Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S6W-04837

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 06 December 2021
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 13 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many care homes in NHS Highland are allowing new admissions.

Question reference: S6W-04692

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 13 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve safety on the A9 between Inverness and Tore, and whether it will consider lowering the speed limit on the road to 50mph.

We are progressing an options appraisal using Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance to identify potential improvements on the A9 between North Kessock Junction and Tore Roundabout. The latest report on this appraisal is expected to be published by 10 December and will set out a short list of options recommended for further consideration. Transport Scotland will review these recommendations and consider the next steps, taking account of the feasibility of the options and available resources.

In the short term, works to install street lighting at the A9/B9161 Munlochy junction will commence this month. In addition, a review of the speed limit around Tore Roundabout will be carried out, along with investigations into improvements to active travel facilities and road markings at the roundabout

The section from Longman Roundabout to south of the North Kessock junction is already subject to a 50mph speed limit. A speed limit reduction to 50mph on the section north of this, to Tore Roundabout, is an option being considered in the current appraisal. This option is not consistent with national guidance on speed limits, given the current average speeds and rural environment of this dual carriageway road. Lowering the speed limit has potential to cause platooning of traffic, reducing the gaps available to turn right at junctions. Furthermore, the process to make any speed limit reduction allows those disadvantaged by the proposal to object. The public consultation results indicated overall negative views towards this option, meaning that a significant number of objections are likely. The findings of the options appraisal will be published mid-December.

Question reference: S6W-04504

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 10 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what additional funding it has provided to support a multidisciplinary approach to psychological support for people experiencing domestic violence.

The Scottish Government is investing significant levels of funding in frontline services to support survivors of domestic abuse. This includes funding of over £1 million (in 2019-22) to Scotland’s Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline, which provides support and signposting to other services and is open 24/7. The Delivering Equally Safe Fund for 2021-23 will provide £19 million per annum to organisations providing support services and working to prevent gender-based violence. This includes approximately £100,000 of funding for SACRO’s Fearfree project, which supports male and LGBTI survivors of domestic violence; as well as over £500,000 of funding to ASSIST, a specialist independent domestic advocacy service that aims to ensure survivors of domestic abuse are safe, informed and supported throughout the court process.

The government’s Mental Health Transition & Recovery Plan includes specific action on the mental health impacts of domestic violence, abuse, and coercive control. We have also commissioned research from the Improvement Service to help us better understand and address the mental health and wellbeing needs of women and girls experiencing gender based violence and the report will be published this month. We will work with women and girls affected by all forms of gender based violence to determine next steps once we have considered the recommendations of the report.

Question reference: S6W-04503

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 10 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting people who have experienced domestic violence during the pandemic, when usual sources of support and services have been unavailable.

The Scottish Government recognises the effect that the Covid-19 pandemic has had on women looking to flee violence at home. That is why over the past 2 years we have invested an additional £10 million to allow rapid re-design of services and address backlogs, supporting organisations such as Scottish Women’s Aid and Rape Crisis Scotland. We have created a new Delivering Equally Safe Fund (£19 million per annum in 2021-23) and recently confirmed allocations to 121 projects from 112 organisations working to provide services and prevent gender-based violence. This includes support for women as well as services targeting male survivors such as the Respect Men’s Advice Line and SACRO’s FearFree project.

The Scottish Government and COSLA, in partnership with Public Health Scotland and the Improvement Service, developed supplementary guidance last year for local authorities and other key community planning partners. It ensures that a sustainable, joined-up approach to safeguarding the needs of women, children and young people experiencing domestic violence during the pandemic is embedded at a local strategic level. This is underpinned by our Equally Safe strategy.

Question reference: S6O-00542

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 December 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 December 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to creative industries in rural areas, including in relation to young people wishing to pursue a career in this sector.

Question reference: S6W-04084

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 01 November 2021
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 15 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that (a) there are enough registered Green Deal installers in every part of Scotland and (b) small businesses and sole traders do not lose out when bidding for this work.

We support suppliers including Green Deal installers through our Sustainable Energy Supply Chain programme, administered by the Energy Saving Trust (EST). The programme has been running since 2013 and provides assistance and support for installers and other suppliers in Scotland to help them participate fully and effectively in the supply chain for energy efficiency and micro-generation measures and installations.

Over 100 events and training courses have taken place to date supporting over 4,000 individuals, many of whom work for small and micro-sized businesses. Support for Green Deal has included awareness raising events and targeted workshops to help suppliers become Green Deal approved.

The Sustainable Energy Supply Chain programme has also developed a procurement guide to help small and micro-sized businesses bid more effectively for public sector contracts. This was also supported by workshops and webinars across Scotland.

We are also working with industry to co-produce a new ‘Heat in Buildings Supply Chain Delivery Plan’ by Summer 2022 specifically focussed on strengthening the broad supply chains needed to deliver at the pace and scale we need.

Question reference: S6O-00384

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 November 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve ferry services to island communities.

Question reference: S6W-03552

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 October 2021
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 3 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has, with the consent of the Treasury, authorised in law all 1995 officer transition members to have their closed 1995 scheme benefits calculated using (a) higher or (b) lower pensionable pay from connected CARE scheme service.

Under the National Health Service Pension Scheme (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) (Scotland) Regulations 2015, laid before the Scottish Parliament on 3 March 2015 with the consent of Her Majesty’s Treasury, members of the 1995 section of the NHS Superannuation Scheme (Scotland) who have connected service in the career average revalued earnings (CARE) scheme, will have their closed scheme benefits calculated on the best of their final three years’ pensionable pay, in line with the provisions of the 1995 section.

Question reference: S6O-00307

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 October 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 November 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what assistance it is providing to NHS boards that are currently experiencing pressures ahead of winter.

Question reference: S6F-00287

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 September 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 September 2021

To ask the First Minister what steps are being taken to ensure that women who have endometriosis are diagnosed within a year.