Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, Rhoda Grant, says she is “astonished” at the complete lack of accountability from the Scottish Government over VisitScotland’s closure of its 25 iCentres throughout Scotland. This comes as Mrs Grant’s latest plea to the Cabinet Secretary Richard Lochhead, to step in and stop the closures while concerns of Unions and VisitScotland staff are fully addressed, has been rejected out of hand.

The MSP has been raising concerns with VisitScotland and with the Scottish Government since the closure programme was first announced at the end of March. 94% of VisitScotland’s core funding from 2024/25 comes from Scottish Government Grant in Aid and 6% comes from other sources, such as retail and commercial income.

The phased closure programme began in September with the Centre in Stornoway being one of the first to close the following month. The closure programme is due to end in March 2026 as VisitScotland claims that the demand for information centres has reduced while the demand for online information and booking has continued to grow. Twelve of the Centres facing closure are within the Highlands and Islands region.

Rhoda Grant said “The demand for the iCentres did plummet during the pandemic as no-one was allowed to travel for recreational purposes but they have increased year on year since then with 1.37million people visiting a centre in 2023.

“Indeed eight of the centres have increased sales from their pre-pandemic figure including four in the Highlands and Islands region – Craignure, Lerwick, Rothesay and Ullapool.”

In her latest plea for a moratorium on closures, Mrs Grant asked specific questions on redeployment opportunities within the organisation; the commitment to no compulsory redundancies which is only in place until March 2025; the quoted footfall numbers; the fact that no real work has been put into diversifying the operations of the iCentres to try and increase numbers and offer a more attractive visitor experience; whether staff from the Stornoway iCentre have been redeployed, on or off island, or if they have taken voluntary redundancy and what will happen to the issuing of Citylink bus tickets for onward travel from the Stornoway-Ullapool ferry now that the iCentre has closed.

She continued “I am astonished that having put very detailed questions to the Cabinet Secretary, his stark response addresses none of those concerns but instead bats the issue over to VisitScotland as an operational matter for them. The Scottish Government funds 94% of VisitScotland’s budget but that appears to be of no concern to the SNP Government.

“I say again, with depopulation being one of the biggest challenges facing Highland and Island communities it makes absolutely no sense to remove jobs and services from these areas.”

VisitScotland’s website has a section on Island Communities Impact Assessments and why they need to be carried out when decisions of this nature are taken. VisitScotland didn’t carry out Island Impact Assessments and instead carried out their own screening assessment. They claim the impact the closures will have on island areas won’t be significantly different to the impact they will have in mainland areas.

Mrs Grant said “This will have a far bigger impact in island communities and will only seek to add to the depopulation of our islands which depend on tourism for their survival.

“I am seeking a meeting with the new Chief Executive of VisitScotland to encourage her to freeze this decision while the concerns of staff, customers and Unions remain.”

The Freedom of Information response shows that in 2023 visitor numbers decreased in three centres which are understood to be operating on reduced opening hours (Aberfoyle, Aviemore and Oban) and a negligible reduction was recorded in the Dumfries and Pitlochry centres. However the total visitor numbers throughout the network have increased year on year since the pandemic:-

2019 – 2,004,516
2020 – 264,996
2021 – 511,292
2022 – 1,163,685
2023 – 1,370,060

Total staff numbers affected is unclear – VisitScotland advise that 90 individual staff members (as opposed to FTE) will be affected. Scottish Government says it’s around 130 staff.

The link to the Island Communities Impact Assessments can be accessed via the link:- Impact Assessments I VisitScotland.org

Island communities have been “deceived and failed” by SNP Ministers over commitments to reform how island ferry services are governed, Highlands and Islands MSP, Rhoda Grant, said today in response to replies she has received to Parliamentary questions.

Mrs Grant said: “After everything that has happened under the existing structure, the revelation that the Scottish Government has ditched its commitment to ferries reform is another insult to island communities which have endured so much”.

She added: “Huge sums of public money have been wasted on consultancy reports and years have passed while reform was repeatedly promised. The ongoing debate was supposed to be about the form this should take. Now we are told there is to be no reform at all”.

Mrs Grant asked Cabinet Secretary Fiona Hyslop when she “expects to announce proposals for future governance arrangements for Hebrides and Clyde ferry services, and whether these will be subject to consultation”.

Ms Hyslop replied: “No immediate decisions are being made on the subject of reform of the ferries sector, including whether any proposals would be subject to public consultation. At present, the focus is on bringing in new vessels and putting arrangements in place for the direct award of the new contract next year”.

It is almost four years since the Scottish Government hired consultants Ernst & Young  to carry out  “Project Neptune” – a review of the “tripartite” set up involving Transport Scotland, CMAL and CalMac, and to advise on alternatives.

The Ernst & Young report highlighted problems such as confusion over roles and responsibilities, additional costs and difficulty in holding the various bodies to account when things went wrong.

Mrs Grant said: “Project Nepture also looked at how ferries are run in Norway, British Columbia and New Zealand – all involving high levels of local involvement and accountability. These are exactly the features which are entirely missing from how our own ferries are run.

“The renewal of the CalMac contract offered the ideal opportunity to reform the whole structure, by reuniting infrastructure and operations, with a single board which involves local authorities and reflects community knowledge.

“All of that has now been ditched and it is clear island communities have again been deceived and failed.

The Parliamentary question and answer can be accessed via the following link:-

https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/questions-and-answers/question?ref=S6W-31794

Thank you for getting in touch to rightly raise the very real concerns about the funding pressures facing hospices across Scotland.

Let me say at the outset that Scottish Labour agrees that the Scottish Government should be using the additional funding in health consequentials from the UK Labour Government to plug the funding gap facing hospice care providers and to ensure that hospice staff receive pay parity with the colleagues in the NHS.

Hospices play a vital role in our communities by caring for our loved ones and providing first-class specialist palliative care, which otherwise would need to be met by an already stretched NHS.

As you might be aware, my colleague Jackie Baillie MSP, Scottish Labour’s Deputy Leader and Health and Social Care Spokesperson, has been unequivocal in her support for the hospice sector, including visiting CHAS many times. She has previously asked the First Minister in the chamber to support hospices with the additional funding and will continue to do so until the Scottish Government does the right thing.

The Scottish Government has no excuse for not helping hospices. As part of Labour’s transformative budget last month, the Scottish Government will receive an additional £789 million of health-related consequentials this year and £1.72 billion for our NHS next year. It is time for the First Minister to use this funding to fix the crisis in our health and social care services – and that most definitely includes supporting hospices.

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, Rhoda Grant, spoke in the Dying in Poverty in Scotland debate in Parliament yesterday (05.12.2024).

The debate was secured by her colleague, Paul Sweeney MSP, with Marie Curie’s Dying in Poverty in Scotland 2024 report shining a light on the very difficult financial situation many people find themselves in at the end of life.

Rhoda Grant said “People facing terminal illness often lose their income and move onto benefits, that can be difficult to do when facing end of life.

“There are many excellent support services out there that do help people, Marie Curie themselves, Macmillan and Western Isles Cancer Care Initiative (WICCI), to name but a few.

“WICCI advocates for all people with cancer in the Western Isles, but this is more important for those with a terminal diagnosis. Helping them access support and providing small grants.”

Mrs Grant continued “Hospices however are crying out for funding and hospice at home is desperately needed.

“The End of Life Care Together partnership spearheaded by Highland Hospice is however leading change in this with the formation of their groundbreaking 24/7 helpline for people with palliative and end-of-life care needs which has benefitted 415 patients in 6 months and has saved NHS Highland £2.3m in that period.”

The Partnership’s Palliative Care Response Service provides rapid access to care at home, utilising the social care tariff. This results in an average of 20 fewer hospital bed days per client, delivers net savings of £18,600 for every individual supported and provides the care people want.

In Highland £45m is spent yearly on end-of-life care in hospital. While only just over £11m is spent on end of life care elsewhere. Hospital care for terminal patients accounts for much of the delayed discharge issue currently being experienced.

Mrs Grant concluded “Trying to make sure that their last precious days are comfortable and free from worry is something we all strive to do for a loved one. If financial constraints are stopping families from ensuring a good death, then that adds to their distress and how they deal with grief going forward.

“We need statutory services on board and working on this model. It saves money, but most importantly it allows families to enrich the final days of a loved one. Living their lives to the end.

“When days are few, life is very precious.”

A video of Rhoda’s speech can be accessed from https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1595648674415870

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, Rhoda Grant, has tabled a motion in the Scottish Parliament congratulating everyone involved in this year’s MG ALBA Trad Awards.

Held in Inverness on Saturday 30 November, the award ceremony showcased the best of Scottish traditional music, celebrated the finest talent in Scottish traditional music and acknowledged the significant contribution traditional music adds to Scotland’s cultural heritage. The awards ceremony was held in Inverness for the first time in a decade.

Mrs Grant, who attended the award ceremony said “It was a fantastic night which showcased Scotland’s talent and dedication to traditional Scottish music.

“The organisers, sponsors and artists put on a great show which was also watched live on BBC ALBA by thousands more trad fans.

“I congratulate everyone involved in this year’s successful ceremony which places traditional Scottish music front and centre of Scotland’s cultural heritage.*

Mrs Grant’s motion is copied below.

Motion Number: S6M-15698
Lodged By: Rhoda Grant
Date Lodged: 02/12/2024

Title: Congratulations to Everyone Involved in Na Trads

Motion Text:

That the Parliament congratulates everyone involved in the organisation and sponsorship of the prestigious 2024 MG ALBA Trad Awards, which were held in Inverness on 30 November 2024; understands that the awards ceremony, which was held in Inverness for the first time in a decade, celebrates the finest talent in Scottish traditional music while showcasing the performances of some of the country’s most talented musicians; further understands that the event, which was attended by more than 1,000 musicians and industry supporters, together with hundreds of trad fans, was also watched live on BBC ALBA by many more traditional music fans; acknowledges what it sees as the significant contribution traditional music adds to Scotland’s cultural heritage, and congratulates the 116 nominees and the 26 worthy winners on the night.

This budget needs a change of direction. We have had years of eye-catching policy announcements from the SNP with little follow-up or substantive action to revitalise Scotland’s sluggish economy and creaking public services. The political choices that the SNP have made over the last 17 years are now catching up with them, and with an additional £1.5bn this financial year and £3.4bn next year coming to Scotland from UK Labour’s budget at Westminster, the SNP can no longer hide behind Tory austerity to avoid responsibility for their own incompetence.

Scottish Labour believes that we now need a distinct focus on improving outcomes for the people of Scotland, not more empty promises which they fail to follow through on and never become reality. It is time for a fair deal for local government, and much more transparency in funding processes so that local authorities and other public bodies have a semblance of stability after years of uncertainty.

Since 2021, in opposition, we have worked day and night to hold the Scottish Government to account on its promises to Scotland’s people, including Scotland’s young people.

Since the SNP were elected on their manifesto to recruit 3,500 additional teachers, teacher numbers have in fact fallen. On their watch, we have also seen under recruitment of teachers in key subjects and gaps in some localities, as well as newly qualified teachers unable to get work. Education Trade Unions have highlighted that teachers who do have jobs are doing an average 11 hours’ unpaid work a week due to pressures in schools.

Since they came to power, it has become clear that the SNP Government does not have a vision for education of our young people. After 17 years in office, the SNP do not know how many teachers and support staff are needed in Scotland’s schools, nor do they have any way to adapt to needs on an ongoing basis in order to deliver the education system our young people deserve.

This May, my colleague Pam Duncan-Glancy, Scottish Labour’s Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Education, lodged a motion calling for the Scottish Government to protect teacher numbers and publish a comprehensive workforce plan for Scotland’s schools. This motion was passed by the Scottish Parliament, in a defeat for the SNP Government. Since then, we have had no confirmation from the SNP that they intend to respect the will of the Parliament on this matter, let alone sight of a plan.

Scottish Labour fully recognises the tremendous pressures on teachers and staff within schools. Creating a plan for how many teachers and school staff we need, and where we need them, must now be a priority. The SNP’s failure adversely impacts pupils, parents, teachers, and staff in schools across Scotland. It exacerbates the other crises in schools, including on ASN provision and violence and behaviour in classrooms. It is holding back a generation of young people, and Scottish Labour will continue to urge the SNP to address it at the earliest opportunity.

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant has called for “democratic accountability” to be introduced into how west coast ferry services are governed.

Ms Grant, who has long called for island representation on the boards of CalMac and CMAL, said even more “fundamental change” is now necessary.

Tabling a series of questions which arise from recent appointments by Transport Secretary, Fiona Hyslop, Rhoda Grant said: “The depth of resistance to meaningful involvement of local communities is shocking and calls for fundamental change rather than window-dressing.

“The current set-up has proved disastrous for ferry procurement and island communities that depend on it. The SNP’s resistance to democratic accountability must be overcome.

“Talking about an advisory board is not enough. We need direct island representation, through local authorities and other community bodies, at the top tables of these organisations”.

Mrs Grant has asked Transport Secretary, Fiona Hyslop, “if she will make it her policy that no individual will be appointed to the board of David MacBrayne Ltd or CMAL  without being able to demonstrate experience of island communities and conditions”.

The Labour MSP has also asked Ms Hyslop: “When she expects to announce proposals for future governance arrangements for Hebrides and Clyde ferry services and if these will be subject to consultation?”.

Mrs Grant added: “We do not want to be presented with a done deal which preserves the controlling role of Transport Scotland through a couple of tame boards but without any meaningful input from the islands which depend on these organisations”.

The Scottish Government will set out the detail for the coming year in their budget next month and I have received a significant number of messages about this  budget and its implication for teacher numbers.

This budget needs a change of direction. We have had years of eye-catching policy announcements from the SNP with little follow-up or substantive action to revitalise Scotland’s sluggish economy and creaking public services. The political choices that the SNP have made over the last 17 years are now catching up with them, and with an additional £1.5bn this financial year and £3.4bn next year coming to Scotland from UK Labour’s budget at Westminster, the SNP can no longer hide behind Tory austerity to avoid responsibility for their own incompetence.

Scottish Labour believes that we now need a distinct focus on improving outcomes for the people of Scotland, not more empty promises which they fail to follow through on and never become reality. It is time for a fair deal for local government, and much more transparency in funding processes so that local authorities and other public bodies have a semblance of stability after years of uncertainty.

Since 2021, in opposition, we have worked day and night to hold the Scottish Government to account on its promises to Scotland’s people, including Scotland’s young people.

Since the SNP were elected on their manifesto to recruit 3,500 additional teachers, teacher numbers have in fact fallen. On their watch, we have also seen under recruitment of teachers in key subjects and gaps in some localities, as well as newly qualified teachers unable to get work. Education Trade Unions have highlighted that teachers who do have jobs are doing an average 11 hours’ unpaid work a week due to pressures in schools.

Since they came to power, it has become clear that the SNP Government does not have a vision for education of our young people. After 17 years in office, the SNP do not know how many teachers and support staff are needed in Scotland’s schools, nor do they have any way to adapt to needs on an ongoing basis in order to deliver the education system our young people deserve.

This May, my colleague Pam Duncan-Glancy, Scottish Labour’s Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Education, lodged a motion calling for the Scottish Government to protect teacher numbers and publish a comprehensive workforce plan for Scotland’s schools. This motion was passed by the Scottish Parliament, in a defeat for the SNP Government. Since then, we have had no confirmation from the SNP that they intend to respect the will of the Parliament on this matter, let alone sight of a plan.

Scottish Labour fully recognises the tremendous pressures on teachers and staff within schools. Creating a plan for how many teachers and school staff we need, and where we need them, must now be a priority. The SNP’s failure adversely impacts pupils, parents, teachers, and staff in schools across Scotland. It exacerbates the other crises in schools, including on ASN provision and violence and behaviour in classrooms. It is holding back a generation of young people, and Scottish Labour will continue to urge the SNP to address it at the earliest opportunity.

Commenting on the newly released Scottish Human Rights Commission spotlight project report into the Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the Highlands and Islands, Rhoda Grant MSP says: “ I want to thank the Scottish Human Rights Commission for their work on this project and for meeting me to hear concerns expressed by constituents on issues such as health and fuel poverty.

“While this is a deeply concerning read, it further confirms what organisations, charities and individuals have been saying for decades – that basic, core human rights obligations are not being met!

“This SNP Government is aware of these issues but have not acted to deal with them.  They fail to address healthcare inequalities, fuel poverty, hunger and housing all of which is fuelling depopulation.

“I concur with all of the recommendations especially the urgent calls to eradicate rooflessness and hunger in the Highlands and Islands and calls for the universal access to affordable, acceptable, and quality sexual and reproductive health services. This is especially required in areas such as Caithness where women have to often travel 120 miles to access maternity services and women’s healthcare.

“The Scottish Government has shamefully shelved the Human Rights Bill in this Parliament, my Private Members’ Bill on the Right to Food will continue to make its way through Parliament. This report further underpins why the human right to food is required to be enshrined in Scots’ Law. I will also be pressing the Scottish Government to step up and act on the recommendations of this report.”