The letter’s signatories includes crofters, development officers, and Gaelic campaigners and they warned that the situation is akin to “economic clearance” threatening the sustainability of the islands.

The letter claimed that 40 per cent of housing stock on Tiree in the Inner Hebrides and West Harris in the Western Isles were holiday homes.

It warned that young people will struggle to afford homes on the islands and the situation is expected to worsen due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the Registers of Scotland, the average purchase price for residential properties in the Western Isles have increased from £65,189 in 2004 to £123,048 last year.

Figures reflect a similar trend across the Inner Hebrides and the Isle of Skye.

A lack of affordable housing for islanders is recognised in the Scottish government’s National Plan for Scotland’s Islands which was published last year.

The plan “highlighted that the availability of affordable, fit-for-purpose housing on Scottish islands presents a challenge for island communities”.