Parliamentary questions
Rhoda Grant
2,396 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
12 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that medics have been raising safety concerns regarding staffing at the accident and emergency department in Dr Gray's Hospital since 2021, what measures it has taken to address these concerns.
Answer · Michael Matheson: We have been engaging with NHS Grampian on these issues. The Scottish Government facilitated a visit involving Royal College of Emergency Medicine to NHS Grampian on 12 June this year to meet with staff and offer support. The visiting team subsequently made a…
4 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in entering arrangements where a contingent liability arises, in addition to the requirements for reporting and seeking any necessary consent, what (a) cash provision within a departmental or agency budget is required to be made prior to any crystallisation of the liability and (b) the …
Answer · Shona Robison: Contingent liabilities are considered and approved in line with the guidance contained within the Scottish Public Finance Manual and in the Written Agreement between the Scottish Government and the Finance and Public Administration Committee. The Budget treat…
4 Sep 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, beyond the rules for the treatment of contingent liabilities specified in the Scottish Public Finance Manual, whether any requirement exists under the Fiscal Framework, or elsewhere, for the prior permission of the UK Treasury for novel or particularly large contingent liabilities to be…
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government's contingent liabilities are considered and approved in line with the guidance contained within the Scottish Public Finance Manual and the Written Agreement between the Scottish Government and the Finance and Public Administration Comm…
28 Aug 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to ensure that its recent statutory guidance on Scotland's Guiding Principles on the Environment is embedded in the process of developing a new agricultural policy framework.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government is committed to upholding high standards of environmental protection. The statutory guidance on Scotland’s Guiding Principles on the Environment will help ensure that these high standards are maintained through the policy development p…
17 Aug 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to join the National Dash Cam Safety Portal.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The project to introduce a pilot National Dashcam Safety Portal in Scotland is in the initial business case stage, with Police Scotland currently looking at the internal processing, handling and storage of digital images and how that best fits with current an…
17 Aug 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on joining the National Dash Cam Safety Portal.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Officials received a scoping paper from Police Scotland that outlines their programme for delivery, particularly on what they are looking to deliver and a detailed timescale. My officials met with Police Scotland on 13 July and during the meeting they discuss…
6 Jul 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken with local authorities to ensure that key public transport services are maintained throughout the Highlands and Islands.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The funding formula for the Local Government Settlements for local authorities in the Highlands and Islands recognises their need in relation to transport and includes allocations for this. It is, however, for individual local authorities to decide how to all…
6 Jul 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether key infrastructure is integral to ensuring the survival of Scotland’s cultural heritage, particularly in Gaelic-speaking communities, and what it is doing to ensure that the use of Gaelic increases.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government recognises that key infrastructure such as housing, transport, connectivity and employment can contribute to the survival of Scotland’s cultural heritage, particularly Gaelic speaking communities in areas of low population. The Scottis…
6 Jul 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) its agencies, (b) local authorities and (c) community-led organisations regarding the key recommendations in the report of the Short Life Working Group on Economic and Social Opportunities for Gaelic.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Short Life Working Group on Economic and Social Opportunities for Gaelic contains a number of recommendations which sit within a wide range of business areas within the Scottish Government. The report was prepared by an independent group that took evidenc…
6 Jul 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recommendations of the Short Life Working Group on Economic and Social Opportunities for Gaelic, what it is doing to address affordable housing for young families and young people in rural communities.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government recognises that good quality, affordable housing is essential to help attract and retain young families and young people in Scotland’s rural communities. We are committed to delivering 110,000 affordable homes by 2032 of which 10% will…
6 Jul 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the roll-out of the R100 programme in (a) general and (b) rural and remote areas.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Reaching 100% (R100) programme is ensuring that all homes and businesses can access superfast broadband. This is being delivered through three strands of activity – the £600 million R100 contracts (North, Central and South), our R100 Scottish Broadband Vo…
6 Jul 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of homes in each local authority area in the Highlands and Islands are now fully connected to superfast broadband.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Information regarding superfast broadband coverage in Scotland can be accessed on Ofcom’s website. Ofcom’s most recent figures, published in May 2023 , show that as of January 2023 the percentage of residential and commercial premises able to access superfa…
6 Jul 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of its targeted number of homes to be covered through its R100 programme has been achieved in each local authority area to date.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The R100 contracts do not have a targeted number of premises broken down at local authority level. However, as of 31 May 2023 the R100 North contract has delivered 6,897 connections which equates to 11.3% of the R100 North contract targeted figures. For the R…
6 Jul 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to allowing local authorities or community broadband providers to use individual broadband vouchers collectively, in order to provide economies of scale and solutions in areas with limited coverage.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: While vouchers issued through the R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme (SBVS) can be used to connect individual properties, the scheme was specifically designed to allow vouchers in a community to be combined to extend available funding. Indeed, there are a…
5 Jul 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding has been allocated to each NHS board for neurology treatment in each of the last five years, also broken down by condition.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government provides baseline funding to NHS Boards, which Boards use to best meet the healthcare needs of their resident population. Funding is not ring-fenced for neurology services. It is not therefore possible to provide this proportion of he…
4 Jul 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) the General Dental Council, (b) the British Dental Association and (c) UK Government counterparts regarding the waiting list of overseas qualified dentists waiting to sit the Overseas Registration Exam.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Regulatory policy officials are in regular contact with the GDC and The Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care is scheduled to meet with the regulator's Chair and Chief Executive in early September. Officials work closely with their count…
4 Jul 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) practices and (b) dentists have (i) established new, (ii) expanded and (iii) purchased existing dental practices through the Scottish Dental Access Initiative since it was launched.
Answer · Jenni Minto: For the period 2007 to 2020 our records show the number of Scottish Dental Access Initiative (SDAI) Grants made by NHS Boards as follows: Practice Established a new practice 68 Expanded a practice 63 Purchased an existing practice 30 We are in the pr…
4 Jul 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many graduates of dentistry courses in Scotland it estimates there will be in the academic year (a) 2023-24, (b) 2024-25 and (c) 2025-26.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Information on the number of dental students expected to graduate is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. Scottish Government makes a recommendation on intake targets each year for Scottish dental schools but we do not hold information on students’…
4 Jul 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many NHS boards currently have access to the Scottish Dental Access Initiative.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Scottish Dental Access Initiative (SDAI) grants are currently available in certain areas within 12 NHS Boards, as follows:NHS Borders;NHS Dumfries and Galloway;Dalmellington and Patna within NHS Ayrshire and Arran;Auchtermuchty, Leslie, Newburgh and Tayport w…
23 Jun 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review the referral pathway for magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) treatment.
Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-19380 on 11 July 2023. 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-committees…
21 Jun 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what further steps it can take to bring undermanaged native woodlands into positive management.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Scotland’s Forestry Strategy Implementation Plan 2022-2025 has a priority action to protect and improve native woodland condition. The Scottish Government currently supports landowners, farmers, crofters and managers to bring native woodlands into positive ma…
21 Jun 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to meet (a) current and (b) future woodland creation targets.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The statistics recently released show that last year Scotland created around 63% of all new woodland within the UK. Scotland has by far the most ambitious woodland creation targets in the UK and despite the challenges of Brexit, Covid and winter storms, lando…
15 Jun 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent assessment it has made of the impact that the Islands Growth Deal will have on demand for ferry services provided by (a) CalMac Ferries, (b) Orkney Ferries, (c) Serco NorthLink Ferries and (d) Shetland Islands Council.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The potential impacts on the future transport connectivity needs and any impacts on the Clyde & Hebrides and Northern Isles Ferry Services will be considered as part of the Islands Connectivity Plan in conjunction with the local authorities responsible for im…
15 Jun 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take through its Islands Connectivity Plan to replace the ageing fleet of large and small vessels operated by Orkney Islands Council.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Islands Connectivity Plan (ICP) will replace the Ferries Plan but be broader in scope, taking account of aviation, ferries and fixed links, as well as onward and connecting travel issues. The ICP will consist of several delivery plans with a short strateg…
15 Jun 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that the ferry and terminal replacement programme for (a) inter-island and (b) Northern Isles ferry services is fully funded.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The responsibility for the ferry and terminal replacement programme for inter-island ferries, is wholly a matter for the local authority that run those services. The Scottish Government continues to engage regarding these matters, including through the Orkney…
15 Jun 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much Orkney Ferries Limited has spent on vessel maintenance in each year since 2010-11.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Orkney Islands Council is wholly responsible for their inter-island ferries, including vessel maintenance, and therefore they or Orkney Ferries Limited would be best placed to provide this information.
15 Jun 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its current minimum ferry service is for inter-island services operated by Orkney Islands Council.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Orkney Islands Council is wholly responsible for their inter-island ferries, including setting the service levels. However, the strategic document of the Islands Connectivity Plan will aim to set a vision and outline good practice for delivery of ferry servic…
15 Jun 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will take steps to ensure that ferry services provided by Orkney Islands Council are included in Transport Scotland’s final long-term plan for vessels and ports on the Clyde and Hebrides and Northern Isles networks to 2045.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The draft Long-term Plan for Vessels and Ports was developed in consultation with various stakeholders including local authorities and is a delivery plan for the Clyde and Hebrides and Northern Isles Ferry Services networks. The draft Plan was shared with key…
13 Jun 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on reinstating consultant-led maternity services to Dr Gray’s Hospital in Moray.
Answer · Jenni Minto: NHS Grampian and Highland have put in place local governance and programme management arrangements and it is important to allow the Boards time to progress through these structures. They will provide me with an update on progress with implementation of the Jo…
13 Jun 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the dual carriageway on the A9 at Alvie has reportedly been restricted in both directions to single carriageway.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: As advertised on the Traffic Scotland website a single lane closure and 50mph speed restriction was in place in both directions on the dual carriageway section of the A9 between Kincraig and Dalraddy between 7:00am on 12 June and 12:00pm on 16 June 2023. The …