most important	b.There should be specific regional policies to favour assistance to the most disadvantaged regions and localities. Important	b.There should be specific regional policies to favour assistance to the most disadvantaged regions and localities. Least important
c.A place-based approach to development policy should ensure that sub-regional differences are addressed.	c.A place-based approach to development policy should ensure that sub-regional differences are addressed. Most important	c.A place-based approach to development policy should ensure that sub-regional differences are addressed. Important	c.A place-based approach to development policy should ensure that sub-regional differences are addressed. Least important
d.Regional skills assessments should inform policy.	d.Regional skills assessments should inform policy. Most important	d.Regional skills assessments should inform policy. Important	d.Regional skills assessments should inform policy. Least important
e.Decentralisation should be at the heart of flexible new regional development policies.	e.Decentralisation should be at the heart of flexible new regional development policies. Most important	e.Decentralisation should be at the heart of flexible new regional development policies. Important	e.Decentralisation should be at the heart of flexible new regional development policies. Least important
f.By addressing recommendations of The National Council of Rural Advisors in their new blueprint for Scotland’s rural economy: a new Rural Economy Framework.	f.By addressing recommendations of The National Council of Rural Advisors in their new blueprint for Scotland’s rural economy: a new Rural Economy Framework. Most important	f.By addressing recommendations of The National Council of Rural Advisors in their new blueprint for Scotland’s rural economy: a new Rural Economy Framework. Important	f.By addressing recommendations of The National Council of Rural Advisors in their new blueprint for Scotland’s rural economy: a new Rural Economy Framework. Least important

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 4. In Scotland who should be involved in shaping policy?

	Most important	Important	Least important
a. Rural community organisations such as Development Trusts, Community Councils	a. Rural community organisations such as Development Trusts, Community Councils Most important	a. Rural community organisations such as Development Trusts, Community Councils Important	a. Rural community organisations such as Development Trusts, Community Councils Least important
b. Representative bodies such as Scottish Rural Action and Scottish Islands Federation	b. Representative bodies such as Scottish Rural Action and Scottish Islands Federation Most important	b. Representative bodies such as Scottish Rural Action and Scottish Islands Federation Important	b. Representative bodies such as Scottish Rural Action and Scottish Islands Federation Least important
c. Local Athorities	c. Local Athorities Most important	c. Local Athorities Important	c. Local Athorities Least important
d. Regional Planning Partnerships	d. Regional Planning Partnerships Most important	d. Regional Planning Partnerships Important	d. Regional Planning Partnerships Least important
e. Community Planning Partnerships	e. Community Planning Partnerships Most important	e. Community Planning Partnerships Important	e. Community Planning Partnerships Least important
f. Development bodies such as HIE	f. Development bodies such as HIE Most important	f. Development bodies such as HIE Important	f. Development bodies such as HIE Least important

Other (please specify)

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* 5. On what basis should be funding allocations be made?

	Most Important	Important	Least Important
a. As for current European funds	a. As for current European funds Most Important	a. As for current European funds Important	a. As for current European funds Least Important
b. Evidence of need	b. Evidence of need Most Important	b. Evidence of need Important	b. Evidence of need Least Important
c. Agreed long term (7 year+) structural objectives (independent of electoral spending cycles)	c. Agreed long term (7 year+) structural objectives (independent of electoral spending cycles) Most Important	c. Agreed long term (7 year+) structural objectives (independent of electoral spending cycles) Important	c. Agreed long term (7 year+) structural objectives (independent of electoral spending cycles) Least Important
d. Inclusive, sustainable and smart growth	d. Inclusive, sustainable and smart growth Most Important	d. Inclusive, sustainable and smart growth Important	d. Inclusive, sustainable and smart growth Least Important
e. Aligning living standards across Scotland	e. Aligning living standards across Scotland Most Important	e. Aligning living standards across Scotland Important	e. Aligning living standards across Scotland Least Important

Other (please specify)

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* 6. What key themes you would want to see addressed?

Other (please specify)

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* 7. How could the funding process be made easier?

A simpler process for smaller grants especially

A generally more simplified grant system

A Rural Challenge Fund for communities and small/micro-enterprises as put forward by the NCRA

Other (please specify)

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* 8. How should government be made accountable for their rural policy?

	Most Important	Important	Least Important
a. Use of appropriate indicators (eg regional, territorial, sustainability)	a. Use of appropriate indicators (eg regional, territorial, sustainability) Most Important	a. Use of appropriate indicators (eg regional, territorial, sustainability) Important	a. Use of appropriate indicators (eg regional, territorial, sustainability) Least Important
b. Use of indicators that capture social, environmental and economic contribution and impact	b. Use of indicators that capture social, environmental and economic contribution and impact Most Important	b. Use of indicators that capture social, environmental and economic contribution and impact Important	b. Use of indicators that capture social, environmental and economic contribution and impact Least Important
c. Impact assessment as in the Island Bill	c. Impact assessment as in the Island Bill Most Important	c. Impact assessment as in the Island Bill Important	c. Impact assessment as in the Island Bill Least Important
d. Regular review (eg mid term review and end review) as for European Structural and Investment Fund	d. Regular review (eg mid term review and end review) as for European Structural and Investment Fund Most Important	d. Regular review (eg mid term review and end review) as for European Structural and Investment Fund Important	d. Regular review (eg mid term review and end review) as for European Structural and Investment Fund Least Important
e. Embedding rural policy in National Performance Framework with annual reporting to parliament	e. Embedding rural policy in National Performance Framework with annual reporting to parliament Most Important	e. Embedding rural policy in National Performance Framework with annual reporting to parliament Important	e. Embedding rural policy in National Performance Framework with annual reporting to parliament Least Important

Other (please specify)

	Most Important	Important	Least Important
a. Attracting and retaining young people and families	a. Attracting and retaining young people and families Most Important	a. Attracting and retaining young people and families Important	a. Attracting and retaining young people and families Least Important
b. Attracting and retaining migrant workers	b. Attracting and retaining migrant workers Most Important	b. Attracting and retaining migrant workers Important	b. Attracting and retaining migrant workers Least Important
c. Rural & Island housing issues	c. Rural & Island housing issues Most Important	c. Rural & Island housing issues Important	c. Rural & Island housing issues Least Important
d. Transport including roads, piers and other major travel infrastructure	d. Transport including roads, piers and other major travel infrastructure Most Important	d. Transport including roads, piers and other major travel infrastructure Important	d. Transport including roads, piers and other major travel infrastructure Least Important
e. Health & social care provision	e. Health & social care provision Most Important	e. Health & social care provision Important	e. Health & social care provision Least Important
f. Community-led provision of services	f. Community-led provision of services Most Important	f. Community-led provision of services Important	f. Community-led provision of services Least Important
g. Community sector capacity building for development and resiliance	g. Community sector capacity building for development and resiliance Most Important	g. Community sector capacity building for development and resiliance Important	g. Community sector capacity building for development and resiliance Least Important
h. Support to enable increased local decision-making	h. Support to enable increased local decision-making Most Important	h. Support to enable increased local decision-making Important	h. Support to enable increased local decision-making Least Important
g. Sustainable tourism	g. Sustainable tourism Most Important	g. Sustainable tourism Important	g. Sustainable tourism Least Important
i. Local food production/food security	i. Local food production/food security Most Important	i. Local food production/food security Important	i. Local food production/food security Least Important
j. Support for micro and small businesses	j. Support for micro and small businesses Most Important	j. Support for micro and small businesses Important	j. Support for micro and small businesses Least Important
k. Support for the creative industries culture and social heritage	k. Support for the creative industries culture and social heritage Most Important	k. Support for the creative industries culture and social heritage Important	k. Support for the creative industries culture and social heritage Least Important
l. Natural eritahge and environmental protection	l. Natural eritahge and environmental protection Most Important	l. Natural eritahge and environmental protection Important	l. Natural eritahge and environmental protection Least Important
m. Mitigating climate change by funding transition to a fossil fuel free economy	m. Mitigating climate change by funding transition to a fossil fuel free economy Most Important	m. Mitigating climate change by funding transition to a fossil fuel free economy Important	m. Mitigating climate change by funding transition to a fossil fuel free economy Least Important
n. Broadband	n. Broadband Most Important	n. Broadband Important	n. Broadband Least Important
o. Mobile phone coverage	o. Mobile phone coverage Most Important	o. Mobile phone coverage Important	o. Mobile phone coverage Least Important