Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP for Shetland, Beatrice Wishart MSP has today revealed alarming figures highlighting the strain that mental health services on Shetland have been under since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Northern Isles parliamentarians have today called on the Scottish Ministers to re-start the work on the Fuel Poverty Strategy “as a matter of urgency” after it was revealed that the Scottish Government’s work on the strategy has been on pause for almost a year. 

Speaking in response to the latest announcement that Lockheed Martin has selected the rocket it will use to kick-start space launches from the island of Unst in Shetland, Beatrice Wishart MSP said:

“This is a welcome step in Shetland’s journey to being a spaceport and I am pleased that Unst has been chosen for this project. The isles are in an ideal geographical position for rocket launches, and the spaceport should have a long-term positive impact on Shetland’s economy.”

Northern Isles representatives Beatrice Wishart MSP, Liam McArthur MSP and Alistair Carmichael MP hosted a virtual roundtable involving local councillors, community council representatives as well as officials from Scottish Government and HIE to discuss how digital connectivity in the Northern Isles can be improved. The roundtables revealed the scale of the challenge in both communities and the difficulties experienced during a pandemic as a result of people having to work or study from home with poor or no internet access.

Shetland MSP Beatrice Wishart has today reaffirmed calls for testing to be introduced for anyone travelling to Shetland after National Clinical Director, Professor Jason Leitch, talked about protecting island communities who have low infection rates during a committee session. 

MSP for Shetland, Beatrice Wishart, gives her response to the Scottish Budget.

Shetland MSP Beatrice Wishart has today sought assurances from the Education Secretary that a local approach to the opening of schools will be considered ahead of more children returning later in February.

Shetland MSP, Beatrice Wishart, has today welcomed the introduction of an island equivalent payment that will allow eligible businesses in Shetland access to the same ongoing support as businesses elsewhere in Scotland.

The National Clinical Director today confirmed that coronavirus testing before arrival to the islands is being considered, following questioning from Shetland MSP Beatrice Wishart.

Scottish Liberal Democrats have today urged the Scottish Government, Labour and Greens to reconsider after they voted in Education Committee to push back to 2023 giving parents the legal right to both defer starting Primary 1 and have it replaced with funded early learning and childcare.