- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 03 April 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Kaukab Stewart on 25 April 2025
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
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 Highlands and Islands.
We acknowledge that more can be done to advance rights realisation in Scotland's Highlands and Island communities. We will continue to work closely with stakeholders, duty bearers and delivery partners to achieve this.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 03 April 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Kaukab Stewart on 25 April 2025
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
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 incorporate the report and its recommendations into the Scottish Government's 2025-26 Budget.
However, an Island Communities Impact Assessment was undertaken on the 2025-26 Budget, to consider the unique needs of Scottish island communities.
We are considering the Scottish Human Rights Commission’s report with a view to formally responding to its recommendations ahead of the summer recess.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 April 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 24 April 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, to ensure timely implementation, what milestones have been set for the delivery of the Fracture Liaison Service audit.
Answer
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 setting delivery and evaluation milestones.
I refer the member to the answers to questions S6W-35534 and S6W-35567 on 21 March 2025, S6W-36002 on 1 April 2025 and S6W-36035 on 17 April 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/written-questions-and-answers
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 03 April 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 22 April 2025
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
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.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 03 April 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 22 April 2025
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 investigate and appraise the logistics and cost benefit of purchasing additional MES equipment to allow the statutory test deployment of an MES to be standard by wet testing an installed MES unit, then immediately changing it out for a tested and certificated dry unit which will allow the vessel to return to service much sooner. The wet MES unit will be dried and re-packed for use on another vessel or held in storage until required", and what the outcome was.
Answer
The Scottish Government has no involvement with the procurement of replacement equipment to retain as vessel spares. This is the responsibility of the operator.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 27 March 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Alasdair Allan on 17 April 2025
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
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.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 April 2025
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 24 April 2025
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.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 24 April 2025
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 27 March 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 2 April 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what its co-management process is in developing the demersal fisheries management plans.
Answer
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 (FMPs), the Marine Directorate has undertaken pre-consultation with stakeholders which will inform the first formal consultation later this year. Discussions with stakeholders have taken place last year and, more recently, in February, we held workshops on demersal FMPs with plans for further workshops on Nephrops and pelagic FMPs in the coming weeks and months respectively.
Gathering stakeholder views is important to the overall process of developing FMPs.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 21 March 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 31 March 2025
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
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 designers to progress the remaining elements of the design.
In recent weeks, work on the drainage design has concluded while work remains ongoing on the electrical design for the traffic signals. In addition, BEAR Scotland’s environmental team has carried out updated tree and winter hibernation site surveys as well as drafting a site environmental management plan for tendering purposes.
The Raigmore Interchange project applied for in 2024-25 has been included in the 2025-26 ATIF prioritisation list, without the need for reapplication. Since the project has already been assessed, and as early funding allocations remain a key focus, we expect to allocate funding early in the 2025-26 financial year, subject to Scottish Government approval procedures.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 14 March 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Siobhian Brown on 27 March 2025
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
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.