Rhoda Grant
Scottish Labour
MSP for Highlands and Islands (Region) 2007 - present day
Former MSP for Highlands and Islands (Region) 1999 - 2003
About Rhoda Grant
Contact details
Contact online
Post-d: Rhoda.Grant.msp@parliament.scot
Website: rhodagrant.org.uk
Post-d: @rhodagrant
Facebook: Rhoda's facebook
Contact at the Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 348 5766
Text relay calls welcome.
Contact at local office
PO Box 5717,
3 Gordon Terrace
Inverness
IV2 3HD
Phone: 01463 716299
Text relay calls welcome.
Find out when the MSP's surgery times are on their website.
Committees
Rhoda is a member of 2 committees
Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee
Substitute Member
Cross-party groups
Rhoda is a member of 16 cross-party groups
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Conditions
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Commercial Sexual Exploitation
Co-Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Crofting
Co-Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Food
Co-Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Funerals and Bereavement
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Gaelic
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Human Trafficking
Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Islands
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Malawi
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Men's Violence Against Women and Children
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Poverty
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Scotch Whisky
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Social Enterprise
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Taiwan
Co-Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Tibet
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Visual Impairment
Member
Parliamentary and Government Roles
Rhoda does not have any parliamentary or government roles
Party Roles
Rhoda has 3 party roles
Party Spokesperson on Islands
Scottish Labour
Party Spokesperson on Land Reform
Scottish Labour
Party Spokesperson on Rural Affairs
Scottish Labour
Previous roles
Rhoda has had 34 previous roles
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
22 September 2021 - 25 April 2023
Standards Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
Substitute Member
31 May 2021 - 10 April 2023
Chief Whip
Scottish Labour
31 May 2021 - 10 April 2023
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Land Reform
Scottish Labour
31 May 2021 - 10 April 2023
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Islands
Scottish Labour
19 January 2023 - 31 January 2023
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Substitute Member
25 February 2020 - 04 May 2021
Finance and Constitution Committee
Substitute Member
26 November 2020 - 04 May 2021
Justice Committee
Member
02 December 2020 - 04 May 2021
Justice SubCommittee on Policing
Member
05 May 2020 - 25 November 2020
Economy Energy and Fair Work Committee
Member
10 September 2019 - 05 May 2020
Economy Energy and Fair Work Committee
Substitute Member
10 September 2019 - 05 February 2020
Finance and Constitution Committee
Substitute Member
25 June 2019 - 30 October 2019
Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body
Appointed Member
23 April 2019 - 10 September 2019
Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee
Substitute Member
09 January 2018 - 10 September 2019
Equalities and Human Rights Committee
Substitute Member
09 January 2018 - 10 September 2019
Standards Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
Substitute Member
03 June 2019 - 02 September 2019
Parliamentary Bureau
Member
01 November 2018 - 20 November 2018
Environment Climate Change and Land Reform Committee
Member
21 December 2017 - 22 October 2018
Parliamentary Bureau
Member
08 June 2016 - 09 January 2018
Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee
Member
07 October 2015 - 23 March 2016
Equal Opportunities Committee
Substitute Member
03 September 2013 - 23 March 2016
Health and Sport Committee
Member
01 June 2011 - 03 September 2013
Economy Energy and Tourism Committee
Member
23 June 2011 - 21 May 2013
Health and Sport Committee
Substitute Member
30 April 2009 - 22 March 2011
Health and Sport Committee
Member
05 November 2009 - 22 March 2011
Equal Opportunities Committee
Substitute Member
05 November 2009 - 22 March 2011
Subordinate Legislation Committee
Member
02 October 2008 - 04 November 2009
Rural Affairs and Environment Committee
Substitute Member
20 September 2007 - 01 October 2008
Health and Sport Committee
Member
27 June 2007 - 01 October 2008
Local Government and Communities Committee
Substitute Member
13 June 2007 - 01 October 2008
Public Petitions Committee
Member
08 January 2001 - 31 March 2003
Rural Development Committee
Member
08 January 2001 - 31 March 2003
Public Petitions Committee
Member
17 June 1999 - 07 January 2001
Finance Committee
Member
17 June 1999 - 07 January 2001
Rural Affairs Committee
Member
Register of interests
Rhoda's register of interests
MSPs must provide details of their financial interests in the Register of Interests. They make an initial statement on becoming or being returned as an MSP. This is then updated with any changes they provide.
Here is the register for Rhoda Grant. The date of their initial statement was 18 May 2021.
Remuneration and related undertaking
No registrable interests
Gifts
On 1 July 2022 I received two tickets from Inverness Caledonian Thistle (a Football Club of Tulloch Caledonian Stadium, Stadium Road, Inverness IV1 1FF) for the Andrea Bocelli - Believe World Tour. The value of the tickets was £330. [Registered 4 July 2022]
Overseas visits
From 6 to 7 March 2023 I attended and spoke at a side event at the 67th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women in New York. I was invited to speak as Convener of the Cross Party Group on Human Trafficking and co-convenor of the Cross Party Group on Commercial Sexual Exploitation. The cost of the trip was £535.25 for accommodation and overnight costs and 2,559.57 Euros for flights, which is equivalent to approximately £2,256.68. All costs were met by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (of Wallnerstrasse 6, 1010 Vienna, Austria), an intergovernmental regional security organisation with observer status at the United Nations. [Registered 14 March 2023]
Controlled transactions
No registrable interests
Heritable property
I own a sixth share of a house in Lewis with a market value of between £100,001 and £150,000. The gross income is up to £5,000 per annum.
Interest in shares
No registrable interests
Voluntary
I received on bottle of whisky from the Scotch Whisky Association, the nominal value for the COP26 Limited Edition Blended Scotch Whisky to be £30, although it is not for commercial sale. [Registered 16 December 2021]
From 29 September 2020 until 22 July 2021, I was in receipt of the services of an intern. The intern received a bursary from CARE (Christian Action Research and Education), for the educational component of its Leadership Programme only, and provided services separately to me in their own time. I paid for their services, for seven hours per week, between April and July 2021 and the intern was a self-funded volunteer for the rest of the placement. [Amended interest, 4 July 2022; Amended interest, 18 July 2022]
I am a member of Unison.
I am a member of the Co-Operative Party.
I received £100 from Unison as a contribution to my regional list selection campaign.
Between 26 and 29 April 2023, I attended and spoke at a United Nations conference in Dubrovnik entitled “Reducing Demand for Sexual Exploitation of Trafficking Victims in South-Eastern Europe: Commitment to Comprehensive Action”. The total cost of the visit, including travel, accommodation and subsistence, came to £1,388.34 and was met by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime - Human trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Section, Organized Crime and Illicit Trafficking Branch. [Registered 11 May 2023]
I am a Director of the North Applecross Woodlands Company Limited. There is no remuneration attached to the post.
I am a member of the Co-Operative Party MSP Group.
Between 10 and 13 May 2022, I attended and spoke at a United Nations conference entitled "Improving response to trafficking in persons for sexual exploitation especially women and girls, through addressing demand in South-Eastern Europe". The total cost of the visit, including travel, accommodation and subsistence, came to £1,184 and was met by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime - Human trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Section, Organized Crime and Illicit Trafficking Branch. [Registered 28 July 2022]
I am the Vice Chair of Friends of the Far North Line. This is an honorary position for which I receive no remuneration.
Recent Activity
What was said
What Rhoda Grant has said in Parliament
These are the official transcripts of what was said by this MSP in the chamber and at committee meetings. You'll find the topic discussed and how many times this MSP has contributed to the discussion.
Chamber meeting date: 1 June 2023
Depopulation in Rural and Island Communities
Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): "Depopulation is caused by people finding it too difficult to live in rural and island communities. Ferry failures are a current driver of depopulation. The South Uist ferry is being cancelled—again—for almost the whole of June…
Chamber meeting date: 31 May 2023
Fisheries Management
Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): "Creelers, divers and, indeed, the whole fishing community want to protect our seas, because doing so is crucial to their survival, yet their expertise appears to be ignored…
Chamber meeting date: 31 May 2023
Wildfire (Cannich)
Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): "Our thoughts, too, are with the firefighters who were injured. We hope that they make a speedy recovery. We also thank all firefighters for putting their lives on the line daily to protect the public…
Chamber meeting date: 25 May 2023
Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Contract (Consultants)
Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): "The problem with the Clyde and Hebrides ferry service is not the contract but the ferry fleet. The First Minister knows that the provision of the fleet is the responsibility of the Scottish Government…
Chamber meeting date: 25 May 2023
Agriculture Policy
Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): "I, too, am grateful to the committee for bringing the debate on its pre-legislative scrutiny to the chamber…
Votes
How Rhoda Grant has voted in Parliament
Find out how Rhoda Grant has voted recently.
Let's Talk Education – The National Discussion
Submitted by: Stephen Kerr, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, May 30, 2023
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, May 31, 2023
Result 29 for, 90 against, 0 abstained, 10 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Hospital at Home Programme in Scotland
Submitted by: Michael Matheson, Falkirk West, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, May 24, 2023
Supported by: Jenni Minto, Maree Todd
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, May 30, 2023
Result 114 for, 0 against, 0 abstained, 15 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Hospital at Home Programme in Scotland
Submitted by: Dr. Sandesh Gulhane, Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Thursday, May 25, 2023
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, May 30, 2023
Result 47 for, 65 against, 0 abstained, 17 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Hospital at Home Programme in Scotland
Submitted by: Paul Sweeney, Glasgow, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Thursday, May 25, 2023
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, May 30, 2023
Result 17 for, 94 against, 3 abstained, 15 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Ending Violence in Scottish Schools
Submitted by: Jenny Gilruth, Mid Fife and Glenrothes, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, May 23, 2023
Supported by: Graeme Dey, Natalie Don
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, May 24, 2023
Result 93 for, 18 against, 0 abstained, 18 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Motions
Motions made by Rhoda Grant in Parliament
Find out what motions Rhoda Grant has submitted recently.
Questions
Questions Rhoda Grant has asked
These are the questions that this MSP has asked in Parliament. It also includes any answer to those questions.
Asked by: Grant, Rhoda, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 1 June 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government how many staff Transport Scotland currently has, broken down by directorate."
Answer expected on 15 June 2023
Asked by: Grant, Rhoda, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 17 May 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6O-02223 by Gillian Martin on 11 May 2023, how it calculated the figure of £1.3 billion."
Answered by Lorna Slater on 30 May 2023
Asked by: Grant, Rhoda, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 11 May 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government how many accident-related temporary closures of the A9 Inverness to Scrabster road have taken place in (a) one and (b) both direction(s) in each of the last five years, broken down by month."
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 23 May 2023
Asked by: Grant, Rhoda, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 11 May 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government how long the A9 Inverness to Scrabster road has been closed due to an accident in (a) one and (b) both direction(s) in each of the last five years, broken down by month."
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 23 May 2023
Asked by: Grant, Rhoda, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 11 May 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government how many accident-related temporary closures of the A9 Inverness to Perth road have taken place in (a) one and (b) both direction(s) in each of the last five years, broken down by month."
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 23 May 2023
Asked by: Grant, Rhoda, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 11 May 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government how long the A9 Inverness to Perth road has been closed due to an accident in (a) one and (b) both direction(s) in each of the last five years, broken down by month."
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 23 May 2023
Asked by: Grant, Rhoda, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 24 April 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what its commitment is to increasing forestry cover, including any timescales; whether any such commitment is tied to the fulfilment of any domestic or international climate action agreements; whether current policy towards extending tree cover meets the expectations of the Climate Change Committee; what annual budget…
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 23 May 2023
Asked by: Grant, Rhoda, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 12 May 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government how many Highland-based organisations have received support from its CashBack for Communities programme in (a) 2022-23 and (b) 2023-24 to date."
Answered by Siobhian Brown on 23 May 2023
Asked by: Grant, Rhoda, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 19 May 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether access to local outdoor spaces, such as forests, should be free of charge."
Answer expected on 6 June 2023
Asked by: Grant, Rhoda, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 19 May 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-17405 by Shona Robison on 5 May 2023, whether it plans to change the financing arrangements for Scottish Water, currently through customer charges and Scottish Government borrowing, in order to permit (a) private investment via an equity stake being taken in Scottish Water, or…
Answer expected on 6 June 2023