- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 June 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 13 July 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that increasing the Scottish Land Fund significantly in the early years of the current parliamentary session will be the most effective way of ensuring that communities can compete for the ownership of land, given that there is an increasing number of wealthy private owners expressing interest in buying land.
Answer
We are committed to increasing the Scottish Land Fund (SLF) to £20m by the end of this parliament and the profile for this is currently being considered as part of the ongoing budget.
The SLF provides important support to communities and between 2016 and 2021, 232 groups were awarded a total of £39m. However, it is not the only source of funding available and we would encourage any community to consider all avenues when seeking to fund acquisition.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 June 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 12 July 2021
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reports that land is being marketed for purchase for its potential for climate mitigation and access to public subsidies, whether it will consider a strategic intervention in land markets, in order to secure land for transfer to communities.
Answer
The way in which land is owned, managed and used is centrally important to many of our national priorities, especially in meeting the twin challenges of the climate and biodiversity crises and supporting thriving communities and a green recovery. Everyone has a stake in Scotland’s land and everyone should benefit from Scotland’s land.
Community ownership has long been a key focus for land reform, and the Scottish Government continues to support communities to take ownership of land and assets. In the last parliament, we implemented legislation to extend community rights to buy to include a right to buy land to further sustainable development. Communities in Scotland now have more options than ever before to take ownership of land and assets, including several distinct rights to buy, and they can now choose which route to community ownership best suits their aspirations.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 June 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 12 July 2021
To ask the Scottish Government when it will carry out a consultation on its proposed Land Reform Bill.
Answer
We are committed to a further Land Reform Bill in this Parliament and a full and comprehensive public consultation will be run prior to its introduction in order to allow key stakeholders and the public an opportunity to provide their views. We are beginning the work necessary to progress this in the new Parliamentary session and will update Parliament of timings in due course.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 June 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 16 June 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will make a statement on its plans to (a) charter or (b) purchase one or more vessels to support the existing Caledonian MacBrayne fleet.
Answer
In relation to short term issues, we are actively exploring opportunities for chartering additional tonnage, including consideration of the suitability of the MV Pentalina and looking at other credible, affordable and viable options to improve resilience.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 June 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 16 June 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will introduce a dedicated freight vessel on the Stornoway-Ullapool route.
Answer
As I have confirmed to Parliament, I am open to constructive and viable suggestions for improving matters and we are actively exploring opportunities for chartering additional tonnage to increase resilience across the network.
Chartering an additional freight vessel for the Stornoway-Ullapool route from June to September, in order to free up deck capacity for resident and visitor vehicles, was identified as a short-term option in recent Outer Hebrides Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG) study report. However, charter options for such a freight vessel have not been readily available. We would also need to carefully consider the business case around charter, purchase or new build of a vessel as part of work for the Islands Connectivity Plan.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 June 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 16 June 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will make a statement on the costs incurred as a result of the MV Loch Seaforth's engine failure, and where the responsibility for this sits.
Answer
The cause of the breakdown remains subject to ongoing investigation. It would be inappropriate to comment further until that investigation is complete.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 June 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 16 June 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will meet with representatives of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar to discuss (a) short-term and (b) medium-term proposals for the improvement of ferry services (i) to, (ii) from and (ii) within the Western Isles.
Answer
Transport Scotland (TS) and the Scottish Government Islands Team meet regularly with elected members and officers of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar to discuss a range of ferries issues including future planning and have also engaged on the Comhairle's Local Transport Strategy. The Comhairle were also a partner in a recent study, commissioned and funded by TS, of future options for ferry services to, from and within the Outer Hebrides. The Comhairle has produced a paper setting out proposals for ferry service improvements and future vessel investments and an initial meeting to discuss this with government officials has been arranged.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 June 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 16 June 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will make a statement on the causes of the MV Loch Seaforth's withdrawal from service, and whether it is satisfied that all of the measures recommended by the vessel's builders were undertaken during its annual maintenance.
Answer
The breakdown on the MV Loch Seaforth caused unacceptable disruption for our island communities. It is imperative the causes of that breakdown are understood and lessons properly learned so that we avoid this situation arising again in future. The cause of the breakdown remains subject to ongoing investigation. It would be inappropriate to comment further until that investigation is complete .
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 June 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Kate Forbes on 15 June 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will make a statement on the state of the two vessels currently under construction at the Ferguson Marine yard; the projected dates of completion, and the projected costs involved.
Answer
Tim Hair, Turnaround Director of Ferguson Marine, updated the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee on the delivery timetable and budget for vessels 801 and 802 in March 2021. The next of the regular quarterly updates on progress, as requested by the committee in their report on ferry procurement is expected at the end of June 2021.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 May 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Kate Forbes on 4 June 2021
To ask the Scottish Government how many households have received (a) a device, (b) data and (c) training, as part of its commitment to provide support to 60,000 households by the end of 2021, as part of its Connecting Scotland programme.
Answer
As of 13 May 2021, 36,064 devices and 32,332 data packages have been provided. All Connecting Scotland customers have access to training and support. Interim results from our follow-up survey indicate that around half of Connecting Scotland customers found this support helpful in improving their digital skills.