Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant has received one of the strongest responses to her campaigns - from people in Moray who want to see the A95 upgraded.

The MSP and her colleagues Peter Peacock and David Stewart sent out questionnaires to hundreds of local residents asking them whether they thought the Scottish Government should make improvements to the trunk road. She duly received many comments about problems on the route and suggestions on how to address them.

Nearly all of the people surveyed said the road was inadequate and called for it to be made safer and for journey times to be speeded up.

Rhoda Grant said: "The strong response I have had to my questionnaires shows how big an issue this is.

"Hitrans has also said that it wants to see improvements made on the A95.

"However, although I sent copies of my survey to Transport Scotland it has indicated that there are no significant plans to upgrade the road.

"I am now extending my survey by sending out questionnaires to people in Cromdale in the Highlands.

"I anticipate people there will also have strong feelings on this subject and I await their responses."

Highlands and islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant is writing to NHS Highland after learning that the Board has been deprived of £20million for future projects by the Scottish Government.

She has written to NHS Highland's Chief Executive Garry Coutts after noticing from the Board Report that £20m of capital funding banked by NHS Highland with the Scottish Government is no longer available to the Board.

Rhoda Grant said: "I am extremely concerned about this because I believe that the Scottish Government should not be able to take this money which has already been granted to the Board.

"However, my greater concern is that capital projects within the NHS Highland Board area will be affected.

"I am therefore writing to ask the impact on this decision on the Board's capital spending plans and what the implications are for future projects.

"It would also be useful to know whether the board been given any indication of its future capital allocation and, if so, what impact that will have on your plans."

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant is calling on the new Transport Minister Keith Brown to deliver on the Lochboisdale-Mallaig ferry where his predecessor Stewart Stevenson failed.

She said:

"I am writing to Keith Brown to congratulate him on his new job and I hope he will be more willing to provide funding for the Lochboisdale-Mallaig ferry service than Mr Stevenson was when I wrote to him in October.

"The ferry is a vital link between South Uist and the mainland."

MSP highlights need for affordable housing in petition

6 December 2010

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant is urging people who want to see more affordable housing provided throughout the region to sign an online petition.

The MSP believes that the Scottish Government must prioritise investment in affordable housing and is urging all those who feel that something should be done about this to sign the petition at :

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/hiaffordablehousing

Rhoda Grant said:

"My office has seen a huge increase in workload this year with people seeking affordable houses to rent.

"However, I believe this is only the tip of the iceberg and that there are lots of other instances which I have not yet come across.

"Very often there is not the supply available to meet demand and this results in severe hardship for families and individuals.

"I would like to hear from anyone who is having problems when seeking affordable housing to enable me to gauge the level of the problem.

"Building new homes for rent will not only house those in need but be a boost to the local economy and for building companies who employ local people and apprentices.

"I would also be interested in hearing from building companies and those currently unemployed as a result of the lack of building activity."