Out the box – new island law 

Under the Islands (Scotland) Bill, Scottish government bodies will not be able to include Shetland in a box.

The bill was passed following the Our Islands Our Future campaign, which began ahead of the independence referendum.

Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP Tavish Scott led calls for the new law, which means ministers and authorities will have to provide reasons for deviating from the rule.

Shetland is 93 miles north of the mainland but is often included in a box so the whole country can be shown.

Mr Scott described this as a “lazy mapping practice”, adding: “The logistics of getting to and from Shetland are all too often overlooked, and this has a serious impact on the economies of the islands.

“Depicting Shetland’s geographical position accurately is important, and it’s a fitting amendment given ‘island proofing’ is intended to show the government is conscious of islanders’ needs.”

The law, which was passed unanimously, will require government and public sector policies will need to take the impact on the islands into consideration in what is known as island-proofing.

Islands minister Humza Yousaf said the bill was an “important milestone”.

He said: “This bill is not for government nor for Parliament nor even for the agencies that will play a key role.

“It is about people and it is for the people - those who have contributed to our islands’ heritage, those who contribute to their well-being now and those who are yet to come for whom this bill gives them and us all a strong platform on which to build a bright future for Scotland’s islands.”

Scottish Conservative MSP Peter Chapman said: “This bill is a positive step for the islands and we as a group support the Bill believing that it can make a difference to our island communities.

“The main point of this bill was always to empower island communities and this can now start on the islands through their own councils and authorities and this will be something which we will be monitoring post-legislatively to ensure that island authorities are achieving the results intended.”