Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-13003

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 20 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many active working groups there are that fall under the remit of (a) rural affairs, (b) agriculture and (c) islands, and whether it will provide a list of these groups.

The Scottish Government works with a variety of stakeholders, who support and shape work on rural affairs, agriculture and islands. The input from our stakeholders is invaluable and plays a vital role in helping deliver our ambitions for rural areas and islands, and agriculture.

The number and make-up of these working groups varies in line with government priorities. Examples of current working groups which fall under the remits requested are provided in the following table:

a)Rural Affairs

b)Agriculture

c) Islands

Potato Cyst Nematode working group

Ministerial Horticultural Roundtable

National Goose Management Review Group

Feral Pig Co-ordination Group

Scottish Government Statutory Group on Non-native species

Bioenergy Policy Working Group

Borders Working Group

Plant and Tree Health (PATH) group

Scotch Whisky Cereals Group

Commission for the Land based Learning Review

Scottish Veterinary Service Programme

Strategic Management Board for Veterinary

Agriculture Reform Implementation Oversight Board (ARIOB)

Tenant Farming Advisory Forum (TFAF)

The Monitor Farm Management meetings

The Farm Advisory Service Management meetings

The Knowledge Transfer and Innovation Fund Project Assessment Committee

Farming Opportunities for New Entrants meetings

Islands Strategic Group

Senior Officers Group

National Islands Plan Delivery Group

Convention of the Highlands and Islands Population Working Group

Young Islanders Network

CNI External Technical Working Group

Question reference: S6O-01732

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 December 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what it is doing to improve and maintain the road network in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-12671

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 05 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 12 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers the proposed R100 programme broadband roll-out timetable for the Uig area of Lewis is compatible with its reported commitment to more peripheral and fragile areas.

The R100 contracts are far surpassing our superfast commitment by delivering gigabit capable infrastructure right across rural Scotland. Delivering this connectivity to rural communities requires the construction of new spine infrastructure, comprising many miles of new ducts and cables which link back through distribution points and exchanges into a core network.

This is a huge civil engineering undertaking that takes time but will ensure a resilient, future-proofed network for decades to come. Once contract build is completed, we expect over 114,000 premises to be connected with 12,000 of those located in island communities. A number of key areas were mandated as part of the bidding process for the R100 contracts, this included the Uig/Timsgarry area.

Question reference: S6W-12668

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 05 December 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 12 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government which of its directorates or agencies decided the R100 programme broadband roll-out timetable, in light of reported recent problems with internet access in the Uig area of the Isle of Lewis.

Question reference: S6O-01695

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 December 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to support off-gas-grid households during the cost of living crisis.

Question reference: S6W-12667

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 7 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on proposals for extending fibre broadband coverage to the Uig area of the Isle of Lewis under the R100 programme.

According to Scottish Government records, there are a total of 361 properties in the Uig community council area. As of 5 December 2022:

234 properties are within R100 North contract build plans, with build expected to be completed no later than 2028.
127 properties are not included within R100 North contract build plans and, therefore, are eligible for a main voucher – worth up to £5,000 – through the R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme (SBVS).
The Scottish Government’s address checker ( www.scotlandsuperfast.com ) shows the most recent plans and timescales for residential and commercial properties across Scotland with regards R100 contracts and R100SBVS.

Question reference: S6W-12679

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 5 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of Includem’s open letter titled "Simply Scran", how it will work with local authorities to eradicate school meal debt.

We recognise that rises in the cost of living are putting a huge strain on some families and they are facing unforeseen challenges. We are working with our partners in local authorities to fully understand the issue of school meal debt.

Councils have the power to make discretionary offers of free school meals to families, where they are experiencing financial hardship due to exceptional circumstances, who do not meet the regular eligibility criteria. We would urge local authorities to continue to do all they can to resolve any payment issues without withdrawing meals from pupils.

Question reference: S6W-12677

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 5 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of Includem’s open letter titled "Simply Scran", whether there are plans to review the income eligibility thresholds for free school meals in order to reflect the real costs of living for families.

The Scottish Government keeps the income eligibility thresholds for free school meals under review and we will consider the current thresholds ahead of the start of the 2023-24 academic year. The income eligibility thresholds were most recently reviewed and updated and amended ahead of the current academic term in August 2022. Further information on eligibility criteria is available through the following web link: School meals - mygov.scot .

Question reference: S6W-12678

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 5 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of Includem’s open letter titled "Simply Scran" and its call for three nutritious meals a day, how it will work with local authorities to ensure that, in light of rising costs of living, school meals will continue to be of good nutritional value to children and young people regardless of where they live.

All food and drink served in all education authority and grant aided schools must meet the standards set out in the 'Nutritional Requirements for Food and Drink in Schools (Scotland) Regulations 2020'. The Regulations are based on scientific evidence and dietary advice and are designed to ensure children and young people are provided with an appropriate amount of energy and key nutrients to support their healthy growth and development.

Question reference: S6W-12465

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 November 2022
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 30 November 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS Highland regarding the potential sale of Lochbroom House, Ullapool, to Parklands Care Homes, and when the most recent discussions took place.

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