Questions and answers

Question reference: S5W-07250

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 February 2017
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 7 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the comments by the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform in a letter dated 17 January 2017 regarding the recruitment and retention allowance paid to Marine Scotland seafarers and the wage differentials between them and seafarers from Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd in which the cabinet secretary said, “to draw conclusions we need comparative data across the industry, rather than comparing one shipping operation to another where their core functions are very different and indeed the roles of the seamen may vary considerably. I will therefore ask my officials to undertake some work on this and will contact you again once this has been concluded”, by what date the survey of comparative data will be concluded.

Question reference: S5W-06698

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 30 January 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 24 February 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to develop SIGN guidelines on the management of osteoarthritis.

The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) develops evidence based clinical practice guidelines for the National Health Service (NHS) in Scotland. SIGN guidelines are derived from a systematic review of the scientific literature and are designed to accelerate the translation of new knowledge into practice.

Any group or individual may propose a guideline topic to SIGN and their selection process is detailed at:

SIGN have confirmed that they have not received any applications to produce guidelines on osteoarthritis.

Access to specialist support for people with osteoarthritis forms part of an individual’s care package, in agreement with relevant healthcare professionals.

Question reference: S5W-06697

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 30 January 2017
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 24 February 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how many people in Scotland are estimated to be living with osteoarthritis, and what information and support is provided to GPs for their treatment.

The information requested in relation to the number of people living with osteoarthritis in Scotland is not held centrally.

The National Institute of Clinical Evidence (NICE) have produced a clinical guideline on the care and management of adults with osteoarthritis. We expect NHS clinicians in Scotland to be take account of NICE guidelines and any other agreed local guidelines in their practice.

GPs are expected to update their knowledge through continuing professional development (CPD) to suit the needs of their patients, including those with osteoarthritis. They are supported in this CPD by Health Boards and other organisations such as the Post Graduate Deaneries, faculties of the Royal College of General Practice and NHS Education.

Question reference: S5W-05842

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 25 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how much Marine Scotland spends each year on (a) marine mammal bycatch and (b) (i) monitoring and (ii) the mitigation of the Scottish fleet, broken down by fishery.

Since April 2011, Marine Scotland has provided funding of £30,000 annually to a UK wide monitoring programme which aims to determine levels of marine mammal (cetacean) bycatch in commercial fisheries. Funding is committed under the current programme up to the end of March 2017.

This work has focused on monitoring the effectiveness of acoustic deterrent devices in reducing bycatch, and on monitoring a range of fisheries, including some for which monitoring is not required under Council Regulation 812/2004. This project is carried out under contract by the Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St Andrews, who provide an annual report on the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) 812/2004.

UK Annual Reports can be obtained through the attached link:

Question reference: S5W-05622

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 11 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether Highlands and Islands Enterprise will continue to decide the strategic priorities for its investment and social development in the Highlands and Islands following the establishment of the single Scotland-wide board for enterprise and skills.

HIE will retain its Chief Executive based at its headquarters in Inverness, staff will also continue to operate from the Headquarters in Inverness and HIE’s area-based locations across the area from Lerwick to Lochgilphead. HIE senior management will continue to work in the same way as they do now but will benefit from the coordination provided by the new Scotland-wide Statutory Board.

Businesses and communities will continue to access services across the Highlands and Islands area.

As part of the work being taken forward in Phase two of the Enterprise and Skills Review we will consider the formation, format and remit of the new Scotland-wide Statutory Board. This will include ensuring that HIE continues to deliver an excellent service identifying and prioritising investment within the Highlands and Islands.

We would expect that there will be strong Highlands and Islands representation on the new single board, and there is no commitment to a single geographic HQ for the Board.

Question reference: S5W-05905

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 10 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its news release of 16 December 2016, New Group to focus on improving Far North Line, (a) who the members of the review group will be, broken down by the organisation that they will represent and (b) whether it will publish its remit.

The Far North Line Review Team will be chaired by the Rail Director, Transport Scotland and will comprise representatives of Network Rail, ScotRail, Highlands & Islands Enterprise, Hitrans Regional Transport Partnership, Transport Scotland, Highland Council and Friends of the Far North Line. The Team will hold an inception meeting early in the new year at which the remit will be confirmed and subsequently published.

Question reference: S5W-05506

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 10 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how the £649,000 grant from the European Social Fund for social inclusion and to tackle discrimination, poverty and other health issues in the Highland Council area was allocated.

Question reference: S5W-05620

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 22 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what financial savings it expects to be made by a single Scotland-wide board for enterprise and skills compared with retaining the existing separate boards.

In our report on phase one of the Enterprise and Skills Review we have committed to work with agencies and other partners to strengthen our enterprise and skills system by consulting on the strategic board, including the best distribution of functions between the agencies underneath it and the associated legislative requirements. Any savings that might arise would be consequential to that commitment.

Question reference: S5W-05621

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 22 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether the establishment and running costs of a single Scotland-wide board for enterprise and skills come from (a) the budgets of existing agencies or (b) a new funding source.

In our report on phase one of the Enterprise and Skills Review we have committed to work with agencies and other partners to strengthen our enterprise and skills system by consulting on the strategic board, including the best distribution of functions between the agencies underneath it and the associated legislative requirements.

As part of this work, we will also consider what running costs would be required for this and how these costs will best be met.

Question reference: S5O-00492

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 December 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle air pollution.

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Chamber and committees