Author: Rhoda Grant

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, Rhoda Grant, has said the responses she has received from the Scottish Government about the u-turn on the new Barra hospital are “deeply unsatisfactory” and added “They leave the impression there is absolutely no back-up plan or sense of urgency about meeting Barra’s needs.”

The Scottish Government has declined to put any timescale on provision of health care facilities on Barra following its decision to abandon existing plans for a replacement hospital.

In response to written questions tabled by Mrs Grant, Health Secretary Michael Matheson said only that they “remained committed to delivery of quality health and care facilities on Barra.”

The MSP had asked for “current proposals and timescales for the replacement hospital, dental clinic and GP unit on the Isle of Barra” and for “a ministerial statement in order to provide a detailed update to the Parliament on these matters.”

The Health Secretary replied “The Outline Business Case for the provision of new health facilities at the Barra Health and Social Care Hub has been submitted. However detailed design work on the proposals has been unable to start due to the budgetary pressure across the capital investment programme.

“Scottish Government officials will engage with NHS Western Isles and the Scottish Futures Trust to consider the timing of the construction and will work closely with partners to identify alternative options.”

Mrs Grant also asked about prospects for the new school campus which was part of the “hub” concept. Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth replied “The procurement route for the school and leisure element of the campus is the decision of the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, this is currently being procured by the local authority through hub North Scotland. The project is expected to be delivered by April 2026.”

The answers leave Barra in the dark about what happens next to the replacement for St Brendan’s Hospital which was first promised by Nicola Sturgeon as Health Secretary in 2008.

Despite serious misgivings on Barra, the hospital plans were later incorporated into the Scottish Government’s Public-Private “hub” model which lumped together a wide range of public services in one large campus, before last month’s bombshell.

Mrs Grant also received a letter of response from Mr Matheson (attached) about the hospital which claims “the Scottish Government’s ability to fund capital projects has been affected by a reduction in the amount of capital grant from the UK Government over the next two years, and unprecedented levels of inflation as a result of Covid, Brexit, uncertainty in the supply chain and the war in Ukraine.”

She said “This must be their stock response now as they are using the same excuses for failing to dual the A9. They say other partners, including the Scottish Futures Trust quango which they set up in 2008, may wish to proceed without the Health Board, which they fund.

“You really could not make this up. They have turned their backs on Barra and unfortunately their own MP and MSP appear content to let them do this.”

The written answers are copied below.

SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT

WRITTEN ANSWER

6 June 2023

Index Heading: Education and Justice

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Scottish Labour Party): To ask the Scottish Government how much the Barra and Vatersay Community Campus project has cost to date, and what future funding provision it has made for its delivery.

S6W-18120

Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government does not hold information on how much the Barra and Vatersay Community Campus project has cost to date – this information is held by Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar.

Initial design and development costs have been incurred on the school and community element of the project, which is being delivered through the Learning Estate Investment Programme.

These upfront project costs have been paid by the local authority and will form part of the total project costs, up to 50% of which will be funded by the Scottish Government through the Learning Estate Investment Programme’s outcome based funding model mechanism.

SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT

WRITTEN ANSWER

6 June 2023

Index Heading: Health and Social Care

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Scottish Labour Party): To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the current (a) proposals and (b) timescales for the provision of a replacement (i) hospital, (ii) dental clinic and (iii) GP unit on the Isle of Barra, and whether it will propose scheduling a ministerial statement in order to provide a detailed update to the Parliament on these matters.

S6W-18121

Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government remain committed to delivery of quality health and care facilities on Barra. However, the Scottish Government’s ability to fund capital projects has been affected by a reduction in the amount of capital grant from the UK Government over the next two years, and unprecedented levels of inflation as a result of Covid, Brexit, uncertainty in the supply chain and the war in Ukraine.

The Outline Business Case for the provision of new health facilities at the Barra Health and Social Care Hub has been submitted, however detailed design work of the proposals has been unable to start due to the budgetary pressures across the capital investment programme.

Scottish Government officials will engage with NHS Western Isles and the Scottish Futures Trust to consider the timing of the construction and will work closely with partners to identify alternative options.

SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT

WRITTEN ANSWER

6 June 2023

Index Heading: Education and Justice

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Scottish Labour Party): To ask the Scottish Government which elements of the Barra and Vatersay Community Campus project it now plans to deliver through the contract with hub North Scotland, and within what timescale.

S6W-18122

Jenny Gilruth: The procurement route for the school and leisure element of the campus is the decision of the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, this is currently being procured by the local authority through hub North Scotland.

The project is expected to be delivered by April 2026.

“How much time do they need?”

That is the question Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, Rhoda Grant, is asking after being advised that a promise made by the First Minister in 2008 to cut train journey times between Inverness and Edinburgh to 2 hours and 45 minutes is still not being delivered by the Scottish Government.

Mrs Grant, who is Vice-President and a great supporter of the Friends of the Far North Line, has been pushing the SNP government for many years to take heed of the concerns and needs of people in the Highlands to have reasonable public rail services to the central belt.

The commitment to reduce the journey time to 2 hours and 45 minutes was made by the then First Minister, Alex Salmond, at a Cabinet Meeting in Inverness Town House in 2008, shortly after his party took power at Holyrood.

The First Minister advised that the average journey time between Inverness and Edinburgh on the Highland Main Line would be reduced to 3hrs by 2011-12, with a fastest timing of 2 hours 45 minutes, by means of the installation of more passing loops, the extension of existing double track sections and signalling improvements.

Fifteen years later, after being pressed again by Mrs Grant, the new Transport Minister, Kevin Stewart, has advised the Regional MSP in an answer to a Parliamentary Question she tabled that he is “unable to commit to a date for delivering this journey time.” The Minister further advises that “The costs and benefits for delivering this need to be considered against those for delivering alternative rail enhancement projects, notably those that will contribute towards the decarbonisation of Scotland’s railway, within constrained funding.”

Rhoda Grant said “While the SNP continues to fail on promise after promise, this latest bodyblow for the Highlands will not be lost on our Highland communities who just want services comparable to what is available in the central belt.

“They’ve failed on their promise to dual the A9 by 2025, they will fail on dualling the A96 by 2030, they’ve failed on delivering the ferries that our island communities so desperately need and, going by the answer I’ve received, they have no intention of delivering on the commitment to reduce rail times either.”

Ian Budd of the Friends of the Far North Line said “This is disappointing, but not unexpected, news. The difficulty for the Scottish Government is that it has committed to achieving modal shift from road to rail but apparently cannot afford the investment needed to improve the railway sufficiently for this to happen.

“Electrification will make the journey somewhat faster but will not solve the problem of delays escalating in both directions when one service runs late. The Highland Main Line does not have sufficient capacity in its present form to meet the government’s modal shift targets.”

The text of the Parliamentary Question and answer is detailed below:-

2 May 2023

Index Heading: Transport Scotland

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Scottish Labour Party): To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-14784 by Jenny Gilruth on 16 March 2023, whether it will directly address the issue raised in the question regarding when it will fulfil its commitment to reduce train journey times between Inverness and Edinburgh to 2 hours 45 minutes.

S6W-17250

Kevin Stewart: I am unable to commit to a date for delivering this journey time. The costs and benefits for delivering this need to be considered against those for delivering alternative rail enhancement projects, notably those that will contribute towards the decarbonisation of Scotland’s railway, within constrained funding.

In the meantime, as set out in our response on 16 March 2023, to PQ S6W-14784, Transport Scotland is, alongside industry partners, exploring options for lengthening passing loops on the Highland Main Line to enable longer and more frequent freight and passenger services.

Transport Scotland will consider these, and further infrastructure enhancements that would enable future journey time savings between Inverness and Edinburgh and Glasgow, within the constraints of available funding and subject to a robust business case.

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant has called on the Scottish Government to “show the people of Barra some respect” by giving a full explanation of where plans for a new hospital now stand.

Two weeks ago, the island was shocked when the Health Secretary, Michael Matheson, told community representatives in an on-line call that plans for the hospital, first promised in 2008, had been cancelled as it was no longer affordable.

Mrs Grant said: “The lack of explanation, far less apology, provided to people on Barra and Vatersay has been truly shocking. No Minister is entitled to treat a community like this in a zoom call and then assume that is the end of the matter”.

She said: “Barra’s hospital was forced into a Public Private Partnership package by SNP Ministers and now the whole thing seems to have fallen apart. We need to know if there is any alternative plan and also implications for other parts of the package.

“I have tabled questions to establish what remains of plans to replace St Brendan’s Hospital and also the dental clinic and GP unit. We also need to understand the knock-on effects for other parts of the so-called ‘hub’ package including a new school, recreation facilities and a police station”.

Mrs Grant said: “Severe doubts were expressed from Barra about whether the Public Private ‘hub’ model which lumped all these facilities into one complex was appropriate for a small island community. These concerns were brushed aside and Barra was told this was the only way to get anything.

“While the local authority says it remains committed to its parts of the project, questions remain about whether these are deliverable, and at what cost, under the changed circumstances. The Scottish Government cannot just walk away and leave the council with that problem”.

Mrs Grant said it was “astonishing” there had been no comprehensive statement about the fate of the overall “hub” project and added: “Mr Matheson should show the people of Barra and Vatersay some respect by going there and facing up to the implications of what he has hit them with from a safe distance”.

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant today (Tuesday 16 May) led a debate on Highly Protected Marine Areas, reflecting the vehement opposition to the proposals across her region.

Mrs Grant urged the Scottish Government to rethink their slap dash and vague policy, saying: “The alarm the Government’s approach has caused means that they must revisit this policy.  To say that they will not impose this where communities are vehemently opposed actually ramps up the pressure rather than calms it down.

“Communities now must focus on demonstrating their vehement opposition rather than working with government to try and protect our seas and the livelihoods they support.”

Mrs Grant stressed that the policy had not been built on evidence and that coastal communities were already being punished because of Scottish Government policy that didn’t place communities at its heart.

“The impact that HPMAs could have on fishing are devastating, even on the most sustainable and environmentally friendly forms of fishing.

“We are quoted the success of the No Take Zone in Lamlash Bay, but yet the Clyde Fishermen’s Association who were instrumental in setting up the No Take Zone, tell us that the success is unmeasured.

There have been no comparative studies to show whether or not the policy has worked.

“We also have the No Take Zone in Broadbay, which has not worked at all. Therefore, we must have robust science to guide our management of the seas.”

She added that the plans along with the abysmal management of the ferry fleet were leading to cries of Scottish Government undertaking a second clearance via stealth.

But the Minister responded by congratulating Skipinnish for “capturing the strength of feeling” and claimed that they are still at the drawing board and that they are reviewing the consultation responses.

Speaking after the debate Rhoda Grant MSP said: “The Scottish Government claim to want to protect the marine environment yet they continue to progress this legislation. No one wants to protect the seas more than the fishing communities who have harvested it for years. The Skipinnish song The Clearances Again highlights that and the deep damage it will do to our rural and island communities.

“This policy desperately needs a re-think and the more this SNP-Green Scottish Government drag their feet, the more infuriated communities will feel.”

 

On Wednesday 22^nd March 2023, Rhoda Grant MSP attended the first Scottish Parliamentary reception for motor neuron disease (MND) in more than three years.  The reception marked the anniversary of the launch of MND Scotland’s report No time to lose: Addressing the housing needs of people with MND, which highlights that, despite MND being a rapidly progressing terminal illness, people affected wait too long for the adaptations and accessible housing they urgently need.  The report has several government recommendations and the reception was an opportunity to highlight that, a year on, little progress has been made.

MND Scotland’s event, which took place in Garden Lobby of the Scottish Parliament, was hosted by Bob Doris MSP. Key speakers included Bob Doris MSP, Marie Cartwright – whose husband Ian died of MND in 2019, MND Scotland Chief Executive Rachel Maitland, and the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government, Shona Robison.

More than 100 guests were in attendance, 70 of whom had been directly affected by MND. They were joined by MSPs, Scottish Government ministers and members of MND Scotland’s staff and Board of Trustees.

The Cabinet Secretary, addressed the reception, acknowledging the importance of fast-track, simpler and flexible processes for people with illnesses like MND when they try to secure adaptations and accessible homes.  She stated that that she was unhappy with the pace of change achieved since the launch of the report and would reach out across government to improve progress.

Rhoda Grant MSP said: “I was delighted to be able to attend MND Scotland’s reception. The event was a great opportunity to raise awareness of this devastating disease, the impact that housing issues have on individuals and families and to talk to people affected by the illness about how we can support them.

“MND Scotland’s report ‘No time to lose: Addressing the housing needs of people with MND’, highlights the need for people with MND to be fast-tracked and prioritised for adaptations and accessible housing. I pledge to work alongside MND Scotland to help create much needed change for those living with MND.”

Rachel Maitland, MND Scotland’s Chief Executive, said: “MND’s rapid progression means people become increasingly disabled. This makes moving around homes safely, more and more difficult. As a result, people with MND often need adaptations to their home, such as ramps and wetrooms, and they need them fast. If adaptations can’t be made to the property, they need an alternative accessible home.

“Speed is key when you have an illness like MND. People with MND need to be prioritised and fast-tracked but those who took part in our research told us that this is not happening. We need change now.

“I’d like to thank all of the MSPs who came to our reception to hear first-hand about the experiences people with MND are facing and I look forward to working with you.”

 To find out more about MND Scotland’s report visit www.mndscotland.org.uk/housing.

About MND Scotland 

MND Scotland’s vision is a world without motor neuron disease (MND). Until that day comes, we are here to make time count for everyone affected by MND in Scotland. We support people living with MND and their loves, campaign for lasting change to make living with MND easier and fund ground-breaking research and world-class clinical trials to find a cure.

More at mndscotland.org.uk.

About MND 

Motor neuron disease (MND) is a brutal terminal illness affecting the nerves that control our muscles. It can rapidly strip a person of their ability to walk, talk, swallow, and breathe. Most people live for between one and two years after a diagnosis, but almost half will die within a year. As it stands, there are no meaningful treatments for MND, and the impact of a diagnosis on individuals, families, and wider networks is devastating.

Key stats

• Someone’s lifetime risk of getting MND in 1 in 300
• Average life expectancy is just 18 months from diagnosis
• 30% of people with MND die within 12 months
• On average almost 200 people are diagnosed each year in Scotland, and around 200 people will die each year
• There are approx. 400 people in Scotland currently living with MND

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, Rhoda Grant MSP, lent her support to Marie Curie’s largest fundraising appeal month, the iconic Great Daffodil Appeal, at an event at the Scottish Parliament recently.

Meeting with staff and volunteers from Marie Curie, Ms Grant heard about the care and support that is provided to people living with terminal illness, their families and carers across Scotland.

The leading end of life charity supported over 8,600 terminally ill people across Scotland in their own homes and at its two Scottish hospices during 2021/22. In the Highlands and Islands Parliamentary Region, over 3,800 visits were made by the charity’s Community Nursing Service to support people in the comfort of their own homes.

Supporting the Great Daffodil Appeal, which started in 1986, by donating and wearing a daffodil pin in March helps Marie Curie to continue providing vital palliative and end of life care and support.

Rhoda Grant MSP said: “In the Highlands and Islands, 90% of people who died in 2021-22 had a palliative care need and we know that palliative care demand will continue to increase with two thirds of all deaths likely to happen in a community settings.

“Marie Curie nurses allow patients to die with dignity in the setting of their choice while also supporting family members and carers during this time.

“When days are few, life becomes very precious for both the patient and their families.

“Marie Curie’s work is invaluable and I am pleased to support their efforts during their Great Daffodil Appeal month.”

Hayley Smith, whose husband Matt was cared for by Marie Curie Nursing Service at home, before being admitted to Marie Curie Hospice, Edinburgh, spoke at the event.

Hayley said: I’d gone a whole year of Matt being very ill with no support. I was basically his full-time carer, had to shower him and everything, and was doing all the cooking, all the cleaning, still working in between. I had absolutely no support.

“But in July 2021, Marie Curie stepped in and I went from having zero support to having all the help I needed.  The Nurses who came to the house were fantastic. Just coming in in the morning, giving Matt a bath, enabling me to have some respite. I know people think they can do it on their own, but in reality it’s not sustainable – both mentally or physically.

“The Marie Curie Nurses and Healthcare Assistants really helped Matt keep his dignity. He had the 7-day service for a week before we got a call saying that there was a bed available at the Marie Curie hospice in Edinburgh.

“I work for a hospice charity, and I think for a lot of people they don’t really understand how amazing hospices are, but for me I knew Matt was going to be really well looked after there. It also meant I just knew when he was in the hospice I could actually go and spend time with him as him, not caring for him, which was so important.”

Amy Dalrymple, Associate Director of Policy and Public Affairs, Marie Curie, Scotland, said:

“Thank you to Rhoda for her ongoing support.

“Seeing and hearing first-hand stories of how living with a terminal illness and caring for someone is a sad reminder that many of us have and will encounter Marie Curie at some point in our lives.

“We know that by 2040, a further 10,000 people will be dying with palliative care needs. We need to ensure Marie Curie Nurses will be able to be there for everyone across Scotland who needs them, which is why buying a daffodil pin in March, can help make this possible”.

To find out more about the Great Daffodil Appeal, visit mariecurie.org.uk/daffodil

Photo attached: Left–Right is Ann Traynor, Senior Marie Curie Nurse, Rhoda Grant MSP and Lee McLean, Marie Curie Nurse.

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant “gets to the heart of a societal problem” while raising bullying in schools at FMQs.

Today, Mrs Grant raised with the First Minister for Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, that school bullying does not only happen within school and that it also takes place outside and on the way to school. This causes problems for schools as they cannot be responsible for what happens to pupils off school grounds.

She then asked the First Minister what steps her Government and Police Scotland are taking to protect children from school bullying when it takes place off school grounds and what actions are being taken to hold bullies to account.

This comes after reports of incidents in Lochaber where bullies attacked peers off school grounds. In some cases, these attacks were filmed and posted online for other school pupils to see.

The First Minister agreed with Mrs Grant and said she gets to the “heart of a societal problem”. She then said that there is a collective responsibility to tackling bullying off school grounds from Police Scotland and from national and local Governments. She then ended by saying that we all have a part to play in ensuring that children are protected and safeguarded.

Speaking after FMQs Rhoda Grant MSP said: “The First Minister is correct in stating that this is a societal problem and it is one that needs to be addressed.

“Children now face bullies on and off school grounds. Whether that be outside school, on the way to school or on social media. These attacks are preplanned in that they are recorded from before the start of the attack yet Local Authorities and Police seem unable to provide solutions leaving child victim without protection.”

Scottish Labour have accused the SNP of doubling down on their broken promises on the A9 after the Scottish Government voted against Labour’s amendment calling for the project to be progressed as a matter of urgency.

The party said the vote exposed the SNP’s “empty promises” on the A9.

Meanwhile, Fergus Ewing broke the party’s whip to back Labour’s amendment.

Commenting, Scottish Labour Transport spokesperson Neil Bibby said:

“The SNP claimed they were still absolutely committed to dualling the A9, but today they have abandoned these empty promises by voting against their own position.

“It is shameful that the SNP-Green government have refused to acknowledge that this deadly road needs upgraded as a matter of urgency.

“The SNP are putting their coalition deal with the Greens ahead of Highland communities.

“This vote is just the latest example of the chaos and splits engulfing this out-of-touch SNP government.”

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, Rhoda Grant, who also spoke to the Petitions Committee earlier today, urging a Parliamentary Inquiry into this betrayal said:

 “None of the Highlands and Islands SNP MSPs spoke in the debate. Indeed it was MSPs from Greenock & Inverclyde, East Lothian and East Kilbride who spoke from the backbenches for the SNP.

“SNP Highlands and Islands MSPs have abandoned the Transport Minister over the A9. The Scottish Labour Party with its amendment was looking for confirmation from the Scottish Government that they remained committed to dualling the road but they voted against their own stated position.

“Communities throughout the Highlands and Islands are outraged, and rightly so. The SNP-Green Scottish Government now needs to apologise to these communities and come clean about their future plans for the A9.”

Scottish Labour’s Amendment

S6M-07977.1 Neil Bibby

As an amendment to motion S6M-07977 in the name of Graham Simpson (A9 Dualling), insert at end “; notes the statement made by the Minister for Transport on 8 February 2023 that the Scottish Government is still ‘absolutely committed’ to dualling the A9, and believes that this project is a priority and should be progressed as a matter of urgency.”

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, Rhoda Grant, is pleased to be advised that initial improvements at the Tore Roundabout will be introduced imminently in a bid to improve safety in the area.

The MSP was approached by concerned constituents following a number of accidents in the area last month. Mrs Grant was unsure if the spate of accidents in January were related to weather conditions, but nonetheless contacted Transport Scotland to see how the suggested improvements from the A9 North Kessock to Tore Study (published in 2021) were developing.

Mrs Grant has been advised that BEAR Scotland is currently progressing the design of three resurfacing schemes in the vicinity of the Tore Roundabout on the A9 and that the first scheme is likely to be completed prior to the end of the current financial year.

In addition, the MSP has been advised that ‘Traffic speed surveys were carried out in 2022 around Tore Roundabout to inform a review of the speed limit. Taking the findings of these into account, BEAR Scotland, has developed a proposal for a reduction in the speed limit from the national speed limit to 40mph at this location.’

Transport Scotland also advised Mrs Grant that ‘BEAR Scotland is continuing to develop the outline proposals for active travel improvements at Tore Roundabout, with a detailed design of the proposals programmed for 2023/24. These timescales reflect the need for traffic modelling to optimise the performance of the new layout for non-motorised users whilst minimising the impact on motorised traffic. This will include assessment of options for signals to control traffic movements, and allowing pedestrians to cross the carriageway at dedicated crossings as an improvement to road safety.’

Rhoda Grant said “It’s not clear if the accidents last month were weather related but nonetheless, it’s good to hear that BEAR Scotland is to carry out resurfacing schemes in the vicinity of the roundabout. I’m told the first of the three schemes is likely to be carried out before the end of this financial year.

Mrs Grant continued “It is deeply worrying that pedestrians have to take their life in their hands and cross 4 lanes of dual carriageway at present and while it still has to go out for consultation, I very much welcome the proposals in the pipeline to reduce the speed limit in the run up to the roundabout to 40mph, together with the proposed option to install dedicated crossings to allow pedestrians to cross the carriageway safely.

“Any measures that improve safety on our roads will always be welcome.”

Notes:

The proposed 40mph speed limit covers the two trunk road approaches, the A9 north and south of Tore Roundabout and the A835. The Highland Council has agreed to promote a reduced speed limit on the two A832 minor road approaches to Tore Roundabout, which are the responsibility of The Highland Council.

The second resurfacing scheme is planned for construction in the 2023/24 financial year with the third planned by the end of the 2024/25 financial year, subject to budget allocations.

Commenting on news that A9 dualling has been delayed as the contract is re-tendered Scottish Labour Highlands and Islands MSP Rhoda Grant said:

“This is a total betrayal of the Highlands and yet another broken election promise.

“Lives are being lost on this dangerous road while communities go without the upgrades they have waited years for.

“It is shameful that on the day Volodymyr Zelensky is addressing the UK Parliament, SNP Ministers are trying to blame the war in Ukraine for the their failure to deliver a manifesto pledge from 2007.

“This is a mess of the SNP’s own making – and the Minister’s desperate excuses can’t hide that.

“The SNP need to come clean and tell us when they will actually deliver this long overdue promise.”