View source for Na h-Eileanan Siar

[[File:Na h-Eileanan Siarcouncil.PNG|thumb|Na h-Eileanan Siar shown within Scotland]]'''Na h-Eileanan Siar''' (previously '''Western Isles''', also referred to as the '''Outer Hebrides''') is a local government area in the west of [[Scotland]]. The area was created in 1975 as "Western Isles" and was officially given its current Gaelic name in 1997. Prior to 1975 the isle of Lewis formed part of the county of [[Ross and Cromarty]] and the rest of the archipelago, including Harris, was part of [[Inverness-shire]]. The islands are more than 50% Gaelic speaking.

The largest town is [[Stornoway]].

The Northern Constabulary, covering the [[Highland]], Western Isles, [[Orkney]] and [[Shetland]] areas, was replaced in 2013 by the [[Police Service of Scotland]].

==LGBT history==

In 2005 the council banned the registration of [[civil partnership]]s on the islands, but subsequently agreed that they could go ahead.<ref>http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2006/06/05/western-isles-to-lift-ban-on-gay-marriage/</ref>

==References==
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[[Category:Western Isles| ]]
[[Category:Scottish regions]]
[[Category:Scottish council areas]]