Parliamentary questions
Rhoda Grant
2,396 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
23 Oct 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how youth groups can access funds to buy community assets.
14 Oct 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what rate of direct cash return it is expecting from any public investment made in support of attracting private investment into nature recovery.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Scottish Government is currently assessing alternative spending models for natural restoration that will seek to encourage greater responsible private investment.Scottish Government has not set an expected rate of direct cash return that may be derived from t…
14 Oct 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what transparency arrangements it proposes in relation to the sources of private finance into natural capital investments that is supported by public spending, to ensure that any such investment can be fully visible and scrutinised against high-integrity principles, and whether it will p…
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government‘s forthcoming Natural Capital Markets Framework will set out the actions we will take to deliver our market vision for private investment in natural capital, including in relation to transparency and integrity.
14 Oct 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what target ratio of public to private sector investment it has set when seeking to incentivise private investment in nature recovery, and whether it has established a maximum limit to the proportion that the public purse should pay of any investment.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Scottish Government is currently assessing alternative spending models for nature restoration that will seek to encourage greater responsible private investment.The Scottish Government has not set a target ratio of public to private investment or established …
14 Oct 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-25949 by Mairi McAllan on 13 March 2024, whether it has now assessed potential public expenditure or contingent liability implications for its Budget to de-risk or otherwise sufficiently underwrite private investment in nature recovery, as part of c…
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Scottish Government is currently assessing alternative spending models for natural restoration that will seek to encourage greater responsible private investment while maximising the value of public spending.Assessment of the public expenditure or contingent …
8 Oct 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-30045 by Fiona Hyslop on 4 October 2024, what the (a) value and (b) length of the contract is with (i) naValue GmbH and (ii) Addleshaw Goddard.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The contracts for support services for the Small Vessel Replacement Programme commenced in 2019 and will conclude in 2027. The value of these contracts is commercially confidential.
3 Oct 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the medicines homecare services review will be published.
Answer · Jenni Minto: The Medicines Homecare Review is an independent review commissioned by the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer (CPO). The CPO is currently considering the recommendations in order to determine the next steps and will publish the review thereafter.
25 Sep 2024 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its long-term ferry strategy to ensure reliability for communities.
20 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) charges and (b) convictions for kerb crawling offences there have been in each local authority area in each year since 2018, including 2024 to date.
Answer · Angela Constance: As there isn’t a specific offence of ‘kerb crawling’, information has been provided in the following table on the number of charges and convictions for (i) Prostitution (Public Places) (Scotland) Act 2007 S1 (1) – Person solicits relev…
19 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to using remote electronic monitoring to help respond to any modern slavery, human trafficking and human rights abuses in the fishing sector.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government is not considering the use of remote electronic monitoring (REM) technologies in its response to modern slavery, human trafficking and human rights abuses in the fishing sector.REM involves the use of imagery, sensors and Vessel Positi…
18 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the external consultants that have advised (a) CMAL and (b) Transport Scotland on the design and build contract for seven new ferries on Clyde and Hebrides network routes under phase 1 of the Small Vessel Replacement Programme.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: naValue GmbH is the ferry design company which assisted CMAL and Transport Scotland in the concept design stage of SVRP Phase 1. Addleshaw Goddard provided contractual and legal advice.
18 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government by what date CMAL will publish the invitation to tender to design and build seven new ferries for the Clyde and Hebrides network under phase 1 of the Small Vessel Replacement Programme, and how many expressions of interest in this contract have been received.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: CMAL are currently finalising the outcome report for the 1st stage of the Procurement exercise for SVRP and expect to issue the Invitation To Tender in the coming weeks at which point they will disclose the number of expression of interest in the contract.
18 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-29379 by Siobhian Brown on 13 September 2024, whether it will provide an update on progress on the delivery of the four components outlined in Scotland’s strategic approach to challenging and deterring men’s demand for prostitution and s…
Answer · Siobhian Brown: The primary aim of the Strategic Approach is to improve support for those with experience of prostitution, from crisis support through to support to exit from prostitution. We remain focussed on progressing this and the strategy’s wider components.Since…
10 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will conduct a review into the Highlands and Islands Patient Travel Scheme.
Answer · Neil Gray: Regrettably, a start date for the review is not confirmed at this time. It is important that the review of the guidance on patient travel expenses reimbursement is considered within the context of wider reform on access to health care which is already in prog…
10 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it remains committed to reviewing the Highlands and Islands Patient Travel Scheme.
Answer · Neil Gray: Regrettably, a start date for the review is not confirmed at this time. It is important that the review of the guidance on patient travel expenses reimbursement is considered within the context of wider reform on access to health care which is already in prog…
10 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on whether it remains committed to dualling the A96.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government remains committed to improving the A96. This is despite stark challenges we face due to severe budgetary restrictions, as a result of the UK Government’s cut to our capital funding of almost 9% over five years.The current plan is…
10 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the environmental assessment of the dualling of the A96 will be published.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: It is expected that the draft outcomes from the Review, which includes a climate compatibility assessment and other impact assessments, will be consulted on this Autumn, before a final decision can be reached.
10 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the environmental assessment of the dualling of the A96 has been completed.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: It is expected that the draft outcomes from the Review, which includes a climate compatibility assessment and other impact assessments, will be consulted on this Autumn, before a final decision can be reached.
4 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on whether it will introduce its proposed Human Rights Bill in the current parliamentary session.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Programme for Government 2024-25 reaffirms the Scottish Government’s commitment to advance human rights protections in Scotland. We will continue work to further develop and strengthen proposals for legislation to incorporate international treaties …
3 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding its reported plans to require ScotRail to procure high-speed trains to replace the current fleet that operates on its InterCity routes between Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Inverness, what impact this will have on journey times, and whether this procurement covers improveme…
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: ScotRail is to undertake the procurement exercise for the new intercity fleet. The timescales for replacement and the exact type of train to replace the HST Fleet as well as any implications of this replacement, including necessary infrastructure investments …
2 Sep 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much public funding it allocated to (a) Highland, (b) Argyll and Bute, (c) Orkney Islands and (d) Shetland Islands Council for ferry services in each year since 2017-18 to date.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The requested information is provided in the following table. 2017-182018-192019-202020-212021-222022-232023-242024-25Orkney Islands Council4.74510.1849.46010.13812.84713.40215.82915.829Shetland Islands Council6.80111.80712.25911.76317.28917.49623.08223.…
30 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Delmore passing loop will be upgraded.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The advantages for capacity and performance of a new rail loop in the Delmore area are recognised. However, the proposal for a passing loop at Delmore does not feature in the Scottish Government’s current investment programme.Given the extremely challen…
30 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what plans it has to upgrade train services.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government is investing in rail services across Scotland, including the rolling programme of electrification. East Kilbride line electrification is now under way and I have recently announced that ScotRail is to procure replacement trains for the…
30 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to upgrade train services north of Inverness.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: As part of the Far North Line Enhancements project, the Scottish Government previously granted authority and funding for enhancements to the Radio Electronic Token Block signalling system on the Far North Line and for line speed improvements at various points…
30 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it remains committed to upgrading the Delmore passing loop.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-29458 on 17 September 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-commit…
26 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding any impact in Scotland, what its response is to the most recent report of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences.
Answer · Siobhian Brown: Earlier this year I met with the UN Special Rapporteur and we welcome publication of the report.Our strategic approach to challenge demand for prostitution and improve support for those with experience of it, published in February 2024, recognises that prosti…
9 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to fulfil the Scottish National Party 2021 manifesto commitment to "legislate to ensure equal rights of succession for women in agriculture, and reform trust law that enables avoidance of legal obligations like the pre-emptive right to buy for tenants".
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government is committed to equality in agriculture, which is set out in the Agricultural Reform Route Map and in our 2023-2024 Programme for Government. In line with the 2023-2024 Programme for Government, we are co-developing a gender strategy…
27 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) discussions it had, (b) action it took and (c) meetings were held in relation to the decision of the City of Edinburgh Council to defer the planned friendship agreement with the Taiwanese port city, Kaohsiung.
Answer · Angus Robertson: I met the Chinese Consul General Zhang Biao on 12 June at the Consul General’s request. The Consul General raised the prospect of a friendship arrangement between the City of Edinburgh Council and Kaohsiung. I made clear that the Scottish Government could not…
19 Jun 2024 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its consideration of the impact of the change in subsidised air service provider between Uist and Stornoway on access to services, including health services, for people with reduced mobility.
12 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) grants have been awarded to, (b) contracts have been entered into with and (c) payments have been made to Highland Rewilding by (i) it and (ii) any of its agencies; for what purpose any such funding was provided, and what due diligence was undertaken in relation to Highland Rewi…
Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government does not hold information centrally on the grants, contract and payments made by public bodies. Contracts let by public bodies are held on public record and can be found at Public Contracts Scotland ( www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.u…