Parliamentary questions
Rhoda Grant
2,396 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
19 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it, local authorities, NHS boards or Scottish Water can raise finance for capital spending from private finance sources, while keeping that finance from counting against public expenditure totals, and whether current policy encourages any such private finance schemes to help publ…
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government are fully committed to transparency and probity in the management of, and accountability for, the public finances. For central government and non-departmental bodies, our capital borrowing powers are restricted and the UK capital gran…
19 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what explicit (a) commitments and (b) targets it has set to achieve improvement in the quality of bathing waters, and by when these are to be achieved; what (i) regulations govern and (ii) body is responsible for the monitoring of bathing waters, and what its assessment is of whether the…
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Bathing Waters (Scotland) Regulations 2008 Reg 4 states Scottish Ministers and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) must exercise their relevant functions so as to take such realistic and proportionate measures as they consider appropriate …
19 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) any statutory requirement exists for Scottish Water, or farmers and other land managers, to reduce the amount of water abstracted from rivers or underground sources, (b) any wider statutory requirement exists to reduce the amount of abstracted water (i) in general and (ii) fr…
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2011 (CAR) introduced a comprehensive control regime for abstractions which allows the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA), on behalf of the Scottish Government, to manage water …
19 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what statutory requirements exist to slow the spread of aquatic invasive species; whether it has (a) costed and (b) set any specific targets in relation to this matter, and which of its directorates or agencies have any statutory duties or targets placed upon them in relation to aquatic …
Answer · Lorna Slater: The Scottish Government has statutory requirements in the UK Marine Strategy to develop and implement pathway action plans to reduce the risk of introduction and spread of invasive non-native species (INNS), and to improve monitoring and surveillance to detec…
19 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many protected (a) freshwater and (b) terrestrial sites met favourable condition criteria when last reported; what requirements exist for owners of protected sites to bring such sites up to a specific standard of condition, and what support is available from it or its agencies to ass…
Answer · Lorna Slater: The results of NatureScot’s Site Condition Monitoring programme show: (a) 240 out of 307 (76%) freshwater habitat and associated species natural features are in favourable condition (b) 3,773 out of 4,864 (78%) earth science, terrestrial habitats and associ…
19 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support is available to land managers to help reduce or eliminate the use of phosphates and nitrogen in land management practices; what statutory requirements exist for land managers to use less phosphates and nitrogen; whether it has set any enforceable targets for reduction in pho…
Answer · Lorna Slater: Preparing for Sustainable Farming (PSF) provides funding to farmers to undertake soil testing and analysis. Preparing and implementing a nutrient management plan on the basis of results encourages balanced fertiliser use for all plant nutrients. In addition, …
19 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what statute or regulation defines responsibilities towards (a) maintaining, (b) enhancing and (c) preventing the deterioration of the quality of water in the environment; to which statutory body or bodies any responsibility for this falls; who (i) measures and (ii) reports on the qualit…
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The River Basin Management Plans are the key tools for implementing the European Community (EC)’s Water Framework Directive (WFD) .The regulations cover rivers, lochs, transitional waters (estuaries), coastal waters groundwater, and groundwater dependant we…
19 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has a duty to achieve a biodiversity net gain, or whether this is a matter of general policy ambition, and whether it has set any explicit targets to achieve a biodiversity net gain.
Answer · Lorna Slater: There is no statutory duty on the Scottish Government to achieve a biodiversity net gain. Scotland’s draft biodiversity strategy published in December 2022 sets out a clear ambition for Scotland to be nature positive by 2030, and to have substantially resto…
19 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what explicit, quantified (a) commitments it has made and (b) targets it has set for the sustainable management of commercial (i) fish and (ii) shellfish.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government is committed to the sustainable management of fish stocks in our waters. The majority of commercial stocks are managed by the use of Total Allowable Catch (TAC) limits which are agreed with other Coastal States in a variety of negotiat…
19 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether any explicit legal duties fall on (a) it and (b) its agencies to (i) protect endangered species and (ii) increase species abundance, or whether any action on this matter is a matter of policy rather than law.
Answer · Lorna Slater: There is a wide range of legislation which applies to the Scottish Government to protect Scotland’s wildlife and habitats, including specific duties which fall on individual authorities to protect, conserve and restore the protected habitats and species of Eu…
19 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what explicit, quantified (a) commitments it has made and (b) targets it has set for the use of natural flood management.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: Natural Flood Management (NFM) is one of a range of measures available to manage flood risk, however, it is a matter for individual local authorities to work with their communities to determine which solutions would best manage flood risk in their areas. As a…
17 Apr 2023 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what immediate action the Scottish Government will take to improve the situation regarding ferry services across the Highlands and Islands, in light of recent reports of unprecedented disruption.
13 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-14784 by Jenny Gilruth on 16 March 2023, whether it will directly address the issue raised in the question regarding when it will fulfil its commitment to reduce train journey times between Inverness and Edinburgh to 2 hours 45 minutes.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: I am unable to commit to a date for delivering this journey time. The costs and benefits for delivering this need to be considered against those for delivering alternative rail enhancement projects, notably those that will contribute towards the decarbonisati…
11 Apr 2023 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will review the NHS Scotland Patient Travel Scheme and Highlands and Islands Patient Travel Scheme.
11 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when in spring 2023 a long-term solution for the Rest and Be Thankful will be announced.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-15219 on? 6 March 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-committee…
11 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding is reserved for works on the A9 from Inverness to Scrabster from the Motorways and Trunk Roads Spending Plans budget for 2023-24.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: Transport Scotland’s trunk road maintenance budget is not allocated on a route or part-route basis. It is distributed based upon need and prioritisation of schemes developed from regular inspections and condition surveys. For financial year 2023-24, the curr…
11 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding is reserved for the A96 dualling Inverness to Aberdeen programme from the Motorways and Trunk Roads Spending Plans budget for 2023-24.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: Spend on our trunk road improvement projects is managed within the Capital Land and Works allocation of £121.9 million as part of the Motorway and Trunk Roads Spending Plans set out in the Scottish Budget: 2023-24. This covers preparation and delivery of a ra…
11 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the appointment of the new Minister for Transport, whether the minister will meet with the Rest and Be Thankful action group separately from A83 Task Force meetings.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government is fully committed to improving the A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful and to engagement and meaningful dialogue with directly affected communities and other stakeholders. I am grateful for the continuing interest the A83 Rest and Be Than…
11 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much was spent on the Rest and Be Thankful from the Motorways and Trunk Roads Spending Plans budget for 2022-23.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: In 2022-23, £6.554m was spent on the continuing maintenance and short-term measures for the A83 Rest and Be Thankful, and £3.913m was spent progressing the design and development of the both the medium and long term solutions to the landslip risks at the Rest…
11 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding is reserved for the A9 dualling Perth to Inverness programme from the Motorways and Trunk Roads Spending Plans budget for 2023-24.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: Spend on our trunk road improvement projects is managed within the Capital Land and Works allocation of £121.9 million as part of the Motorway and Trunk Roads Spending Plans set out in the Scottish Budget: 2023-24. This covers preparation and delivery of a ra…
11 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding is reserved for a (a) medium- and (b) long-term solution for the Rest and Be Thankful from the Motorways and Trunk Roads Spending Plans budget for 2023-24.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: Spend on our trunk road improvement projects is managed within the Capital Land and Works allocation of £121.9 million as part of the Motorway and Trunk Roads Spending Plans set out in the Scottish Budget: 2023-24. This covers preparation and delivery of a ra…
11 Apr 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-13379 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 22 December 2022, when the evaluation report, which was expected in February 2023, will be published.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Community Land Scotland Gaelic Development Officer post is the result of a partnership between Bòrd na Gidhlig and Community Land Scotland and independent from the Scottish Government. The project is being evaluated externally to the Bòrd and though origi…
27 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered the economic impact of delayed treatment for patients with essential tremor.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government has not specifically considered the economic impact of delayed treatment for patients with essential tremor. We recognise the importance of ensuring patients can access the treatment they require. Currently, patients who are eligible…
27 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any benefit of routinely offering magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) treatment to patients with essential tremor.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government does not formally assess the impact of clinical interventions. NHS National Services Division continue to work with NHS Tayside to support an application to designate MRgFUS as a national specialist service. Once received, the applica…
27 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered the ways in which magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) treatment can improve a patient’s employment prospects.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government recognises the benefits magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) could provide to eligible patients with essential tremor. Having access to appropriate treatment is crucial to a patient’s employment prospects. The commiss…
27 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to ensure that the referral pathway for magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) treatment for patients with essential tremor is clear and easy to understand.
Answer · Michael Matheson: There are currently two referral pathways which are being utilised by clinicians in Scotland to allow patients to access magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) treatment for essential tremor. Patients who are eligible for magnetic resonance-gu…
27 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any positive impact of magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) treatment on a patient’s quality of life.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government recognises the benefits magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) could provide to eligible patients with essential tremor. However, we do not formally assess the impact of clinical interventions. NHS National Services Div…
27 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to offer funding to the University of Dundee to support timely access to magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) treatment for patients with essential tremor.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government currently has no plans to offer funding to the University of Dundee to support access to magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) treatment for patients with essential tremor. NHS National Services Division continue to wo…
27 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of clinicians' awareness of magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) treatment.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government recognises the benefits magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) could provide to eligible patients with essential tremor. However, we have not assessed clinicians’ awareness of MRgFUS. NHS National Services Division cont…
27 Mar 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered any impact that case-by-case assessments of patients with essential tremor have on any increasing inequity in access to treatment.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government has not assessed the impact of case by case assessment of patients with essential tremor on inequity of access to treatment. Clinicians are best placed to assess the eligibility of patients for any treatment to ensure the treatment do…