Housing Minister Kevin Stewart has co-chaired the first meeting of the Islands Strategic Group.

The body, which brings together all six local authorities responsible for the country's 93 inhabited island communities, focuses on the development of a National Islands Plan to ensure the government's commitment to empower the Scottish Islands.

The meeting was also co-chaired by hte Minister for Transport and the Islands, Humza Yousaf.

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Speaking after the meeting, Highland Council Leader Margaret Davidson said: "I was delighted to take part in this first meeting of the Islands Strategic Group as it meets to consider the strategic issues affecting all the inhabited island communities of Scotland. I am keen that we help identify and design solutions to the unique needs and challenges these communities face.

"Highland covers a vast area with some 4,412km of coastline, 1,493 islands and many remote and dispersed communities.

"We want our island communities to thrive and I am very pleased that the Scottish Government have established this group to take forward this agenda."

(LM/CD)