Rhoda Grant

10 Mar 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consult with a wide number of chronic pain patients in future decisions relating to chronic pain services, as the Scottish Health Technologies Group did when reviewing NHS specialist pain relief for people with chronic pain.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government acknowledges the Scottish Health Technologies Group recommendations regarding specialist interventions for managing chronic non-malignant pain in adults. NHS Scotland is required to consider SHTG recommendations and discussions are und…

10 Mar 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers by Jim Fairlie to question S6W-26881 on 5 June 2024 and question S6W-35356 on 11 March 2025 in relation to financing natural capital, whether it will provide information on (a) how much private finance was arranged under the support of the Natural Invest…

Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Nature Investment Partnership continues to engage with a range of investors, land managers and local communities to identify the most suitable approach for each potential investment site. No private finance has yet been directed through the Partnership in…

2 Mar 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what specific measures are being introduced to improve access to legal advice in rural island communities, beyond fee increases, to address the logistical challenges of travel and service delivery.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: We know that change is needed to ensure that we have an adaptable, flexible, affordable and sustainable legal aid system in Scotland that supports people who are facing challenging issues and problems. Consideration is being given to primary legislation in th…

2 Mar 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that its new national housing agency prioritises affordable housing in the Highlands, to prevent local residents from being priced out by any increased demand from large infrastructure projects.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: More Homes Scotland will bring together housing, land, planning and delivery expertise to simplify, scale and speed up the delivery of homes across Scotland, including in Highland. A design phase is underway, and an update will be provided to Parliament in Ma…

26 Feb 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on how long an investigation into a pollution incident at a loch should take.

Answer · Gillian Martin: We take pollution incidents very seriously. It is important that any investigation into pollution incidents is given sufficient time ensure a comprehensive and accurate understanding of both the causes and the environmental impacts before any findings are iss…

20 Feb 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6F-04638 by John Swinney on 5 February 2026, and his commitment to contact the Highland Council regarding the funding of domestic abuse services in the Highlands, whether it has made this contact since then, and, if so, whether it will provide an …

Answer · Kaukab Stewart: I wrote to the Chief Executive of Highland Council on 11 February 2026, highlighting the concerns raised with the First Minister in relation to funding and future operational models of domestic abuse services in the Highlands. I requested Highland Council con…

10 Feb 2026 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the obligations of local government are in relation to the funding of local arts, heritage and culture services.

5 Feb 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Marine Directorate Licensing Operations team will release its findings into the pollution event that took place at Loch Hourn in April 2025.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Elements of the investigation into the suspected incident at Loch Hourn and analysis of the evidence are ongoing and, as such, it would not be appropriate to comment further at this stage.

2 Feb 2026 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to ensure the long-term financial and operational stability of specialist domestic abuse services in the Highlands.

28 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will set key benchmarks for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to measure response times for the first responding appliance.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: There are no plans to set benchmarks for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) to measure response times for the first responding appliance. SFRS’s targeted approach to risk and allocation of resources overtook the focus given to response times so…

28 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is meeting its legal obligations to protect its staff and to ensure compliance with equalities and health and safety legislation.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The safety and wellbeing of staff is a priority for both Scottish Government and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS). Adherence to equalities and health and safety legislation is a matter for SFRS as the employer.

28 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will set key benchmarks for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to record the time taken for the required weight of response to reach recognised categories of incidents.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-43410 on 4 February 2026. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committe…

28 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many of Scotland's 356 fire stations have decontamination facilities.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The provision of facilities at fire stations is a matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS). In April 2025 SFRS introduced new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Fire Contaminants covering all fire stations to help protect firefighters and st…

21 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the Landlord Registration regime, what its position is regarding whether this is functioning as planned, in light of The Highland Council reportedly stating that its officer-level escalation powers have not been exercised over multiple years.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Landlord Registration regime is established under the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004, with statutory guidance issued by Scottish Ministers to support local authorities in carrying out their duties.Local authorities are responsible for admin…

21 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the Landlord Registration regime, whether aso-called light touch approach is compatible with local authorities' statutoryenforcement obligations in cases where escalation powers are not being applied.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Landlord Registration regime is established under the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004, with statutory guidance issued by Scottish Ministers to support local authorities in exercising their functions.Local authorities are responsible for deli…

21 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the Landlord Registration regime, whatassurance it has been given that local authorities are not structurallybypassing statutory enforcement provisions, and what steps might be taken toensure that the regime operates effectively.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: Local authorities have a statutory duty to administer and enforce the Landlord Registration regime in accordance with the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004, supported by statutory guidance issued by Scottish Ministers.The Scottish Government has n…

14 Jan 2026 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase the number of dental practices that are accepting new NHS patients, including how it will monitor the effectiveness of the November 2023 payment reforms in improving access for patients in rural and island communities. 

6 Jan 2026 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the independent review of maternity services in Caithness, including the remit and timescale of the review, and what detail has been shared with relevant duty bearers.

19 Dec 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware that its guidance on adopting a "light touch" approach to regulation of landlords is reportedly being cited as justification by the Highland Council to explain why no rent penalty notices and fiscal reports have been issued over an 18-month period from July 2022.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government has published statutory guidance for local authorities regarding the effective regulation of landlord registration (https://www.gov.scot/publications/landlord-registration-statutory-guidance-local-authorities-2017-statutory-guidance-lo…

1 Dec 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of parents now being able to request Gaelic school provision in their areas, what financial and resource support it is providing to local authorities to ensure that such requests can be considered and implemented.  

27 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how long the process for adoption from fostering should take, from beginning the process to the adoption being finalised.

Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: The process of adoption is governed by the Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007 and The Adoption Agencies (Scotland) Regulations 2009, which set out the legal framework for adoption and the responsibilities of local authorities and adoption panels. The 2…

27 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what national overview is in place for the streamlining of co-ordination between local authorities during the process for adoption from fostering.

Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: The Scottish Government provides national oversight to ensure adoption from fostering is coordinated effectively across local authorities. Guidance on the Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007, The Adoption Agencies (Scotland) Regulations 2009 and The Loo…

27 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how long the process for granting a permanence order with power to adopt should take.

Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: Permanence Orders with authority to adopt are governed by the Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007 and The Adoption Agencies (Scotland) Regulations 2009. The Act makes the child’s welfare paramount and requires decision-makers to consider any risk …

17 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether a risk assessment has been undertaken on the effects on existing chronic pain patients of stopping (a) lidocaine infusions, (b) pain relief injections and (c) radio-frequency denervation treatments. 

Answer · Jenni Minto: We are aware of the concerns that have been raised about access to specialist interventions, such as lidocaine infusions, pain relief injections and radio-frequency denervation treatments, and we are committed to ensuring that decisions about these treatments…

17 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) lidocaine infusions, (b) pain relief injections and (c) radio-frequency denervation treatments have been performed in outpatient departments or as day cases annually for chronic pain relief in each of the last five years. 

Answer · Jenni Minto: The information requested is not held centrally.

17 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether any extra funding has been ringfenced and will be made available to aid NHS chronic pain specialist clinics, in light of chronic pain being a priority concern of the Scottish Government. 

Answer · Jenni Minto: In 2025-26, we have provided a record £21.7 billion for health and social care and there is no additional ringfenced funding being made available for NHS chronic pain specialist clinics.We are investing £200 million across the health and social ca…

17 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the National Framework for Pain Management in Scotland’s Workforce Short-Life Working Group will report on service provision and staffing recommendations.

Answer · Jenni Minto: We are committed to rapidly improving care and services for people with chronic pain by delivering the actions in the Supporting documents - Pain management - service delivery framework: implementation plan - gov.scot at the pace that is required.A dedicated …

12 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-24400 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 23 January 2024, what progress has been made regarding its agreement with the UK Government in principle to proceed with a Section 104 Order relating to changing marriages to civil partnerships covering the reserv…

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Discussions are ongoing at official level between Scottish Government and UK Government officials in relation to the proposed section 104 Order to enable the conversion of a marriage into a civil partnership.If regulations were made by the Scottish Ministers …

11 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) fatal and (b) serious accidents there have been on each road in the trunk road network covering the Highlands and Islands region in each year since 2021.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The following tables presents the total number of personal injury collisions on the trunk roads in Highland Council Region between 1 January 2021 and 5 October 2025 (latest date for which data is available for serious and slight collisions and 12 November 202…

3 Nov 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-41468 by Gillian Martin on 27 October 2025, for what reason the 50 megawatt cap was set, and what the processes are for reconsidering this cap, including how the cap could be removed.

Answer · Gillian Martin: Repowering involves a new windfarm being developed following the decommissioning and removal of the existing operational site. This new pilot scheme is a unique chance for communities to take ownership of a second phase of generation, bringing long-term benef…