Scottish Government fails to address rural-proofing twice in one day amid public sector reform

Twice in one afternoon the Scottish Government “fell short” of addressing proposals to introduce a rural proofing bill to combat the challenges faced by rural and remote communities.

Earlier this week the Caithness, Sutherland and Ross MSP said his constituents would remain sceptical about local government reform until some real powers were devolved to local communities.

It comes after the Deputy First Minister, when asked by the Press Association if ministers would devolve their own powers, said: “No, what we are promising is we will reform local government.”

Speaking on Tuesday [29 September] in Holyrood, Mr Green said: “A constituent recently listed to me some of the consequences of having a one-size fits-all approach to policy, including the closure of the Inverness control room, more patients having to travel outwith Highland for care, and rural fire station appliances being off the run.

“What works in the central belt will not always work for rural and island communities. The Parliament endorsed that principle when it created the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018, but it must now answer the question for rural Scotland, too.”

Mr Green raised the work of former SNP MSP Gail Ross in making the case for a rural proofing bill, and asked Minister for Public Finance, Hannah Mary Goodlad MSP, if she agreed with the need for such a bill.

Responding to Mr Green, she said that the SNP had renewed the Community Empowerment act and that new land reform legislation would favour community buyouts.

She added that “thriving rural communities and empowering communities are a priority for this government” and that she wanted to see the Islands Act used further.

Following the exchange, David Green MSP said: “Twice in one afternoon, I sought clarity from the Scottish Government on its position on rural proofing. Yet twice in one afternoon, the Minister’s response fell short.

“It would appear memories are short. It was one of my predecessors, Gail Ross, then an SNP MSP, who first proposed a rural proofing Bill. Humza Yousaf also promised this in 2023, before becoming First Minister.

“If the Scottish Government is serious about fostering economic and democratic inclusion across rural Scotland, then it must recognise the importance of rural proofing - I will certainly keep banging the drum."