Rhoda Grant

19 Nov 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what highest level of swell the MV Loch Seaforth can sail in legally; how his compares with the highest level it can technically operate in, and what other maritime restrictions are placed on the craft.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Vessel stability is assessed to a standard known as the ‘Stockholm Agreement’. That standard assesses stability in sea and swell conditions of up to 4 metres. In relation to certification, 4 metres is not an upper limit as there is effectively no regulatory l…

6 Nov 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the forthcoming ban on the burning of plastics on farms, what contingency plans it has should the market approach to recycling farm plastic not work.

5 Nov 2018 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government is doing to support mountain rescue teams.

24 Oct 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the comment by the Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy on 13 September 2018 (Official Report, c. 45) that there is a “commitment to providing legislation to underpin Scotland’s status as a good food nation”, whether this legislation is included in the Programme for Govern…

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Programme for Government published in September 2018 commits to seeking views in the autumn on what legislative measures might be required to underpin the significant work that is already being done to deliver our Good Food Nation ambition. A consultation…

16 Oct 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what criteria it will use when allocating fishing opportunities (a) in 2019 and (b) following the Brexit transition period.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Fishing opportunities are allocated in a number of ways. Opportunities may take the form of quotas, monthly or weekly catch limits, specific licence conditions or, very occasionally, as days at sea, (effort). Fishing vessel licences for vessels greater than …

1 Oct 2018 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government is doing to ensure that all historic complaints of harassment within its workplace are properly investigated and dealt with.

27 Sep 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out on the relationship between the Planning (Scotland) Bill, and the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Planning (Scotland) Bill was introduced to the Scottish Parliament before the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018 was passed. In 2017, the Scottish Government made a commitment to island proofing the Planning Bill, in recognition of the particular challenges and…

18 Sep 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support tourism on Skye.

13 Sep 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has applied to the EU for a derogation from state aid rules regarding support for the Skye and Lochalsh Micro Abattoir Project and, if so, what the outcome was.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: While funding for abattoir projects can generally be considered for Food Processing, Marketing and Co-operation (FPMC) assistance, the rules that govern the scheme limit the maximum rate of grant to 40% of eligible costs – irrespective of the status of the ap…

29 Aug 2018 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to investigate the financing of the Calmac vessel, MV Loch Seaforth, which is now owned by Lloyds Banking Group after a lease deal was agreed at a reported cost to the public purse of £53 million.

18 Jul 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to roll-out the Scottish Scenic Routes initiative to other areas of the Highlands and Islands following previous pilot schemes, and for each of the pilot areas, what (a) route they covered, (b) their budget was and (c) the outcome of the pilot was.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Scenic Routes initiative was launched in July 2013 as a pilot project to explore the creation of innovatively designed, bespoke viewpoints at selected stopping points on tourist routes, to support tourism whilst also providing opportunities for a…

19 Jun 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what regulatory measures are in place to avoid potential conflicts of interest between advisory groups appointed by Audit Scotland and the sectors being audited.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Auditor General for Scotland was established under section 69 of the Scotland Act 1998 as an individual appointed by the Crown on the recommendation of the Scottish Parliament. In the exercise of any of her functions she is not subject to the direction or…

5 Jun 2018 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that some of its and its agencies' staff have clauses in their contracts that prohibit them from speaking out or whistleblowing.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: There is nothing in Scottish Government contracts of employment which prevents employees raising concerns. Our policy on raising a concern under the Civil Service Code and Whistleblowing ensures that staff are fully informed about how to raise different types…

25 May 2018 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to reduce waiting times for children’s health services in the Highlands.

1 May 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the survival rate is of people aged (a) 50 to 59 and (b) 60 and over with haemophilia, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Shona Robison: The UK Haemophilia Centre Doctors' Organisation collects data related to the diagnosis, management and complications of bleeding disorders on the National Haemophilia Database. The information requested is not held centrally.

1 May 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to consult people in remote and rural areas on the impact of the new GP contract.

27 Apr 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the survival rate of people in Scotland with haemophilia compares with the rest of the UK.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-16316 on 10 May 2018. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28…

27 Apr 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to ensure that the people who were infected by contaminated blood are in receipt of the correct level of benefit and that no person who is entitled to these is left without regular payments, and how it monitors the effectiveness of this.

Answer · Shona Robison: The payments provided by the Scottish Infected Blood Support Scheme (SIBSS) to those affected by infected NHS blood are not taken into account when calculating a beneficiary's entitlement to means-tested benefits from the Department for Work and Pensions. SIB…

27 Apr 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many recipients of haemophilia plasma-pooled products in each NHS board area are subject to public health observation for neurological disorders or abnormalities.

Answer · Shona Robison: This is a matter for the UK Haemophilia Centre Doctors' Organisation (UKHCDO) which collects data related to the diagnosis, management and complications of bleeding disorders on the National Haemophilia Database. The UKHCDO is responsible for the surveillance…

27 Apr 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people with haemophilia in each NHS board area have died from (a) Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) and (b) other neurological conditions in each year since 1999.

Answer · Shona Robison: No patients with haemophilia or other bleeding disorders have been reported to have died from any form of CJD in Scotland. With regard to other neurological conditions, this is a matter for the UK Haemophilia Centre Doctors' Organisation which collects data …

25 Apr 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to encourage female pupils to consider enrolling in the STEM teaching initiative run by the universities of Dundee and the Highlands and Islands.

1 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support local authorities address issues that relate to the condition of road surfaces, in light of a reported reduction in spending each year over the last five years.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-15010 on 13 March 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/…

1 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it would consider providing ring-fenced additional funding for The Highland Council and Argyll and Bute Council in relation to road repairs, in light of their responsibilities to maintain over 7,000 km and 2,000 km of roads respectively.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government has continued to treat all councils very fairly despite cuts to the Scottish resource budget from the UK Government. Scottish Government’s policy towards local authorities’ spending is to allow local authorities the financial freedom t…

1 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to support local authorities meet the reported £1.2 billion backlog of road repairs required to bring roads up to standard.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government is committed to working with local government to help improve the condition of all roads in Scotland. We have continued to treat councils very fairly despite cuts to the Scottish resource budget from the UK Government. The vast majori…

27 Feb 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with trade unions regarding the merger of UHI colleges.

19 Feb 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to build on the impact that the North Coast 500 route has had on tourism.

31 Jan 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the total cost to NHS Orkney has been in respect of patients' and escorts' air travel in each year since 2008.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government does not hold this information. This information would need to be requested from NHS Orkney.

31 Jan 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the total cost to NHS Western Isles has been in respect of patients' and escorts' air travel in each year since 2008.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government does not hold this information. This information would need to be requested from NHS Western Isles.

31 Jan 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the total cost to NHS Shetland has been in respect of patients' and escorts' air travel in each year since 2008.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government does not hold this information. This information would need to be requested from NHS Shetland.

23 Jan 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government which stakeholders it has had discussions with regarding providing alternatives to cash in lieu of disability benefits.