Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Simon Jupp and Iain Stewart

Wednesday 16th March 2022 Commons Chamber

[Iain Stewart]

I am rather surprised that the hon. Lady seeks to criticise levelling up as pork barrel politics when her constituency is benefiting from a multimillion-pound investment in the regeneration of Granton. I would have thought that she would be pleased with that.

[Simon Jupp (East Devon) (Con)]

6. What steps his Department is taking to support Scottish island communities.

[Jerome Mayhew (Broadland) (Con)]

7. What steps his Department is taking to support Scottish island communities.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Iain Stewart)]

The UK Government have committed £50 million to the islands growth deal, which has resulted in islands communities benefiting from the highest per capita deal in Scotland. As I just mentioned, the levelling-up White Paper announced the development of an islands forum, and I have recently had discussions with local partners on how to progress that important work.

[Simon Jupp]

The new islands forum announced in the levelling-up White Paper is a welcome step. It will connect island communities from Scotland to the south-west with key decision makers. What progress is being made on the proposal?

[Iain Stewart]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. On Monday, I had a useful conversation with the leader and chief executive of Orkney Islands Council. We are inviting local partners to discuss with us how best the forum can operate and deliver what we want to achieve in the islands.