Parliamentary questions
Rhoda Grant
2,396 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
13 May 2025 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to allocate additional funding to Argyll and Bute Council, in light of reports of Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership’s funding deficit.
13 May 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of end dates for any leases it has issued to operate (a) windfarms, (b) other forms of renewable energy production and (c) energy storage on Forestry and Land Scotland land.
Answer · Gillian Martin: Scotland's national forest estate, managed by Forestry and Land Scotland has 93 lease agreements in place covering renewable energy schemes. There are 29 windfarms, 25 of which are operational and 4 are under construction. There are 62 hydro schemes, 61 of wh…
7 May 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of the reported £801 million allocated to Scotland from European Structural and Investment Funds was claimed by 30 April 2025.
Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish Government has claimed £669m to date from the European Structural and Investment Funds, equating to 83% of the original allocation from the European Commission in 2014.
2 May 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its reported comments that, while it engages regularly with cross-party groups (CPGs), “they are informal groupings of MSPs and other people and groups with an interest in a specific subject which are not part of the formal parliamentary structure for scrutinising gove…
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Cross-Party Groups provide an opportunity for MSPs to engage with external stakeholders on a particular subject or issue and many MSPs then raise those in Parliament or with the Government.The role of CPGs is a matter for the Scottish Parliament and as set ou…
2 May 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people were interviewed as part of the Pain Management Panel report, which was published in November 2022, broken down by NHS board area; what its position is on whether publishing the views of 16 people in the report presents a fair representation of the 800,000 people in Scotl…
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Pain Management Panel consisted of 16 people with lived experience of chronic pain. A sampling framework was developed by The Lines Between to ensure diversity within the panel across participants’ experiences, circumstances, and characteristics. Th…
16 Apr 2025 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment has been done of any impact on CAMHS waiting times targets, in light of reports of autism assessment services being cancelled leaving more children in distress and unable to access support that requires a diagnosis.
7 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many wind farms are on land owned by it, broken down by megawatts of wind capacity generated, and what proportion of these farms are community owned.
Answer · Gillian Martin: There are twenty-five operational windfarms on Scotland’s national forests and land, managed by Forestry and Land Scotland. None of the windfarms are community owned in whole or part.WindfarmNumber of MWon Scotland’s National Forests and Land(*sev…
1 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NatureScot regarding maintaining and growing native oyster populations in Marine Protected Areas, and what actions are being considered.
Answer · Gillian Martin: MPAs are managed in line with the conservation and management advice provided by NatureScot. Management measures are already in place to achieve the conservation objectives for native oysters where they are a protected feature, by reducing the pressures that …
1 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what actions are being considered to address any unregulated gathering of native oysters in Marine Protected Areas, in light of recent reports of functional extinction of native oysters.
Answer · Gillian Martin: In general, it is an offence to collect native oysters from any location in Scotland. Currently the Loch Sween MPA is the only marine protected area that lists native oysters as a protected feature, and there are specific management measures in place for the …
1 Apr 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is, in light of reports that native oyster numbers within the Loch Sween Marine Protected Area have significantly declined.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government is committed to managing our seas sustainably to protect their rich biological diversity. NatureScot are currently liaising with local stakeholders to better understand the situation within the Loch Sween MPA. Surveys will be carried o…
28 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the procurement of additional marine evacuation systems (MES) for CalMac since August 2016, in light of the document, Contract for the Provision of Ferry Service Between the Scottish Ministers and CalMac Ferries Ltd, stating at page 180, "We will i…
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government has no involvement with the procurement of replacement equipment to retain as vessel spares. This is the responsibility of the operator.
28 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what vessel will be allocated to the Barra-Oban ferry route when the MV Isle of Lewis is retired from service.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Vessel deployment is an operational matter - as such, Ministers expect the operator to assess all the options, and present that recommendation in consultation with Transport Scotland.
28 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the findings by the Scottish Human Rights Commission in its November 2024 report, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the Highlands and Islands, in areas where the Commission identified obligations that were being (a) partially and (b) not met.
Answer · Kaukab Stewart: We expect to issue our response to the Scottish Human Rights Commission’s report before the Scottish Parliament's summer recess. Our response will outline the actions being taken to respect, protect and fulfil economic, social and cultural rights in the…
28 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration was given to the Scottish Human Rights Commission’s November 2024 report, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the Highlands and Islands, when allocating its 2025-26 Budget, and what the outcome was.
Answer · Kaukab Stewart: The Scottish Government's 2025-26 Budget was published on 4 December 2024. This was a week after the Scottish Human Rights Commission published their report on rights in the Highlands and Islands, so there was not sufficient time to fully consider and incorpo…
28 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Scottish Human Rights Commission’s November 2024 report, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the Highlands and Islands.
Answer · Kaukab Stewart: We thank the Scottish Human Rights Commission for their detailed report. We expect to issue our formal response to the report before the Scottish Parliament's summer recess.
26 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, to ensure timely implementation, what milestones have been set for the delivery of the Fracture Liaison Service audit.
Answer · Jenni Minto: Scottish Government commissioned the Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) audit in July 2024 following a scoping exercise and business case by Public Health Scotland (PHS). PHS are responsible for the delivery and implementation of the FLS audit, which includes set…
24 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-32079 by Gillian Martin on 18 December 2024, whether the marine and coastal restoration plan will take account of, and have regard to, other plans, in particular, the National Marine Plan and the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: Yes, the marine and coastal restoration plan will support delivery of policies and outcomes in the National Marine Plan, the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy, the UK Marine Strategy, and the Scottish Seabird Action Plan, amongst others.
24 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its co-management process is in developing the demersal fisheries management plans.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: As set out in our recently published delivery plan, we are committed to “co-management” of fisheries and we want to ensure that stakeholders are involved in the policy development and delivery process.In the context of Fisheries Management Plans (…
18 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-32449 by Fiona Hyslop on 8 January 2025, what progress has been made on the construction of a controlled pedestrian crossing at Raigmore interchange in Inverness.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The project is approaching construction stage and has been assessed by Transport Scotland for construction-ready funding through Tier 2 of the Active Travel Infrastructure Fund (ATIF). Our operating company, BEAR Scotland, has been working with project design…
17 Mar 2025 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to upgrade older housing stock to make it suitable for modern day heating systems.
11 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many times its (a) ministers and (b) officials have met with the advertising website, Escort Scotland, in each year since 2018.
Answer · Siobhian Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-35689 on 27 March 2025. 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…
11 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many times its (a) ministers and (b) officials have met with the advertising website, Adultwork, in each year since 2018.
Answer · Siobhian Brown: Our records indicate that Scottish Government has not held meetings, since 2018, with Adultwork, Escort Scotland and Vivastreet.The regulation of the internet and online service providers, and advertising are reserved matters.
11 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many times its (a) ministers and (b) officials have met with the advertising website, Vivastreet, in each year since 2018.
Answer · Siobhian Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-35689 on 27 March 2025. 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…
6 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on specialists in dealing with domestic abuse being embedded in 999 control rooms with the aim of providing better support for victims, similar to the proposed pilot in England and Wales, known as Raneem’s Law, which is reportedly expected to be launched by the…
Answer · Angela Constance: The management of Police Scotland’s call handling capabilities is an issue for the Chief Constable. Police Scotland’s three year business plan seeks to ensure that victims are fully heard and supported through a service that is tailored to their n…
6 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken to ensure that 999 control rooms are more responsive and survivor-centred to domestic abuse cases.
Answer · Angela Constance: All calls received by Police Scotland receive an initial assessment based on the THRIVE model (Threat, Harm, Risk, Investigative Opportunity, Vulnerability and Engagement) to enable informed decision making on prioritisation. Given the unpredictable and often…
3 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has undertaken any assessment of the costs of undertaking peatland restoration, and whether any such costs are (a) static, (b) falling and (c) rising; what the current (i) average cost is and (ii) range of costs are per hectare, and what the main factors affecting the range of…
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government has commissioned research through ClimateXChange (CxC) to better understand peatland restoration costs. This results of this research will be published shortly.Previous research assessing the costs of peatland restoration can be found …
3 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether any potential contingent liability implications against future budgets is estimated at the time of entering any arrangements that may subsequently trigger that liability requiring to be met, and in what year any payment of a contingent liability counted for budget and public spen…
Answer · Jim Fairlie: Scottish Government will take a well-planned and measured approach when entering into any agreements that may be contingent liabilities to ensure that they do not place a disproportionate burden on the budgets of future financial years.
3 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has advised the Scottish Fiscal Commission of any potential contingent liability implications in relation to future budgets, as a consequence of pursuing a policy of encouraging private finance investment.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: We will comply with all aspects of the reporting and authorisation requirements detailed in the Scottish Public Finance Manual, which includes notification to the Finance and Public Administration Committee. Scottish Government does not intend to advise the S…
3 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-30676 by Mairi Gougeon on 30 October 2024, whether it has now modelled any potential contingent liability implications from its policy to encourage private investment in nature recovery; what any such modelling shows in relation to any potential pub…
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-30676 on 30 October 2024. 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-committe…
3 Mar 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what budget provision it has made within the draft Budget for 2025-26 and any subsequent year to (a) underwrite private investment and (b) pilot blended finance models in nature recovery; what its position is on whether the allocation of any such funds has been at the expense of existing…
Answer · Jim Fairlie: a) Scottish Government has not made any budget provision in this or future years to underwrite private investment in nature restoration.b) No capital allocation has been made in the 2025-26 budget to pilot blended finance models in nature recovery. Any paymen…