- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 September 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 23 September 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it remains committed to reviewing the Highlands and Islands Patient Travel Scheme.
Answer
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 progress. This will inform both how and when the review is taken forward.
In 2023 we prepared the draft Transport to Health plan and have been engaging with Health Boards, Regional Transport Partnerships and other partners to take forward a range of commitments to improve joined up working on transport to health. The plan will be published this Autumn and a workplan has been agreed.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 September 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 23 September 2024
To ask the Scottish Government when it will conduct a review into the Highlands and Islands Patient Travel Scheme.
Answer
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 progress. This will inform both how and when the review is taken forward.
In 2023 we prepared the draft Transport to Health plan and have been engaging with Health Boards, Regional Transport Partnerships and other partners to take forward a range of commitments to improve joined up working on transport to health. The plan will be published this Autumn and a workplan has been agreed.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 September 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 23 September 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether the environmental assessment of the dualling of the A96 has been completed.
Answer
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.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 06 September 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 20 September 2024
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
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 into Scots law, with the intention of taking forward legislation in the next Parliamentary session.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 September 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 18 September 2024
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 improvements to rail track or is exclusive to train fleets.
Answer
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 and journey times are dependent on the outcomes of the procurement.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 September 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 17 September 2024
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
The requested information is provided in the following table.
| 2017-18 | 2018-19 | 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | 2024-25 |
Orkney Islands Council | 4.745 | 10.184 | 9.460 | 10.138 | 12.847 | 13.402 | 15.829 | 15.829 |
Shetland Islands Council | 6.801 | 11.807 | 12.259 | 11.763 | 17.289 | 17.496 | 23.082 | 23.082 |
Argyll & Bute Council | 0.675 | 0.768 | 0.855 | 1.682 | 1.269 | 1.300 | 1.821 | 1.821 |
The Highland Council | 0.726 | 0.695 | 0.867 | 0.839 | 0.690 | 0.897 | 1.000 | 1.000 |
Total (£Million) | 12.947 | 23.453 | 23.442 | 24.422 | 32.095 | 33.095 | 41.732 | 41.732 |
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 02 September 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 17 September 2024
To ask the Scottish Government when the Delmore passing loop will be upgraded.
Answer
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 challenging financial climate, and following last year's UK Autumn Statement, we have had to take difficult decisions in setting the budget for 2024-25. This affects our ability to fund any projects which do not yet feature in the current investment programme.
A loop at Delmore remains in consideration for future delivery alongside a number of other potentially valuable schemes.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 02 September 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 17 September 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what plans it has to upgrade train services.
Answer
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 current InterCity High Speed Train fleet. The work continues to develop further procurements to replace and renew the ScotRail fleet as it ages
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 02 September 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 17 September 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to upgrade train services north of Inverness.
Answer
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 on the Line. The majority of these enhancements are now completed.
Further options for development of services north of Inverness remain in consideration. However, given the extremely challenging financial climate, and following the UK Autumn Statement, Ministers have had to take difficult decisions in setting the budget for 2024-25. For the time being this affects the Scottish Government’s ability to fund any projects to which it is not already committed in the current investment programme.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 02 September 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 17 September 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it remains committed to upgrading the Delmore passing loop.
Answer
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-committees/written-questions-and-answers.