This document summarizes a meeting of the advocacy group Wir Shetland, which aims to achieve greater autonomy for Shetland, possibly in the form of British Overseas Territory status. It discusses the group's structure and goals, as well as issues related to layers of government, funding disparities, economic contributions, fisheries and more. The document argues that greater self-governance could provide financial gains for Shetland and help address issues like depopulation through improved infrastructure and services.

1. Meeting at Symbister Hall
Andrea Manson - Treasurer
James Titcomb – Vice Chair
Duncan Simpson – Membership Secretary
21st
December 2015

2. 2
Who Is Wir Shetland?
● A group of Shetland residents and “expats”
committed to improving Shetland’s future.
● PURPOSE/MISSION: To protect the long term
interests of Shetlanders by achieving self-
governing autonomy, in line with the
democratic wishes of Shetland residents.
● Launched 14th October, Currently 357
members.

3. 3
Who Is Wir Shetland
John Tulloch - Chair
James Titcomb - Vice Chair
Kathy Greaves - Secretary
Andrea Manson – Treasurer
Duncan Simpson – Membership Secretary
Committee members – Ali Inkster, Steven Jarmson
A diverse range of backgrounds with a single unifying policy of
achieving the best possible constitutional position for
Shetland.

4. 4
What is Wir Shetland?
● Multi-party campaign group
● Members of all parties welcome to join
● Aim – achieve British Overseas Territory, or
similar, status for Shetland
● Approach – initially by engaging with parties
and candidates for parliamentary and council
seats to establish what progress, if any, can be
made that way.
● Registering as a party and fielding our own
candidates will be considered if necessary.

5. 5
Layers of Government
● European Union (Brussels)
● UK Government (Westminster)
● Scottish Government (Hollyrood)
● Shetlands Island Council (Lerwick)
● Whalsay Comunity Council (Symbister)
● How effective is this for Whalsay?

6. 6
Fishing grounds lost to the EU
1970 – First rules drawn up “a few” hours before
official reception of applications to join received
from Britain, Ireland, Denmark and Norway.
Originally UK refused, but gave in at the end of
1971 and signed 22nd Jan 1972. Giving away 4/5
th
of all fish in western Europe1
Equal access to all EU waters for EU vessels
1: Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Fisheries_Policy

7. 7
Shetlands Exclusive Economic Zone

8. 8
Uk Government
● Economy, Finance, Defense, Foreign Affairs,
etc.
● Remote, out of touch, English law
● Impacts: taxation, duty, EU membership,
sovereignty issues eg oil and gas, territorial
waters, Crown Estates.
● Hundreds of billions to UK Treasury over 40
years
● Meanwhile, SIC closing country schools

9. 9
Scottish Government
●
Provides government funding to Scottish Councils
● 2008 agreement – COSLA to distribute funding
equitably by “formula”
●
2014/15 Shetland education funding
● SIC budgeted expenditure: £48.5M
● Funding: £29M
● Shortfall: £19.5M
●
SIC forced to cut education spending 20 percent
● Shortfall: still £10M+, funded from SIC oil reserves

10. 10
Scottish Government
● Cumulative funding shortfall 2008-15 (7yr)
● Minimum 7x10M = £70M
● Maximum 7x10M = £137M
● Median = £104M since 2008
● This shortfall has to be recovered either from
Wir reserves or more cuts.

11. 11
Shetland Islands Council
● “Government funding reducing, must cut
services.”
● “School rolls falling, so close schools to save
cost.”
● SIC joined Our Islands, Our Future (2013)
● OIOF – “Please Sir, can we have some more?”
● Scottish Government - “Consultation - of ALL
the islands, that’s fair.”
● Actually, that’s “kicking the can down the road”

12. 12
Shetland Economy (SIC 2010 report)
● Gross Domestic Product (GDP) = £1.1billion pa
● Value Added (pay plus profits) = £485million pa
● Exports = £496million pa
● Imports = £365million pa
● Balance of Trade = £+131million pa
●
●
● Total 40yr tax revenue (Shetland oil) = £100-
150bn

13. 13
Wir Shetland
● Billions going out of Shetland annually
● School roles have been falling indicating
depopulation
● Closing schools just makes it worse
● First - we must investigate “Depopulation” is it
really happening? If so why?
● Second – Act to reverse the decline.
● Absolute last resort to consider school future.
Presumption against closure

14. 14
Depopulation
Lack of modern communications, transport,
facilities & services – Centralisation
Fewer people – less spend
Downward spiral is produced.
Many remote communities are suffering
With Decent roads, Fast Broadband, modern
ferries, Tunnels & Bridges only where the
population demands them, communities CAN
thrive.

15. 15
Ferries

16. 16
Central government funding of Ferries
13-14 14-15 15-16
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
Clyde and Hebrides
Northern Isles

17. 17
How to finance it?
UK has mineral rights, EU has fishing, Shetland
has none.
UK has specific derogation from EU law allowing
the quota system to operate.
Assume Shetland gains Autonomy (BOT status)
Shetland gains the Shetland portion of the UK
EEZ
Full control of fishing, aquaculture, minerals,
taxation & licensing in the entire Shetland EEZ.

18. 18
Exchequer Balance
● The SIC Input Output report for 2010-2011
states:-
● The Shetland economy is worth over £1Billion annually
● The Exchequer Balance is the difference between total
government revenue raised in Shetland against total
government expenditure. The report calculates that, in 2010/11,
Shetland generated a positive Exchequer Balance of £82 million
● Total revenue raised by the government in Shetland in 2010-11
was £219 million
● In 2016 the SIC is due to receive £87.7 million (a
cut of 4.5%

19. 19
Offshore Oil and Gas
● Northern North Sea plus West of Shetland
Workforce was 20,000 in 2014 (source: UK Oil
and Gas UK)
● Average worker is paying £10,000pa income
tax
● Revenue to Shetland = £200Mpa;
● For conservative estimate, £200Mpa divide by
2 = £100Mpa
● licensing, corporation tax, etc.,

20. 20
Gains and Losses
● Loss – Scottish government funding - £80Mpa
● Gain – Exchequer Balance - £82Mpa (2010)
● Gain – Offshore employee taxation ~ £100Mpa
● Gain – Oil Company taxes ~ £50-£200Mpa
£0.5B – £2.2B for whole UK, * 10% (conservative estimate for
Shetland) UKOG predicted figures for 2014 – 2021
● Gain – tens of millions from expanded fishing
rights.

21. 21
Net fiscal gain from Autonomy
Crude estimation based on previous slide.
Net Gain = £(82-80+100+50+20)Mpa
Net Gain = £172Mpa

22. 22
Why would they let us go?
● UN right to self determination
● Scottish independence precedent
● 50% + 1 is enough to secure independence.
● In the case of a second Scottish referendum.
● Better to negotiate with Shetland.
● Will loose all access to an independent Scotland.
● Negotiate position over EEZ – we demand it all, but could
share access.
● Defense.