Isles women may get incentives

Young islanders are leaving to study and get jobs

Women could be offered financial incentives to stay in the Western Isles in a bid to halt population decline.

Research commissioned by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council) found more females than males have left the islands.

Deputy convener Angus Campbell said monetary incentives could be considered to encourage young women not to move.

The report listed limited opportunities in jobs and further education as reasons why people go to the mainland.

Mr Campbell said the Comhairle has set up a group to investigate how to tackle population decline following what he described as an important and serious study.

On financial incentives, he said: "I think that is one of the issues that will be considered by the group.

"It was mentioned in the report and seems to be the issue that people have got hold of, but it is a much wider report."

Child-bearing age

Mr Campbell said other incentives could be considered than just financial ones.

The Hebrides Migration Study said also found 71% of those coming to the area were male.

Forecasting predicted that there would be more people by 2019 living in the Western Isles - but fewer schoolchildren, people of working age and women of child-bearing age.

The study said there had been long-term decline between 1901 and 2001, which was steepest in Harris, the Uists and Barra.