Tim Eagle

15 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on how many occasions it has conducted an island communities impact assessment for (a) health and (b) social care policies since the assessments were introduced, and whether it will provide details of any such assessments.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: The duty to carry out Island Communities Impact Assessments came into force on 23 December 2020. All ICIAs and decisions not to carry out an ICIA are published by the Scottish Government and are readily available to access online.

15 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many travelling consultants there have been within NHS (a) Highland, (b) Western Isles, (c) Orkney, (d) Shetland and (e) Grampian in each year since 2021.

Answer · Neil Gray: The requested information on how many travelling consultants there have been within NHS (a) Highland, (b) Western Isles, (c) Orkney, (d) Shetland and (e) Grampian in each year since 2021 is not centrally held.

15 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many GP practices within NHS (a) Highland, (b) Western Isles, (c) Orkney, (d) Shetland and (e) Grampian have operated under a so-called 17J contract in each year since 2018.

Answer · Neil Gray: The following table provides the number of practices which have held General Medical Services contracts (sometimes called 17J practices due to the relevant clause in the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978) in NHS Highland, NHS Western Isles, NHS Orkn…

15 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many residential rehabilitation beds there have been within NHS (a) Highland, (b) Western Isles, (c) Orkney, (d) Shetland and (e) Grampian in each year since 2021.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government conducted an initial survey of residential rehabilitation providers in Scotland and published the results in November 2021. This showed that, at that time, there were 12 reported beds in Highland and 6 in the Western Isles. None were r…

15 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government in what ways it encourages healthcare staff who work in rural and remote settings to (a) innovate and (b) lead service improvements that meet the needs of their own communities.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government is aware of the unique needs of our rural and islands communities, and that these needs vary significantly from place to place. We recognise that there is no “one size fits all” approach which will work for every community,…

15 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government in what ways it is investing in digital healthcare technology in order to improve (a) health outcomes and (b) data collection.

Answer · Neil Gray: In 2024-25 the Scottish Government has invested £113.5 Million in digital health and care technologies.The Scottish Government and COSLA published the Digital Health andCareStrategy which sets out our vision for improving the care and wellbeing of peopl…

15 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the evidence in the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee report, Remote and Rural Healthcare Inquiry, whether it has conducted any studies to monitor whether the current GP contract has resulted in a widening disparity between remote and rural healthcare provision and urb…

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government has not conducted any specific studies to monitor whether the current GP contract has resulted in a widening disparity between remote and rural healthcare provision and urban healthcare provision, however we have well-established repor…

15 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recommendations in the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee report, Remote and Rural Healthcare Inquiry, whether it will commit to including so-called earn as you learn opportunities within its remote and rural workforce recruitment strategy.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government recognises that career pathways such as earn-as-you-learn can widen access to health and social care careers, including those who are settled and rooted in our rural and island communities.That is why, we are funding a dedicated resour…

15 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government in what ways it is increasing the number of locally accessible education routes for healthcare professions in rural and remote settings.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government are currently funding a dedicated resource in NHS Education for Scotland to scope the current skills landscape and identify where earn as you learn programmes could be expanded and where further development work is required with aim of…

15 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recommendations in the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee report, Remote and Rural Healthcare Inquiry, whether it will commit to delivering “a comprehensive audit of social, palliative and end of life care services in remote and rural areas to develop a clear …

Answer · Neil Gray: One of the key aims of the new palliative care strategy, Palliative Care Matters for All, is that, by 2030, adults and children in Scotland will have more equitable access to well-coordinated, timely and high-quality palliative care, care around dying and ber…

15 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the evidence in the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee report, Remote and Rural Healthcare Inquiry, what its response is to reported concerns that some (a) patients and (b) GPs are unable to utilise the NHS Near Me service due to unreliable or non-existent broadband ser…

Answer · Neil Gray: NHS Near Me continues to be an option for online appointments, where appropriate, for those who wish to and can interact in this way. The service does not require large broadband speeds to work effectively, however patients have the option to test their broad…

15 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the evidence in the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee report, Remote and Rural Healthcare Inquiry, what steps it is taking to deliver more affordable homes for healthcare workers in rural and remote settings.

Answer · Paul McLennan: The Scottish Government remain committed to delivering 110,000 affordable homes by 2032 of which at least 10% will be in rural and island areas.Up to £25 million is also being made available from our affordable housing supply programme budget over the p…

15 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the evidence in the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee report, Remote and Rural Healthcare Inquiry, what steps it is taking to ensure that healthcare workers in rural and remote areas are able to access suitable childcare places.

Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: The Scottish Government recognises that high quality, accessible and affordable early learning and childcare is vital in rural areas to support children’s outcomes and to enable parents or carers to train, work or study. A full response to the Health, S…

15 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the role that third sector healthcare providers have in delivering services to patients in remote and rural settings, separate to services provided through NHS boards.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government does not hold a central assessment of Third Sector healthcare provision. We do however recognise the role of the Third sector in areas such as palliative care and published the draft Palliative Care Strategy – Palliative Care Mat…

7 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many islands-based people currently sit on the (a) CMAL and (b) CalMac board of directors.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: CMAL and CalMac each have 1 island-based person sitting on their board of directors.

7 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken following the reported disruptions to ferry services on the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service network as a result of Storm Ashley.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government has not taken specific action as a result of disruption to services attributed to Storm Ashley. When sailings are late or cancelled due to weather such as during Storm Ashley and therefore out with the ferry operators’ control, t…

7 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the publication of the Cowal and Rosneath Community Needs Assessment by Transport Scotland on 11 September 2024, and the completion of the associated consultation exercise on 9 October 2024, whether it will confirm the cost of providing the assessed excessive service level b…

Answer · Jim Fairlie: The independent Cowal and Rosneath Community Needs Assessment concluded that there is evidence of over-provision on the Gourock-Dunoon passenger ferry service in terms of sailings per day and in terms of the length of the operating day in winter. The Assessme…

7 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the publication of the Cowal and Rosneath Community Needs Assessment by Transport Scotland on 11 September 2024, and the completion of the associated consultation exercise on 9 October 2024, when it will announce the order for new vessels for the Gourock to Dunoon route.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Gourock Dunoon Kilcreggan Infrastructure and Vessels Programme is working to develop resilient vessel and port design options. Preferred vessel options will be considered as part of the associated business case and any investment in new vessels and infras…

7 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the publication of the Cowal and Rosneath Community Needs Assessment by Transport Scotland on 11 September 2024, and the completion of the associated consultation exercise on 9 October 2024, which one of the assessment’s recommendations will be taken forward in terms o…

Answer · Jim Fairlie: Community views are an essential part of informing future service options. The community feedback gathered at engagement events in Kilcreggan on the 1st of October, Dunoon on the 2nd of October, and Gourock on the 3rd of October, along with the online user su…

5 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much of the £1.5 million of Islands Growth Deal investment earmarked for the Outer Hebrides Food and Drink Programme, as set out in its National Islands Plan: Implementation Route Map 2024, has been allocated to date.

Answer · Kate Forbes: To date, £174,000 of the Scottish Government's £1.5 million investment in the Outer Hebrides Food and Drink Programme has been allocated to Acarsaid Harbour Redevelopment on the Isle of Eriskay and a gear storage facility at Vatersay Pier on the I…

5 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how often its Gaelic and Scots Team and Bòrd na Gàidhlig have met in each of the last five years.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The Gaelic and Scots Team has a sponsorship role for Bòrd na Gidhlig and meets with officers in the body regularly and consistently. The nature of the sponsorship duties combined with the Gaelic and Scots Team’s policy role requires close working…

5 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact its decision to introduce a means-tested Pension Age Winter Heating Payment will have on strategic objective 5 of its National Islands Plan: Implementation Route Map 2024 to reduce levels of fuel poverty.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Scottish Government continues to call on the UK Government to overturn their decision to limit eligibility for Winter Fuel Payments.The decision was taken without consultation and has forced us to review the way in which the Pension Age Winter Heating Pay…

5 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding has been allocated to date to "additional travel and subsistence support for island women to attend courses on the mainland", as set out in its National Islands Plan: Implementation Route Map 2024.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Since the establishment of the Practical Training Fund for Women in Agriculture, the Scottish Government has distributed approximately £600 in support of women and girls aged 13 and over who are living on islands and sought financial support for travel …

5 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much of the £10 million of funding provided over 2023 to 2025 for the work of the new Food and Drink Industry Strategy was spent in the Highlands and Islands, as set out in the Scottish Government’s National Islands Plan: Implementation Route Map 2024.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Scotland Food & Drink Partnership has been awarded £10 million to support its national strategy. It sets out short- to long-term objectives developed in partnership with food and drink producers throughout Scotland, including those in the Highlands …

5 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish its Fisheries Climate Change Action Plan, as set out in its National Islands Plan: Implementation Route Map 2024.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: We do not yet have a timescale for publishing the Fisheries Climate Change Action Plan. Further work is required, in partnership with stakeholders, to develop a clear plan of actions which will support fisheries in the drive to net zero.Many of the actions th…

28 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-26556 by Jim Fairlie on 19 April 2024, whether it can provide an update on its position on the compulsory microchipping of pet cats.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: At this time we cannot provide an update further to that of S6W-26556, as we await the publication of the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission’s (SAWC) Responsible Cat Ownership Working Group report.

22 Oct 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve public consultation on renewable energy projects by energy companies.

18 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has made an assessment of the impact of any so-called banking deserts on local communities within the Highlands and Islands region.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government is aware of the impact that branch closures are having on people in Scotland, particularly in rural areas and our island communities.The regulation of financial services is reserved to the UK Government. In September the Financial Cond…

18 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of the total cost of the consultation process for the proposed Oban Municipal Harbour project, from December 2023 to date.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government applies fixed fees for its processing of Harbour Orders in Scotland. These are as follows:£2,000 for an order the sole purpose of which is to amend the borrowing powers of an existing authority;£4,000 for any other order th…

18 Oct 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the timeframe was during which TransportScotland was required to assess and respond to any objections in relation tothe proposed Oban Municipal Harbour project; whether Transport Scotlandcompleted this work during the required timeframe and, if this was not thecase, what the reasons…

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: There is no specific timeframe set for the consideration of a Harbour Order application. The Harbour Order application process can be complex and, depending on the proposed aims and potential impact, some applications require more detailed consideration. Appl…