Parliamentary questions
Rhoda Grant
2,396 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
6 Oct 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on (a) the work of the Remote and Rural General Practice Working Group and (b) any planned developments in rural general practice and primary care.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Remote and Rural General Practice Working Group was created in 2018 to support the implementation of the GP Contract in remote and rural areas. It met between 2018 and 2022. In 2020, the Group put forward recommendations to Ministers which are contained w…
4 Oct 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the implementation of the 2018 General Medical Services (GMS) Contract in Scotland, particularly in regards to rural GPs.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government published a summary of progress towards implementation of the 2018 GMS Contract and its associated Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in June 2022: Primary care improvement plans: summary of implementation progress - March 2022 - gov.s…
22 Sep 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-10424 by Humza Yousaf on 20 September 2022, whether it will provide an indication of in which year this review will take place.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Patient Travel Guidance is a substantial exercise for the Scottish Government and NHS Boards and, regrettably, a start date is not confirmed at this time. This important piece of work requires prioritisation alongside our ongoing response to Covid and rec…
20 Sep 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether there have been any changes to the A83 Task Force, including (a) to its (i) attendees and (ii) meeting frequency and (b) whether it will be independently chaired.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: With the exception of two additional MSPs being invited to the Taskforce meeting on 29 September 2022, there has been no changes to the recent core attendee list. I agreed at the last Taskforce meeting on 29 September to increase the frequency of meetings to…
20 Sep 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the preliminary ground investigations at the A83 Rest and Be Thankful will be completed.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The A83 preliminary ground investigation site works are now complete. The data from this will inform the design of both the medium and long term solutions.
20 Sep 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what financial preparations have been put in place ahead of the selection of the medium-term solution for the A83 Rest and Be Thankful.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government remains committed to medium and long term solutions to address landslip risks at the A83 Rest and Be Thankful. I can confirm that design and assessment work for both medium and long term solutions at the Rest and be Thankful is being …
20 Sep 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when in 2022 the medium-term solution for the A83 Rest and Be Thankful will be selected and published.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: We are progressing work to develop a medium term resilient route through Glen Croe. We will bring forward proposals for this by late 2022.
7 Sep 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assistance it will give to farmers and crofters facing substantial increases in the price of feeding stuff.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: As set out in our Programme for Government we are facing the most severe cost crisis in our lifetime and it is focused on the policy and legislative commitments that will make the biggest difference to households and businesses. The Scottish Government is alr…
7 Sep 2022 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government to which budget line the £5 million previously allocated to the Islands Bond scheme will be reallocated.
30 Aug 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether Kinloch Castle, Isle of Rum, (a) has been sold, (b) is in the process of being sold and (c) has been offered to the community.
Answer · Lorna Slater: NatureScot, as custodians of the castle are in the process of negotiating a private sale and the castle estate is under offer. Private sale comes on the back of previous attempts to secure a sustainable future via other routes, including Community Asset Trans…
30 Aug 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what communications it has had with the UK Government regarding any National Grid restrictions for renewable energy projects that are (a) in the research and proposal phase and (b) currently generating electricity.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government regularly engages with BEIS and Ofgem and National Grid ESO to discuss the arrangements under which all generators, both existing and new, access and use the GB electricity system. National Grid ESO regularly assess the need for inve…
30 Aug 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assistance it has given to the energy sector, including the European Marine Energy Centre, to create funding opportunities to replace the research and development funding landscape that was accessible prior to the UK leaving the EU.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government is committed to working with the energy sector and continues to provide support in a number of ways. For example: £5 million provided through the Saltire Tidal Energy Challenge Fund to support tidal energy innovation and deployment.£18…
30 Aug 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what work it is undertaking to ensure access to and implementation of the Horizon Europe programme.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government continues to advocate for full association and participation in Horizon Europe. The Scottish Government has represented this position by emphasising the significance of the Horizon Europe association to Scotland through ministerial co…
30 Aug 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what commitments it has given to support Scotland’s wave and tidal energy sector.
Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government has provided consistent support for Scotland’s marine energy sector for more than a decade. As a result, Scotland is the most advanced hub in Europe for the testing and demonstration of marine energy technologies and is ideally placed …
30 Aug 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Marine Services, a division of Orkney Islands Council, regarding the framework on the transformation plan for harbour development to assist in developing the infrastructure needed for the renewables sector.
Answer · Ivan McKee: I met with Orkney Islands Council Harbour Authority on 11 April 2022, during my visit to Orkney. The purpose of that meeting was to provide an update, following previous meetings, on the progress of the Orkney Harbours Masterplan. During the discussion, we sp…
30 Aug 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is proactively working with the UK Government to secure funding opportunities for the renewables sector in Scotland.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government works with the UK Government, and with local government and the wider public sector, to maximise investment in Scotland’s renewables sector. Notably, through the £75m Energy Transition Fund, the Scottish Government is match funding UK …
30 Aug 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what commitments it has given to the energy sector to assist in developing research and delivery of a cleaner, greener energy system, and to deliver a fair and just transition to net zero.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government supports research and development in a renewable energy system through a range of funds, ensuring Scotland will be at the forefront of new transition opportunities. Our Just Transition Fund for the North East and Moray has offered £20 …
29 Aug 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent (a) discussions it has had on and (b) consideration it has given to improving lifeline interisland services in Orkney.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: I met with Orkney Islands Council on 8 th August during my visit to the Northern Isles, where we discussed a range of issues including inter-island connectivity. The Scottish Government recognises the challenges for local authorities with responsibility for …
29 Aug 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the development of its aviation strategy, particularly in relation to improving lifeline services and island connectivity.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The online public consultation on developing a Scottish Government aviation strategy ran from 18 October 2021 until 21 January 2022. 93 responses were received, 38 from individuals and 55 from a broad range of stakeholder organisations. Officials also ran a…
29 Aug 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to address strategic objectives one, two and three of its National Islands Plan, following the announced cancellation of its Islands Bond scheme.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Scottish Government support for islands, and progress made towards delivery of the National Islands Plan, including strategic objectives one, two and three, is recorded in our annual report, presented to parliament each year. The first of these was the Natio…
29 Aug 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it plans to do with the £5 million that it previously committed to the Islands Bond scheme, and whether it will be spent on measures that aim to tackle the depopulation of islands.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The £300,000 allocated to the Islands Bond this financial year will now be used to shape a range of tests to help inform policy in an islands context, based on the feedback gathered through our engagement on the Islands Bond since October 2021, (including mee…
15 Aug 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the NHS patient travel reimbursement scheme will be reviewed following a delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The review of the Scottish Government patient travel guidance is a substantial exercise for the Scottish Government and NHS Boards and, regrettably, has been delayed due to prioritisation of our ongoing response to Covid and remobilisation of services. The re…
6 Jul 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the remaining single carriageway sections of the A9 south of Inverness are due to be upgraded to dual carriageway.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Work to determine the most suitable procurement options for the remaining sections of the A9 dualling is ongoing. This is a complex exercise which looks at a number of factors including how the project can be delivered most efficiently by the industry, whilst…
5 Jul 2022 · Written Question
To Ask the Scottish Government whether it undertook an Island Communities Impact Assessment prior to the preparation of the Scottish Government and Scottish Green Party Shared Policy Programme (Bute House Agreement), and whether it will provide details of any such impact assessment.
Answer · John Swinney: Island Communities Impact Assessments (ICIAs) and all other relevant impact assessments will be undertaken, as appropriate, as and when individual policies and programmes set out in the Shared Policy programme come forward for implementation.
22 Jun 2022 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to safeguard food production.
20 Jun 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will set out its timetable for enshrining the human right to food in Scots Law.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government has committed to the introduction of a Human Rights Bill within this Parliamentary session (2021-26) and we will consult on proposals this year. The Human Rights Bill will incorporate the International Covenant on Economic, Social an…
20 Jun 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that zero hour contracts do not form part of public procurement.
Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government firmly opposes the inappropriate use of zero hours contracts and other non-standard types of employment that offer workers minimal job or financial security. Although zero hours contracts fall under employment law, which is reserved to…
20 Jun 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the impact on Scotland of zero hour contracts.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: In a recent letter to the Minister for BEIS, Paul Scully MP, I urged the UK Government to deliver on its Good Work Plan commitments, which included measures to tackle one-sided flexibility, and to go further by raising the minimum wage to a real Living Wage a…
20 Jun 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that children have adequate access to food throughout the school holidays.
Answer · Clare Haughey: Tackling poverty and inequality is a key priority for this government. We know that holiday periods can present challenges for families, which is why we have provided local authorities with £21.75 million of funding for alternative holiday food provision for …
20 Jun 2022 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to mitigate the reported rise in the use of food banks and ensure that adults and children are able to meet their basic needs.
Answer · Shona Robison: No one should have to rely on charitable food provision which is why we have committed to publishing a plan on ending the need for food banks this Autumn. We consulted on a draft plan earlier this year, which reaffirms our human rights approach – we prioriti…