Scottish Affairs Committee MPs tour isles as part of their inquiry into Crown Estate

Rosalind Griffiths June 20, 2011 0

A number of MPs from across the UK who form the Scottish Affairs Committee are in Shetland this week for inquiries into the Crown Estate in Scotland and Health and Safety in Scotland.

The trip, in which the MPs will tour marine-related and cultural organisations, is part of a five-day visit to the Northern Isles and Caithness.

Today the programme took in meetings with Shetland Marine Energy Group, Shetland Aquaculture, Lerwick Port Authority, HIE Shetland, and tours of Lerwick Harbour and Shetland Museum and Archives.

The group moves on to Orkney tomorrow after meetings with Shetland Amenity Trust, Shetland Arts, Promote Shetland, the SIC Telecom project, Greig Seafood Hjaltland, Lerwick Fish Traders and the council’s development committee.

Committee chairman Ian Davidson, MP for Glasgow South West, said: “The majority of our meeting and visits will focus on aspects of the committee’s inquiry into the Crown Estate in Scotland, particularly in examining how the Crown Estate can best act in the public interest and its relationship with local communities which are directly affected by the decisions it makes. It is vital that we meet individuals and organisations on the ground, to hear firsthand about their experiences.

“We are also taking the opportunity to incorporate strands of our inquiry on health and safety in Scotland. We want to talk directly to people about the effectiveness of health and safety regulation in Scotland, for example what are the specific concerns of local businesses in sectors such as fishing, renewable energy and oil and gas.

“In addition, we will seek information as to how employment and enterprise are being sustained in the present economic difficulties. In particular, we will want to clarify how helpful banks are being in supporting all their customers.”

Other MPs taking part in the trip are Fiona Bruce, Mike Freer, Cathy Jamieson, Jim McGovern, David Mowat, Fiona O’Donnell, Alan Reid, Simon Reevell, Lindsay Roy and Eilidh Whiteford.