News

Carmichael to press for urgent deckhand visa reforms in fisheries debate

Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, will today [Thursday] challenge ministers to offer a clear roadmap on making a workable visa scheme for skilled deckhands, as he leads a parliamentary debate on post-Brexit fisheries. In the debate Mr Carmichael will highlight a range of challenges facing the fishing industry including quota, the unsustainable practice of gillnetting and the current cost-of-living crisis.

13 Oct 2022

View

“Take the drawing board to the isles and hand over the pen” – Carmichael welcomes scrapping of islands bond scheme

Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has welcomed the announcement today that the Scottish Government’s proposed “Islands Bond” scheme would be scrapped following widespread opposition from local communities. The proposal would have given cash incentives for individuals and families to move to Scottish island communities and was announced by the SNP during the Holyrood elections last year.

19 Aug 2022

View

1 …

News from Orkney and Shetlands MSPs

Orcadian Column, 1 June 2023

Pulling out of Eday aboard the Varagen on Saturday morning, it wasn’t long before Dave Gray was helpfully explaining to passengers what to do in the event of an emergency.

1 Jun 2023

View

NorthLink bookings

At the beginning of the week I launched an online survey asking for the views and experiences of people when booking on the Northern Isles Serco NorthLink Ferry Lerwick-Aberdeen service.

28 May 2023

View

General News and Press Releases

McArthur demands update on ferries task force meetings

Orkney’s MSP Liam McArthur has demanded to know when the task force set up to look at replacing ferries on Orkney’s internal routes will next meet.

25 May 2023

View

McArthur calls for targeted support to recruit and retain island dentists

Orkney MSP Liam McArthur called today for the Government to target support at recruiting and retaining NHS dentists in rural and island areas.

25 May 2023

View

Church of Scotland votes to review opposition to assisted dying

The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland today voted in favour of further ‘theological research’ on the issue of assisted dying, rejecting a motion which would have reaffirmed its opposition.

24 May 2023

View

Shetland

Wishart quizzes Islands Cabinet Secretary on transport needs

Scottish Liberal Democrat and Shetland MSP, Beatrice Wishart, today quizzed the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Islands and Land Reform, Mairi Gougeon MSP, on transport and housing needs to tackle depopulation in Scotland’s islands.

24 May 2023

View

Beatrice visits Cooke aquaculture salmon farm

Shetland

Wishart responds to growing salmon exports to Asia

Wishart responds to news that Scottish salmon exports to Asia have doubled to £24 million in the first quarter of this year, according to new figures, amid controversial proposals by the Scottish Government to implement Highly Protected Marine Areas.

23 May 2023

View

NorthLink vessel MV Hjaltland on the sea

Shetland

Wishart wants to hear NorthLink travel booking experiences

Scottish Liberal Democrat and Shetland MSP Beatrice Wishart has today launched an online survey looking for feedback from constituents about their experiences when trying to book Serco NorthLink ferry travel to and from Shetland.

22 May 2023

View

HPMAs, buses, carbon emmissions

This week, in a debate on Sustainable Food Supply, my amendment highlighting the importance of fishing and aquaculture in the food supply chain, received support from opposition parties but not the SNP/Green Scottish Government.

21 May 2023

View

1 …

…

This website uses cookies