Tom Arthur: “This commission will make sure that the people facing the greatest risks are at the heart of how we build resilience.”

It’s precisely why we are investing £600 million to roll out gigabit-capable broadband in some of the country’s hardest-to-reach communities through our R100 programme.

Our ambitious 4G Infill programme brought life-changing 4G services to thousands of homes and businesses throughout the country, with the £28.75 million project delivering 55 mobile masts in some of Scotland’s hardest-to-reach communities.

Mirroring a trend seen in many countries around the world, Scotland has an ageing population and areas where the population is declining.

Applications are being considered for the latest funding round, with grants of up to £17 million due to be announced shortly.