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Carmichael demands clarity on timings and advice for off-grid energy payments

Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has today called for further detail on the rollout of the Alternative Fuel Payments (AFP) scheme giving £200 of energy bill support for off-grid families, including those using heating oil. Speaking in Parliament Mr Carmichael asked the Energy Minister for detail on the numbers of people expected to benefit from the scheme automatically and how those who need to apply for the payment can do so.

25 Jan 2023

Carmichael welcomes new report on fisheries spatial squeeze

Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has welcomed the release this week of a new report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Fisheries, suggesting solutions to the growing competition for space in UK waters. The report follows discussions in Parliament in November last year between politicians and industry stakeholders on the best way to manage competing needs (including environmental protection and energy development) without solely squeezing out local fishermen.

24 Jan 2023

Shetland spaceport partnership welcomed in Parliament

Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has today lodged a parliamentary motion welcoming the latest partnership agreed by Saxavord UK Spaceport in Shetland, with RFA Space. The partnership is expected to see a first launch from the Unst launch site in late 2023.

24 Jan 2023

Carmichael warns against lax regulation of energy company actions on meters

Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has today called on ministers to keep a “close eye” on energy companies in order to protect vulnerable families. Speaking during an Urgent Question in Parliament relating to concerns about households being unfairly forced to switch to pre-payment meters – which generally cost more per unit than other payment methods – Mr Carmichael highlighted the related issue found in the Northern Isles of companies refusing to connect meters to new build homes.

23 Jan 2023

Northern Isles representatives welcome signing of Islands Growth Deal

Orkney and Shetland’s parliamentary representatives Alistair Carmichael MP, Liam McArthur MSP and Beatrice Wishart MSP have welcomed the signing today of the Islands Growth Deal in Kirkwall. The agreement will see £100 million invested by the UK and Scottish governments between Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles, with a further investment of £293 million expected from public and private stakeholders, aiming at boosting growth and jobs, including in new green technologies and the creative industries. Up to 1300 jobs are expected to be created by the agreement.

20 Jan 2023

Carmichael recognises Fair Isle ferry funding in Parliament

Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has today in Parliament welcomed the announcement of funding for the replacement Fair Isle ferry, but called for assurances that Orkney Islands Council would receive the same support and feedback from the Levelling Up department in renewing its bid for funds in the future.

19 Jan 2023

Carmichael calls for DVSA head to visit Northern Isles amid continued testing frustrations

Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has today in Parliament called for transport ministers to improve driving test wait times, and to push the head of the DVSA to make a visit to the Northern Isles to see the state of service and need here. Mr Carmichael also highlighted the continued lack of off-road motorcycle testing in the Shetland after years of uncertainty.

19 Jan 2023

New Fair Isle ferry funding a success for local campaigners – Carmichael

Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has welcomed news this evening that local campaigners for a new Fair Isle ferry have secured Levelling Up Fund support for the replacement vessel. Following a bid by Shetland Islands Council with support from the local community, £26.8m is to be allocated to provide a new, lifeline roll-on, roll-off ferry for Fair Isle.

18 Jan 2023

Carmichael raises challenges with data-deficient monkfish in fisheries debate

Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has today called on ministers to acknowledge the frustration faced by fishermen that valuable monkfish stocks are still regarded as “data-deficient”. Data-deficient species of fish pose greater challenges for the setting of quotas, as the lack of information on numbers makes it hard to reasonably reflect the potential catch in fishing grounds. Monkfish is a key stock for Scottish and in particular Shetland fishermen.

18 Jan 2023

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News from Orkney and Shetlands MSPs

Satellite view of Shetland

Shetland

Wishart presses for date for Scottish Government and SIC to meet to discuss tunnels

Scottish Liberal Democrat and Shetland MSP, Beatrice Wishart has, in a Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands question session, called for a date for the Scottish Government to meet with Shetland Islands Council to discuss short subsea tunnels.

14 Sep 2023

General News and Press Releases

McArthur praises the establishment of Scottish “Bairns’ Hoose”

Orkney MSP Liam McArthur today praised those who have worked towards the establishment of Scotland’s first “Bairns’ Hoose” for young victims and witnesses of crimes, and called for work to be done to bring the principles behind it to island settings.

13 Sep 2023

McArthur joins campaign to save Screen Machine

Orkney’s MSP Liam McArthur has joined the campaign to save the beloved Screen Machine, a mobile cinema that has proved hugely popular during visits to Orkney and around the Highlands & Islands over the past 25 years.

12 Sep 2023

Orcadian Column, 7 September 2023

During its construction, the Scottish Parliament building attracted more than its fair share of criticism. For all the delays and cost overruns, however, thankfully the project never resorted to using ‘flaky concrete’.

7 Sep 2023

General News and Press Releases

McArthur: “No Equality without Fair Deal for Islanders”

Orkney’s MSP Liam McArthur today told Scottish Ministers that their agenda of equality was being undermined by the divide between different parts of the country, and demanded a “commitment to painstaking delivery” to meet islanders’ needs.

6 Sep 2023

General News and Press Releases

McArthur joins call to pause short-term lets legislation

Orkney MSP Liam McArthur has signed an open letter to Scottish ministers calling for a pause to short-term lets legislation, joining 37 MSPs from across the parties.

30 Aug 2023

Carmichael calls for geographic tariff as Ofgem cuts energy price cap

Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has today noted Ofgem’s announcement of a cut to the energy price cap, and called for the regulator to begin looking at geographically differentiated tariffs.

25 Aug 2023

McArthur challenges the removal of island jury trials

Orkney’s MSP Liam McArthur has expressed serious concerns about plans to transfer jury trials from Kirkwall Sherriff Court to the Scottish mainland.

21 Aug 2023

General News and Press Releases

McArthur raises concerns about diabetes medication shortage

Orkney’s MSP Liam McArthur has written to Scotland’s Public Health Minister, Jenni Minto, to raise concerns about shortages of a crucial medication used to treat diabetes and the impact this is having on patients in Orkney and across the country.

18 Aug 2023

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