Views sought on Smith Commission plans

A Scottish parliamentary committee is visiting Shetland to hear views from local people on the Smith Commission’s proposals.

Members of the Devolution (Further Powers) Committee will be holding a public meeting at Lerwick Town Hall on Monday 16th March and are inviting people to discuss the legislation that takes forward the provisions in the Smith Commission’s agreement.

Committee convener Bruce Crawford said: “Last year’s historic referendum demonstrated a level of political interest and engagement never previously achieved in this country.

“Our job in the Scottish Parliament – and more specifically for those of us on the Devolution Committee – is to ensure that the extra powers promised in the Smith Agreement are scrutinised in detail and that we continue to listen and engage with the Scottish public as we carry out our work as a committee.

“That is why we are listening to people across Scotland to get their views and to reflect those views in our scrutiny.

“Shetland is somewhere we were keen to come and I am very much looking forward to meeting with local people and ensuring that the views heard feed into our scrutiny of all relevant and related legislation.”

The public meeting will begin at 5.30pm and it is expected to end at around 7pm. Tickets must be booked.