General Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament at on 25 April 2024.
Tim Eagle
Conservative
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what activity it will undertake regarding its action plan to address depopulation. (S6O-03352)
Paul McLennan
Scottish National Party
The publication of our addressing depopulation action plan represents the first phase of a strategic long-term approach to supporting communities that are experiencing population decline, including a range of new commitments aimed at supporting local leadership in responding to these challenges.
We have committed to establishing an addressing depopulation delivery group, working closely with key regional, local and community partners. The group will monitor and evaluate the delivery of the action plan and ensure that valuable lessons and learning are captured, which can be applied more broadly across Scotland to deliver a sustainable solution to the challenges.
Tim Eagle
Conservative
The action plan’s addressing depopulation fund amounts to just £180,000, which is to be split between three local authorities over two years. Given the acute shortage of professionals—doctors, nurses, carers, teachers and more—along with the huge numbers of young people who are moving away from rural areas, is it not the reality that the fund is barely a sticking plaster for those communities that are suffering prolonged loss of local services and an exodus of people?
Paul McLennan
Scottish National Party
Initially, the fund will make available £180,000, to be split between a prospective three local authorities, as Tim Eagle has said. It will be operational across financial years 2024-25 and 2025-26, and it is intended that the interventions that are taken forward will generate learning that will be more broadly applicable to communities across Scotland.
Rhoda Grant
Labour
The Minister will be aware that Uist is being classified as a repopulation zone, which will provide temporary accommodation and long-term help to find employment and a permanent home for people moving to the area. The council, the public sector, the private sector and communities are involved in that, and they highlight that housing is the biggest issue. What is the Scottish Government doing to provide homes to both retain and attract populations to our rural and island communities?
Paul McLennan
Scottish National Party
I visited Uist a number of months ago, when I spoke to communities about not just housing but broader issues. We have announced our “Rural & Islands Housing Action Plan”. There are opportunities in relation to renewables, which might bring additional homes to the area. We are engaging with the likes of Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks on that.
I continue to engage with the local authority on the issue, and I will be happy to engage with the member further on that if she wishes me to do so.
Alison Johnstone
Green
Let us keep questions and responses concise.
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