Questions and answers

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:

http://randd.defra.gov.uk/Default.aspx?Menu=Menu&Module=More&Location=None&ProjectID=18535

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
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 December 2016
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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.

Question reference: S5W-05271

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 December 2016
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 13 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken in each year since 2008 to reduce journey times on each service on the Highland Main Line.

Since 2008 the Scottish Government has taken action to deliver, and continues to develop, rail enhancements on the Inverness to Glasgow and Edinburgh route with the Rail Industry. These enhancements included journey time and frequency improvements in December 2011. Additionally, we will introduce new early morning services from Sunday 11 December 2016 to further enhance connectivity.

In the current control period we have allowed for funding for Network Rail to implement infrastructure enhancements designed to facilitate our commitment to “Revolution in Rail”. These along with the introduction of High Speed Trains will see significant service improvements introduced including an average 10 minute journey time saving and an hourly service. Details of our Revolution in Rail can be found at the following link; http://news.gov.scot/news/rail-revolution-announced

Question reference: S5W-05298

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 December 2016
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 8 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on it reinstating the direct rail link between Perth and Edinburgh, and what impact such a service would have on journey times on the Highland Main Line.

Reinstatement of the direct rail link between Perth and Edinburgh does not feature in the Scottish Government’s current £5 billion investment programme to 2019. However, we are committed to on-going improvements to rail services and connectivity and will consider projects subject to the Scottish Government’s investment priorities for the strategic transport network, a robust business case, affordability and other competing proposals. The first step for promoters of this scheme is to contact the Regional Transport Partnership (RTP), SEStran, to establish if the proposal fits with their local and regional transport strategies. Any impact on Highland Main Line journey times would need to be determined by detailed timetable analysis should the proposal emerge from a multi-modal transport appraisal.

Chamber and committees