Rhoda Grant

2 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many seafarer (a) Officer Cadets and (b) Deck and Engine Rating apprentices have been recruited by Caledonian MacBrayne in each year since 2006.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Cadets are sponsored by CalMac Ferries Limited and are recruited and employed on CalMac Ferries Limited’s behalf by Clyde Marine Training Limited. Since January 2006, CalMac Ferries Limited has sponsored a total of 128 Deck, Engine and Electrotechnical Office…

3 Jul 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the Rural Scotland Key Facts publication.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The next edition of the Rural Scotland Key Facts is due to be published in July 2018. Rural Scotland Key Facts follows the publication of the updated Scottish Government Urban Rural Classification. The Scottish Government Urban Rural classification is based o…

3 Jul 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which of its initiatives referred to in the most recent Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) budget has HIE given funding to; how much funding was given to each initiative, and what the funding was used for.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: In their most recent budget (2017-18), Highlands and Islands Enterprise has not provided any funding towards any Scottish Government initiatives.

30 Jun 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many calendar days in took to respond to question S5W-09476.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: A holding response to S5W-09476 was issued after 14 calendar days (12 June 2017) and the final response took 30 calendar days (28 June 2017).

30 Jun 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to have validated all the claims from the 2016 tranche of CAP applications.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government expects all eligible CAP Pillar 1 payments to be made by the end of August 2017. However, the Scottish Government accepts that there will be a small number of cases that will process after the end of August due to further information …

30 Jun 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason there is a difference in the levels of money paid out between the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (LAFSS) and the basic payments under the CAP scheme of 2015.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: These are separate schemes operated under different pillars of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) with different budgetary ceilings. LFASS operates under Pillar 2 and BPS operate under Pillar 1. The BPS 2015 budget was £229.4 million The LFASS 2015 budg…

30 Jun 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-09476 by Fergus Ewing on 28 June 2017, how much is still to be paid to farmers who are waiting for payments from the 2015 tranche of CAP applications.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: 2015 - Basic Payment Scheme (including Greening and Young Farmers Payment) – £36,043.81 (0.10%) is unpaid Rural Development - £0.50 million (1.52%) is unpaid – no loans made for these schemes LFASS – £6.4 million (10%) is unpaid - of this £5.1 m is covered…

13 Jun 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the reported shortage of dentists in rural and island communities.

6 Jun 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government, given that more than 200 jobs will reportedly be created by Kishorn Ports Ltd for floating wind turbine construction, what plans it has to support and develop the economy in Wester Ross.

25 May 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much of the substantive CAP payments for (a) 2015, (b) 2016 and (c) 2017 remains unpaid, also broken down by how much (i) has been subject to loans being paid out and (ii) is not covered by loans.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: 2015 - Basic Payment Scheme (including Greening and Young Farmers Payment) –£95,798 (0.28%) is unpaid (£38,300 of this has been covered by loans, £57,498 has not been the subject of a loan) Rural Development - £0.59 million (1.98%) is unpaid – no loans made …

25 May 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much of the substantive CAP payments for (a) 2015, (b) 2016 and (c) 2017 has been paid.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: 2015 - 96.8% of total CAP payments paid - £457.18 million 2016 - total CAP payments paid - £251.29 million. As claims are still being validated it is not possible to provide the percentage of eligible claims which this represents at this time. 2017 – no pay…

18 May 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question to S5W-06697 by Shona Robison on 24 February 2017, what data on osteoarthritis prevalence (a) NHS and (b) integrated joint boards collect, and what its position is on centralising this.

Answer · Shona Robison: The information requested is not held centrally and we have no plans to do so. The Scottish Public Health Observatory website advises that Oesteoarthritis is not found only in older people, but prevalence increases with age. Practice Team Information (PTI) d…

26 Apr 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to ensure that schools can fill teacher vacancies.

24 Apr 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in light of Marine Scotland seafarers' recent vote in favour of industrial action over pay.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government have committed to undertake a comparison of Marine Scotland seafarer terms and conditions, including pay, with that of other employers of relevant seafarer staff. This review is being undertaken as part of current pay negotiations in p…

30 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what infrastructure has been installed (a) on each ferry and (b) at each port as part of the Calmac Ferries Wi-Fi and broadband project.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: CalMac Ferries Ltd has supplied the following details of the equipment installed on each ferry, with the exception of the MV Eigg and the MV Raasay, and at each port to support the CalMac Ferries Wi-Fi and broadband project. The details are as follows:- Ferr…

30 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been spent on the Calmac Ferries Wi-Fi and broadband project, including the amount spent on each (a) ferry and (b) port.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: CalMac Ferries Ltd consider that their expenditure on the successful roll-out of the Wi-Fi and broadband project is commercially sensitive.

7 Mar 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported concerns regarding the Scottish Ambulance Service's operation of emergency and patient transport services in the Highlands and Islands, including proposed industrial action by Unite members.

Answer · Shona Robison: NHS Boards are responsible for the design, delivery and management of their services for the population. Therefore, the operation of services is a matter for the Scottish Ambulance Service. I am aware of the issues raised in the North of Scotland and have be…

2 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many accidental electrical house fires there have been in the Highlands and Islands in each of the last five years; and what steps it is taking to reduce the number of such fires, including in areas where properties are not connected to the gas network and rely more on electricity.

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: This information is not held centrally. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) publishes statistics on accidental dwelling fires and cause, however this data is not presented on a monthly basis, nor is data on tenure given. These statistics are availa…

15 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the comments by the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform in a letter dated 17 January 2017 regarding the recruitment and retention allowance paid to Marine Scotland seafarers and the wage differentials between them and seafarers from Caledonian Ma…

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: My officials are currently working on compiling comparative data from organisations who employ seafarers in the course of operating small fleets. The recognised trade unions have also offered to provide comparative data that they hold which will be reviewed o…

30 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people in Scotland are estimated to be living with osteoarthritis, and what information and support is provided to GPs for their treatment.

Answer · Shona Robison: The information requested in relation to the number of people living with osteoarthritis in Scotland is not held centrally. The National Institute of Clinical Evidence (NICE) have produced a clinical guideline on the care and management of adults with osteoa…

30 Jan 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to develop SIGN guidelines on the management of osteoarthritis.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) develops evidence based clinical practice guidelines for the National Health Service (NHS) in Scotland. SIGN guidelines are derived from a systematic review of the scientific literature and are designed t…

22 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its news release of 16 December 2016, New Group to focus on improving Far North Line, (a) who the members of the review group will be, broken down by the organisation that they will represent and (b) whether it will publish its remit.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Far North Line Review Team will be chaired by the Rail Director, Transport Scotland and will comprise representatives of Network Rail, ScotRail, Highlands & Islands Enterprise, Hitrans Regional Transport Partnership, Transport Scotland, Highland Council a…

20 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much Marine Scotland spends each year on (a) marine mammal bycatch and (b) (i) monitoring and (ii) the mitigation of the Scottish fleet, broken down by fishery.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Since April 2011, Marine Scotland has provided funding of £30,000 annually to a UK wide monitoring programme which aims to determine levels of marine mammal (cetacean) bycatch in commercial fisheries. Funding is committed under the current programme up to the…

15 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether Highlands and Islands Enterprise will continue to decide the strategic priorities for its investment and social development in the Highlands and Islands following the establishment of the single Scotland-wide board for enterprise and skills.

Answer · Keith Brown: HIE will retain its Chief Executive based at its headquarters in Inverness, staff will also continue to operate from the Headquarters in Inverness and HIE’s area-based locations across the area from Lerwick to Lochgilphead. HIE senior management will continue…

15 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the establishment and running costs of a single Scotland-wide board for enterprise and skills come from (a) the budgets of existing agencies or (b) a new funding source.

Answer · Keith Brown: In our report on phase one of the Enterprise and Skills Review we have committed to work with agencies and other partners to strengthen our enterprise and skills system by consulting on the strategic board, including the best distribution of functions between…

15 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what financial savings it expects to be made by a single Scotland-wide board for enterprise and skills compared with retaining the existing separate boards.

Answer · Keith Brown: In our report on phase one of the Enterprise and Skills Review we have committed to work with agencies and other partners to strengthen our enterprise and skills system by consulting on the strategic board, including the best distribution of functions between…

14 Dec 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle air pollution.

12 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the £649,000 grant from the European Social Fund for social inclusion and to tackle discrimination, poverty and other health issues in the Highland Council area was allocated.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The grant formally offered to Highland Council by the Managing Authority (Scottish Government) on 20 October 2016 is based on population with some adjustment to reflect the local circumstances. The basis for allocation of European Social Funds was developed…

1 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on it reinstating the direct rail link between Perth and Edinburgh, and what impact such a service would have on journey times on the Highland Main Line.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Reinstatement of the direct rail link between Perth and Edinburgh does not feature in the Scottish Government’s current £5 billion investment programme to 2019. However, we are committed to on-going improvements to rail services and connectivity and will cons…

1 Dec 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken in each year since 2008 to reduce journey times on each service on the Highland Main Line.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Since 2008 the Scottish Government has taken action to deliver, and continues to develop, rail enhancements on the Inverness to Glasgow and Edinburgh route with the Rail Industry. These enhancements included journey time and frequency improvements in December…