Tynwald welcomed two Shetland Island guests during a two-day information-gathering visit.
Tavish Scott, member of the Scottish Parliament for Shetland and Councillor Malcolm Bell, Convenor – Shetland Islands Council had travelled to the Isle of Man against the background of widespread debate about Scotland’s constitutional future. They had expressed a wish to learn from the Isle of Man’s experience as a Crown dependency and to study the legislative processes of Tynwald, in particular the practicalities of managing parliamentary business in a system where most elected members are independent.
The visit was prompted by discussions between Mr Scott and the Speaker of the House of Keys Steve Rodan SHK while attending a Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) conference in Edinburgh earlier this year.
Spread over a day and a half the programme saw the officials meet with Mr Rodan and the President of Tynwald Clare Christian MLC, attend sittings of the House of Keys and the Legislative Council and deliver a presentation to members on the Shetland Islands that included an account of the region’s successful wind farm project. Their visit also provided opportunities to meet with Chief Minister Allan Bell MHK, Minister for Environment, Food and Agriculture Phil Gawne MHK, Minister for Economic Development John Shimmin MHK, Treasury Minister Eddie Teare MHK and Mark Shimmin, chief financial officer to the Treasury.
Mr Scott said: ‘At a time of intense debate about constitutional change for Scotland our approach is look at and learn from other jurisdictions such as the Isle of Man to identify how best to secure our future as islands. If we stand still, we shall get left behind.’ Mr Scott remarked on the ‘powerful evolutionary process’ of the Manx legislative system, in particular fiscal powers developed since the 1950s, while Councillor Bell remarked on the robust relationship established between the Isle of Man and UK central government that demonstrated how the Island was succeeding in ‘retaining and enhancing’ the means through which it was determining its economic future.
The visit had proved ‘very useful and valuable’, the meetings held with government ministers illustrating, said Mr Scott, ‘the Isle of Man’s self confidence that comes with change. Shetland, like the Isle of Man, has always looked outwards…”insular” doesn’t work.’
Steve Rodan said: ‘At such a pivotal time in Scotland’s history we have been pleased to welcome Mr Scott and Councillor Bell to Tynwald, not only to offer an insight into our legislative and parliamentary procedures but also to learn of the advances Shetland is making in areas such as alternative energy technology and its fishing industry. Once again our membership of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association has served as an invaluable means through which to connect and develop relationships with parliamentarians and officials from other jurisdictions.’
Photo caption - Tavish Scott MSP, seated, with Councillor Malcolm Bell, Convenor – Shetland Islands Council and Speaker of the House of Keys Steve Rodan SHK in the House of Keys chamber. (Photo Paul Dougherty, Tynwald Seneschal).
