Parliament Workbench
Data: Motions & questions to 19 Nov 2026 · Votes to 12 Nov 2026

Motion For Debate · S4M-14448 · Session 4

Empowering Scotland’s Island Communities

Lodged by Derek Mackay SNP Lodged 5 Oct 2015 Debate 6 Oct 2015 1 supporter

The motion

That the Parliament welcomes the publication of the Scottish Government’s consultation paper on measures for inclusion in a future islands bill; notes that the paper seeks views on issues including the concept of "island-proofing", devolution of further powers, the possibility of a national islands plan, statutory protection for the Western Isles Scottish parliamentary constituency boundary and whether the Local Government Boundary Commission in Scotland should have discretion to recommend wards with fewer than three councillors so that populated islands are not placed in an electoral ward that contains a significant proportion, and often a majority, of mainland population, and recognises that the publication of this paper is a further signal of the Scottish Government’s support for island communities following the creation of the Island Areas Ministerial Working Group in 2013, the publication of the Empowering Scotland’s Island Communities prospectus in 2014, and the creation of a specific ministerial post with responsibility for island issues, giving a voice to all of Scotland’s 93 islands at the heart of government.

What MSPs voted on: the motion as amended

The SNP’s motion was changed by a Labour amendment (S4M-14448.2) before this vote. A vote ‘for’ was a vote for the SNP’s motion with Labour’s changes.

That the Parliament welcomes the publication of the Scottish Government’s consultation paper on measures for inclusion in a future islands bill; notes that the paper seeks views on issues including the concept of "island-proofing", devolution of further powers, the possibility of a national islands plan, statutory protection for the Western Isles Scottish parliamentary constituency boundary and whether the Local Government Boundary Commission in Scotland should have discretion to recommend wards with fewer than three councillors so that populated islands are not placed in an electoral ward that contains a significant proportion, and often a majority, of mainland population, and recognises that the publication of this paper is a further signal of the Scottish Government’s support for island communities following the creation of the Island Areas Ministerial Working Group in 2013, the publication of the Empowering Scotland’s Island Communities prospectus in 2014, and the creation of a specific ministerial post with responsibility for island issues, giving a voice to all of Scotland’s 93 islands at the heart of government.S4M-14448.2 Labour ; acknowledges the importance of the Our Islands Our Future campaign, which has highlighted the contribution of the island communities to Scotland, and recognises the immediate challenges that all island communities face in areas such as housing, fuel poverty and transport connectivity

Final wording as read into the Official Report at Decision Time. The marked changes are worked out by this site from the amendment texts and match that wording.

Amendments

  1. S4M-14448.2 Labour Ken Macintosh Agreed without a vote, per the Official Report
  2. S4M-14448.1 Liberal Democrat Liam McArthur Defeated vote, 44–60

Signatures by party

1 MSP besides the lodger · 0 from other parties
SNP 1

Party on the day each MSP signed. Signing a motion is voluntary and not whipped. Who signs whose motions

Vote

No recorded vote on this motion. Most motions are never debated, and many that are debated are agreed without a division. Vote records are published from 2011.

Amendments

2
  1. S4M-14448.1
    Empowering Scotland’s Island Communities
    Liam McArthur LD Lodged 5 Oct 2015
    Defeated
    44 for, 60 against
  2. S4M-14448.2
    Empowering Scotland’s Island Communities
    Ken Macintosh Lab Lodged 5 Oct 2015
    No recorded vote

Supporters

1 MSP

SNP 1

Show all 1 supporter by party

SNP 1

Party shown is each supporter’s party when the motion was published.

In the Official Report

4 contributions mention S4M-14448
  1. 6 Oct 2015
    Island Communities
    Tricia Marwick Meeting of the Parliament

    The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-14448, in the name of Derek Mackay, on empowering Scotland’s island communities. I call Derek Mackay to speak to and move the motion. 14:30

  2. 6 Oct 2015
    Decision Time
    Tricia Marwick Meeting of the Parliament

    There are three questions to be put as a result of today’s business. The first question is, that amendment S4M-14448.2, in the name of Ken Macintosh, which seeks to amend motion S4M-14448, in the name of Derek Mackay, on empowering Scotlan…

  3. 6 Oct 2015
    Decision Time
    Tricia Marwick Meeting of the Parliament

    The second question is, that amendment S4M-14448.1, in the name of Liam McArthur, which seeks to amend motion S4M-14448, in the name of Derek Mackay, on empowering Scotland’s island communities, be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No.

  4. 6 Oct 2015
    Decision Time
    Tricia Marwick Meeting of the Parliament

    The third question is, that motion S4M-14448, in the name of Derek Mackay, on empowering Scotland’s island communities, as amended, be agreed to. Motion, as amended, agreed to, That the Parliament welcomes the publication of the Scottish G…