- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 April 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 7 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government when the next routine maintenance is scheduled to be carried out on each junction of the A9 between Perth and Inverness.
Answer
Programmes of routine maintenance on all trunk roads are developed based on need and are delivered on a prioritised based within the limits of available funding. On occasion other programmes of work, for example road safety, may recommend works that upgrade trunk road signage and road markings.
A number of schemes have been completed on the recently through this budget as part of a package of short term works to improve safety prior to the dualling of the remainder of the A9. Cyclic maintenance is also carried out across trunk roads. This work including grass cutting at junctions to keep visibility splays clear and bollard cleaning to maintain their reflectivity.
The following list highlights a diverse range of schemes currently being prepared for the A9:
- A9 Pitlochry Hospital signs – sign renewal in advance of the southbound off slip and the northbound off slip to Pitlochry. This work is provisionally programmed between 29-04-24 and 03-05-24.
- A9 Inshes countdown signs – replacement of countdown marker signs in advance of the Inshes junction (northbound off slip). This work is provisionally programmed between 27-05-24 and 31-05-24.
- A9 South of Bogbain junction ditching. This drainage work is provisionally programmed between 08-07-24 and 12-07-24.
Additional routine maintenance schemes may be developed and delivered this financial year. This will depend on feedback from weekly inspections and perceived need.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 April 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 7 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government when routine maintenance of (a) white lineage and (b) bollards was last carried out at each junction on the A9 between Perth and Inverness.
Answer
Maintenance of junction road markings is typically the responsibility of the authority whose road connects with the trunk road. In most cases on the A9 this is the local authority. The exception is acceleration and decelerations lanes, which Transport Scotland maintains. Notwithstanding this, since January 2023, Transport Scotland has collaborated with local authorities to improve junction markings on the A9.
Recent road marking improvements have included:
- A9 Killiecrankie to Faskally Duals,
- A9/B9006 Culloden Road – Inverness,
- A9 Killiecrankie to Drumochter,
- A9 Drumochter to Crubenmore,
- A9 Luncarty Junction Slips.
Bollards are included in an annual cyclic maintenance programme. Our records show maintenance was undertaken between May and September 2023. More recently maintenance commenced in April 2024 with more planned in the coming months.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 19 April 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 3 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6O-03310 by Patrick Harvie on 18 April 2024, regarding the ban on the installation of wood burners and other pollution-emitting heating systems in new properties, whether it will provide a non-exhaustive list of portable appliances that can be used as emergency heat sources.
Answer
As Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Net Zero and Energy, I have recently taken on responsibility for this matter from the former Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants' Rights. The NBHS, as it stands, prohibits the use of direct emissions heating in all new buildings only, from 1 April 2024, and in certain types of conversions where reasonably practicable. We recognise that heating for emergency use will be needed and the NBHS permits fixed systems which may include woodburning stoves for emergency use where this is justified – this is in direct response to feedback from rural communities recognising concerns about supply.
Portable heaters are not within the scope of building regulations and therefore do not need to be referenced in a building warrant application. Accordingly, we would not seek to provide a suggested list. Those considering portable appliances for emergency heating will decide what common products and solutions are most relevant for their circumstances. However, we have heard the concerns raised over the past few weeks about the use of woodburning stoves, particularly in emergency situations, and are taking these fully on board. Initially, we are considering what further clarity is needed in guidance to address those concerns and will work with concerned parties, developers and Local Authorities to ensure any updates to the existing technical guidance address this comprehensively.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 April 2024
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 1 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when its review of capital spending will be complete.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 1 May 2024
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 28 March 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Siobhian Brown on 15 April 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the (a) Keeper of the Registers of Scotland and the (b) King’s and Lord Treasurer’s Remembrancer (KLTR) in relation to the reported application to register a title to the MacLeod Estate, including the Cuillin, in the Land Register, and whether it will consider applying to the KLTR to take ownership of any ownerless land identified in the process of land registration.
Answer
The Scottish Government has had no engagement to date with the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland (RoS) or the King’s and Lord Treasurer’s Remembrancer (KLTR) in relation to any application to register a title to the MacLeod Estate.
If any ownerless land were to be identified then it would be at that point that any consideration of applying to take ownership would be made.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 March 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 22 March 2024
To ask the Scottish Government when the peer review of NHS Western Isles patient escort process will be published.
Answer
Following receipt of the proposed scope for the peer review, the Scottish Government asked NHS Shetland and Orkney to extend the scope to include representation from relevant patient groups involved with the previous review of the application process, which was led by NHS Western Isles. This is an important part of ensuring that concerns on the escorts approvals process can be appropriately considered.
This part of the review has not yet concluded and Officials have asked the Boards to confirm by the end of March as to when the output will be available.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 March 2024
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 27 March 2024
To ask the Scottish Government when its review of capital spending will be complete.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 27 March 2024
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 01 March 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 13 March 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any potential public expenditure or contingent liability implications for its Budget to de-risk or otherwise sufficiently underwrite private investment in nature sufficient to deliver private investment at the scale of (a) £5 billion, (b) £10 billion and (c) £15 billion up to 2032, in the absence of carbon prices capable of fully funding private investment ambitions, and whether it will publish any such assessment.
Answer
Options are currently being explored for spending models on nature restoration that can encourage greater responsible private investment while maximising the value of public spending. This includes consideration of ‘blended finance’ mechanisms where public funding is used in a more targeted way to support increased nature restoration activity by attracting responsible private investment.
The Scottish Government has not assessed potential public expenditure or contingent liability implications for its budget to de-risk or otherwise sufficiently underwrite private investment in nature. Budget implications would be published in line with usual processes.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 March 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Fairlie on 12 March 2024
To ask the Scottish Government when the consultation on crofting reform legislation will be launched.
Answer
The Scottish Government is looking to launch its consultation on crofting legislative reform in spring this year, as committed to in the Programme for Government 2023-24.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 01 March 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Fairlie on 11 March 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of degraded peatland requiring restoration is on land that is within crofting tenure, and what the approximate acreage is of such land.
Answer
There is around 484,000 hectares of Common Grazing land in Scotland that is registered in claims and applications with Rural Payments and Services. Of this, there are an estimated 286,000 hectares of peatland (50cm depth), or around 60% of the total land area. Around two-thirds of this peatland is in a degraded state. The Scottish Government’s Crofting Bill Team and stakeholder group are considering a number of proposals that will make it easier for crofters to use their common grazings for other purposes than agriculture, such as peatland restoration.
