Rhoda Grant MSP

That the Parliament notes that Scotch whisky has been granted a trademark in Taiwan; believes that this will help protect the industry and the consumers from fake products; acknowledges that Taiwan is the fourth biggest market for Scotch with exports worth £75 million in the first six months of 2016; thanks the Scotch Whisky Association for the work that it did in applying for and securing the trademark; understands that, in order to gain the trademark, the product needs to be made in Scotland from water, cereals and yeast and matured for at least three years, and celebrates the protection of this product and the boost that it can give to whisky producers.

That the Parliament notes that Scotch whisky has been granted a trademark in Taiwan; believes that this will help protect the industry and the consumers from fake products; acknowledges that Taiwan is the fourth biggest market for Scotch with exports worth £75 million in the first six months of 2016; thanks the Scotch Whisky Association for the work that it did in applying for and securing the trademark; understands that, in order to gain the trademark, the product needs to be made in Scotland from water, cereals and yeast and matured for at least three years, and celebrates the protection of this product and the boost that it can give to whisky producers.

That the Parliament congratulates the Embo Trust (Urras Euraboil) in Sutherland, which has received a £999,999 grant from the Big Lottery Fund; notes that the group will refurbish the "Embo Old School" to create a village hub that will contain a convenience store/Post Office, a franchised café with a space for community activities and office services to support social enterprises, and wishes the project well as it will create local employment and volunteering opportunities, help to address social isolation among the high proportion of older residents and provide services that will enable them to live in their own homes for longer.

That the Parliament congratulates the Embo Trust (Urras Euraboil) in Sutherland, which has received a £999,999 grant from the Big Lottery Fund; notes that the group will refurbish the "Embo Old School" to create a village hub that will contain a convenience store/Post Office, a franchised café with a space for community activities and office services to support social enterprises, and wishes the project well as it will create local employment and volunteering opportunities, help to address social isolation among the high proportion of older residents and provide services that will enable them to live in their own homes for longer.

That the Parliament congratulates the owners of the Sligachan Hotel on Skye on it being named Whisky Pub of the Year 2017 in the Good Pub Guide Awards; understands that the premises, which are over 180 years old, has on display over 400 malt whiskies to cater for the tastes of its many customers from all over the world; notes that Sir Harry Lauder was among the many famous people that have resided in the accommodation; further notes that Sligachan's fascinating history is described in its unique climbing and mountaineering museum within the hotel, and wishes all concerned with running this successful establishment the best for the future.

That the Parliament congratulates the owners of the Sligachan Hotel on Skye on it being named Whisky Pub of the Year 2017 in the Good Pub Guide Awards; understands that the premises, which are over 180 years old, has on display over 400 malt whiskies to cater for the tastes of its many customers from all over the world; notes that Sir Harry Lauder was among the many famous people that have resided in the accommodation; further notes that Sligachan's fascinating history is described in its unique climbing and mountaineering museum within the hotel, and wishes all concerned with running this successful establishment the best for the future.

That the Parliament congratulates the members of the cardiac nurse team from NHS Western Isles on winning two of the six prestigious British Heart Foundation (BHF) Alliance Awards in recognition of their vital work; understands the awards were open to teams from across the UK and were presented at the recent British Cardiovascular Society Conference in Manchester, which recognised staff and organisations that are supported by the BHF; acknowledges that the BHF Cardiac Specialist Nursing Team received the Integrated Care Award, which recognised the high-quality, integrated services that they provide despite being located in a remote and rural area with no cardiologist support; understands the team provides both heart failure and cardiac rehabilitation services, a rapid access chest pain clinic, palliative care and a service that identifies families with the genetic condition, familial hypercholesterolaemia; notes that the Cardiac Rehabilitation Team, which is based in Stornoway and Benbecula and consists of nurses, physiotherapists and experts in diet and exercise, won the Team of the Year Award; congratulates its members on building up an effective service over recent years that offers preventative services to people at high risk of heart disease or stroke or who already have cardiovascular disease; notes that the team works in partnership with patients and their families to develop individual programmes, identifies the most appropriate medication and offers support with lifestyle changes; congratulates everyone involved with these outstanding achievements, and wishes them all the best.

That the Parliament congratulates the members of the cardiac nurse team from NHS Western Isles on winning two of the six prestigious British Heart Foundation (BHF) Alliance Awards in recognition of their vital work; understands the awards were open to teams from across the UK and were presented at the recent British Cardiovascular Society Conference in Manchester, which recognised staff and organisations that are supported by the BHF; acknowledges that the BHF Cardiac Specialist Nursing Team received the Integrated Care Award, which recognised the high-quality, integrated services that they provide despite being located in a remote and rural area with no cardiologist support; understands the team provides both heart failure and cardiac rehabilitation services, a rapid access chest pain clinic, palliative care and a service that identifies families with the genetic condition, familial hypercholesterolaemia; notes that the Cardiac Rehabilitation Team, which is based in Stornoway and Benbecula and consists of nurses, physiotherapists and experts in diet and exercise, won the Team of the Year Award; congratulates its members on building up an effective service over recent years that offers preventative services to people at high risk of heart disease or stroke or who already have cardiovascular disease; notes that the team works in partnership with patients and their families to develop individual programmes, identifies the most appropriate medication and offers support with lifestyle changes; congratulates everyone involved with these outstanding achievements, and wishes them all the best.

That the Parliament congratulates Iain Curruthers, from Aviemore, who has gained an Adult Achievement Award at Inverness College UHI’s Falcon Centre; notes that this was achieved despite Iain having Irlen Syndrome, which affects his ability to process visual information; congratulates him also on achieving qualifications in Level 4 and 5 ICT and Level 3 Communication; considers this to be a major achievement and an inspiration to others that he has overcome personal obstacles, including severe anxiety and low self-confidence, to complete the award, which helps students to develop vital communication, interpersonal and employability skills; further congratulates Iain on becoming a volunteer for Aviemore’s Sue Ryder charity shop, and hopes that other colleges make the award, accredited by Napier University and developed by Newbattle Abbey College, more widely available to adult learners across Scotland.

That the Parliament congratulates Iain Curruthers, from Aviemore, who has gained an Adult Achievement Award at Inverness College UHI’s Falcon Centre; notes that this was achieved despite Iain having Irlen Syndrome, which affects his ability to process visual information; congratulates him also on achieving qualifications in Level 4 and 5 ICT and Level 3 Communication; considers this to be a major achievement and an inspiration to others that he has overcome personal obstacles, including severe anxiety and low self-confidence, to complete the award, which helps students to develop vital communication, interpersonal and employability skills; further congratulates Iain on becoming a volunteer for Aviemore’s Sue Ryder charity shop, and hopes that other colleges make the award, accredited by Napier University and developed by Newbattle Abbey College, more widely available to adult learners across Scotland.

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to promote telehealth and telecare.

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to promote telehealth and telecare.

To ask the Scottish Government how often equipment safety checks are completed on the ferries that serve the Outer Hebrides.

To ask the Scottish Government how often equipment safety checks are completed on the ferries that serve the Outer Hebrides.

To ask the Scottish Government what the reason was for the technical failure that caused the MV Hebrides to run aground on 25 September 2016, and what steps it is taking to avoid similar incidents in the future.

To ask the Scottish Government what the reason was for the technical failure that caused the MV Hebrides to run aground on 25 September 2016, and what steps it is taking to avoid similar incidents in the future.

To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to reduce the number of bats being killed by the condition, barotrauma, as a result of flying near to wind turbines.

To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to reduce the number of bats being killed by the condition, barotrauma, as a result of flying near to wind turbines.

To ask the Scottish Government what minimum level of national broadband coverage by 31 December 2021 it considers will be acceptable, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

To ask the Scottish Government what minimum level of national broadband coverage by 31 December 2021 it considers will be acceptable, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.