Parliamentary questions

Rhoda Grant

2,396 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

3 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the publication of the Natural Capital Market Framework and further to the answer to question S6W-30678 by Mairi Gougeon on 29 October 2024, whether it considers offshore private finance investments as ethical investments under the terms of the Framework.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government’s Natural Capital Market Framework applies only to investment within Scotland and, where relevant, to governance within the wider UK for UK emissions and impacts.Responsible private investment in Scotland’s natural capital …

3 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-26881 by Jim Fairlie on 5 June 2024, what engagement took place with (a) communities and (b) land managers to test the appetite for nature finance and to design the potential investment; what the results of this engagement were; whether a report on …

Answer · Jim Fairlie: As noted in response to S6W-26881, NatureScot maintains a detailed FAQ section on the Nature Investment Partnership on their website, which has been recently updated https://www.nature.scot/doc/nature-investment-partnership-faqs. The information requested in …

3 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-26881 by Jim Fairlie on 5 June 2024, in relation to financing natural capital, how much private finance was (a) arranged under the support of the Natural Investment Partnership and (b) spent on (i) tree planting and (ii) peatland restoration between…

Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Nature Investment Partnership continues to engage with a range of investors, land managers and local communities to identify the most suitable approach for each potential investment site. No private finance has yet been directed through the Partnership in…

28 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it has created opportunities for new entrants to farming through its publicly owned land.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government has created a notable amount of opportunities for new entrants into farming and crofting on publicly owned land. This has been spearheaded by the coordinating efforts of the Farming Opportunities for New Entrants (FONE) Group. The FONE…

28 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what opportunities have been made for new entrants to farming through publicly owned land.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: Since 2016, the Farming Opportunities for New Entrants (FONE) Group has helped facilitate entry to over 80 new entrants across more than 8,000 hectares of publicly owned land in Scotland.Instigated by the FONE Group and funded by the Scottish Government, the …

28 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which public bodies it has contacted regarding the offer of farming opportunities to new entrants.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: Since 2016, the Farming Opportunities for New Entrants (FONE) Group has been coordinating new entrant opportunities on publicly owned land in Scotland. FONE Group membership includes, but is not limited to, Forestry and Land Scotland, the Crown Estate Scotlan…

27 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the evacuation system on the MV Isle of Mull will be upgraded.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Replacement of the Marine Evacuation System is scheduled to begin in May 2025.

27 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the total cost of chartering the MV Alfred is, including the most recent extension.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: From the date of the charter to 30 September 2024, the Scottish Government has provided funding to CalMac of £16.2m. Under the Clyde and Hebrides Contract Extension, the costs were included as part of the overall funding and therefore were not paid sepa…

27 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the paper, Sustainable Farming Scheme: proposed scheme outline (2024), which was published by the Welsh Government on 25 November 2024, and whether it plans to propose a similar scheme to deliver sustainable farming practices, including high-qualit…

Answer · Jim Fairlie: We have been following the development of the Welsh Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) with interest. As well as the paper which was published in November, we also have regular discussions with the other UK nations, including Wales, regarding future agriculture…

27 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to The Seventh Carbon Budget, which was published by the Climate Change Committee on 26 February 2025, in particular section 7.4 on agriculture and land use data, which is based on GWP100 metric data.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: We recognise that reaching net zero will require all our farmers, crofters, and land managers to be ambitious and continue to help address climate change, alongside other outcomes including sustainable food production, enhancing biodiversity and supporting ou…

27 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to re-evaluate funding forthe Highlands and Islands Veterinary Support Scheme (HIVSS); what its responseis to the reported concerns in the sector that HIVSS funding has lagged behindinflation, and what action is being taken to ensure that vets who use HIVSS aresu…

Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Highlands and Islands Veterinary Services Scheme (HIVSS) is crucial support to ensure that crofters and small farmers in remote areas of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland have access to veterinary care to protect the health and welfare of their animal…

11 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how often it meets the National Specialist Services Committee; when it last met the committee, and what was discussed.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government attend the National Specialist Services Committee (NSSC) who meet quarterly. Apologies were provided for the most recent meeting on 25 November 2024.Discussions at the 25 November meeting included:Finance UpdateRequests for New Designa…

11 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many procedures the National Specialist Services Committee has signed off (a) in each of the last 10 years and (b) since April 2024.

Answer · Neil Gray: The role of the National Specialist Services Committee (NSSC) is not to "sign off" procedures. Instead, it provides oversight and governance for the commissioning of new specialist services and networks, reviews potential decommissioning of existing services …

5 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration has been given to the potential for soil carbon losses when increasing tree cover with the aim to capture carbon, through its tree planting targets.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The UK Forestry Standard applies requirements to minimise soil carbon losses when creating new woodlands. No planting is supported in Scotland on soils with peat exceeding 50 cm depth. In addition recently revised guidance for soil cultivation effectively lim…

5 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to recent research published by the James Hutton Institute, in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh and Forest Research, examining the efficacy of tree planting on carbon capture.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: This report adds to understanding about what can happen early in the process of natural colonisation, when trees established in this way grow relatively slowly. The efficacy of tree planting for carbon capture must also consider their contribution to removing…

30 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government under what grounds people with Huntington’s disease might be refused access to support from (a) general psychiatry and (b) community mental health teams despite their Huntington’s disease specialist and/or clinical lead seeking to refer them to these services.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government recognises the importance of all people with mental health problems, including those with Huntington disease, getting the right help, at the right time, and in the right place.The core mental health standards set clear expectations for…

22 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recourse is open to people impacted by Huntington’s disease in the NHS Highland area who have been refused statutory mental health care due to their condition, and how this compares with the rest of the country.

Answer · Maree Todd: NHS Health Boards must ensure that everyone, regardless of their background or circumstances, has equitable access to mental health care.If a patient is dissatisfied with their care or access to services, they should first raise their concerns with their loca…

22 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how people in the NHS Highland area who are impacted by Huntington’s disease can access support from (a) general psychiatry and (b) community mental health teams.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that individuals impacted by Huntington’s disease, including those in the NHS Highland area, can access the mental health support they need.This includes access to community mental health teams and psychi…

22 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government under what grounds people with Huntington’s disease might be refused access to support from (a) general psychiatry and (b) community mental health teams by their Huntington’s disease specialist and/or clinical lead.