Rhoda Grant

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, Rhoda Grant, has secured a commitment from the First Minister that his Government will contact Highland Council over domestic abuse services in the Highlands.

Speaking today at First Minister’s Questions Mrs Grant highlighted the uncertainty that remains over the funding of domestic abuse services in the north. The MSP asked the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to ensure the long term financial and operational stability of specialist domestic abuse services in the Highlands.

This comes after Women’s Aid groups in the Highlands have endured months of uncertainty over the funding of their services beyond March.

The First Minister responded that they remain steadfast to their commitment to preventing and eradicating violence against women and girls and have allocated around £1.25m to services in the Highlands through the Delivering Equally Safe fund for the next financial year to enable recipients to continue their work to prevent violence and support survivors.

Mrs Grant continued to advise the First Minister that the Women’s Aid groups in the Highlands have moved from a Service Level Agreement to a procurement process with Highland Council which has left them facing significant cuts. She advised that MARAC and Refuge funding are also at risk and the groups do not have their Scottish Government funding for next year in place. The MSP advised that a cross party group of Highland MSPs have requested an urgent meeting with Highland Council but have had no response. She asked, with domestic abuse on the rise will the First Minister confirm Scottish Government funding for these groups and will he also intervene with Highland Council in order to protect these specialist services?

The First Minister replied that he recognises the significance of the issue Rhoda Grant raises, that the Government is providing funding directly to Women’s Aid, that the issues raised are around programmes and services that are funded by Highland Council, he is aware of the cross party representation to Highland Council on this question and he will ask the relevant Minister to write to the Leader of Highland Council to request engagement with cross party MSPs on that important issue.

Speaking afterwards Rhoda Grant said “I am pleased that the First Minister has agreed that the Scottish Government will intervene and I hope that this will help to resolve the issues that have been going on for some time. Indeed the issue was first raised with me in April 2025.

“I pay tribute to the groups who continue to provide services despite this ongoing uncertainty. It must be incredibly difficult for staff who will also be concerned about their own employment.”

The clip of the FMQ will be available via the following link for 24 hours:- Meeting of the Parliament from 05/02/2026

The Highland MSPs who have asked for the meeting include Edward Mountain MSP, Emma Roddick MSP, Fergus Ewing MSP, Kate Forbes MSP, Ariane Burgess MSP and Maree Todd MSP.

“Did NHS Highland jump the gun on stopping injections and interventions for new Chronic Pain patients?” That is the question Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant is asking following another meeting with the Minister for Public Health, Jenni Minto (22/01/2026).

Since 2022 new patients to NHS Highland’s Chronic Pain service have not been offered injections or intervention to help with their pain and are instead being encouraged to adopt a therapy based management of pain and “live well with pain”.

During a previous meeting with the Minister and NHS Highland in June last year, the Minister advised that she appreciates the need for both intervention and therapy in dealing with chronic pain. Mrs Grant subsequently contacted NHS Highland who have confirmed that they took the decision to stop offering these interventions to new patients in 2021/22. They state “Given the accumulating evidence that these procedures do not help patients reduce their pain in the long term, improve function or reduce medication, and the impending national review, it was agreed to no longer offer these to new patients. However, ethically, the team felt that it wasn’t appropriate to remove access to anaesthetic interventions for the existing patients who derived benefit from them.”

Rhoda Grant said “That national review is only being carried out now, some four years after NHS Highland made the decision to stop offering interventions to new patients. They acknowledge that existing patients benefit from these interventions so it surely stands to reason that new patients with similar conditions would benefit too had they been offered them.”

“I know from constituents the hope they place on being referred to the Chronic Pain team as they’ve been through the primary care services with no resolution. To have that hope dashed at the first meeting is devastating for people whose entire lives are being blighted by living with pain.

“NHS Highland’s new approach to support people to “live well with pain” is of little help to the people who are living with the pain and feeling its effects, not just physically but mentally too.”

“The Minister asked me why NHS Highland is not allaying the fears of existing patients of the service who now fear their injections will be stopped too. I can only ask that question too and I will continue to do that in a bid to offer new and existing pain patients the treatment they need to get them out of pain, and back to living fulfilling lives.”

Scotland’s energy security and how we bring down bills for people in Scotland has been a priority for Labour in Scotland and across the UK.

The UK Labour Government came into power with energy bills sky high because the Tory government had left households exposed to fossil fuels. Labour is determined to take action to bring down bills, and that’s why the recent budget announced £150 off bills from April this year and why we are building a clean power system for the future so that gas no longer sets the price of our energy.

Energy bills were lower in real terms in 2025 compared to 2024 – but we know that for many people costs remain too high. That is why the UK Labour Government has taken an average of £150 of costs off energy bills from April for everyone and expanded the Warm Home Discount, meaning millions of low-income households will get £300 off their energy bills, including an additional 240,000 families in Scotland this winter.

To help drive down bills in the long-term, the UK Labour Government has put record investment into renewable energy and national grid infrastructure. This will help ensure long term affordability and security of energy supply and is supported by Labour’s establishment of Great British Energy, based in Aberdeen.

From a community solar farm on the Isle of Arran to wind farms in Aberdeenshire, Great British Energy is helping to transform our isles into mini energy generators. This not only reduces our reliance on fossil fuels and helps stabilise prices, but it also maintains Scotland’s historic role as the UK’s energy powerhouse.

Together as the UK we are building a clean power system to bring down bills and deliver thousands of jobs in Scotland – 60,000 by 2030 as part of the Clean Energy Jobs Plan. All that would be put at serious risk by independence.

The SNP could help deliver energy security by dropping its ideological block on nuclear which rejects the creation of well-paid jobs, apprenticeships, and reliable low-carbon energy. At least a fifth of Scotland’s current electrical energy consumption comes from nuclear sources which will have to come from other parts of the UK if Scotland’s nuclear generation capacity is not renewed. The Nuclear Industry Association reported more than 10,000 new nuclear jobs being created in the last year alone – the SNPs stance is clearly untenable and is holding Scotland back when it comes to clean power.

In July, as part of the Review of Electricity Market Arrangements (REMA) programme, the UK Government set out their intention to retain a single national wholesale price to keep the system simple and fair, while improving efficiency and reducing costs. The decision was made not to introduce zonal pricing, as the transition to this model would have led to a decade of uncertainty – uncertainty which would have hit Scotland more than any other part of the UK, costing jobs and supply chain investments in communities right across the country. This decision was not opposed by the SNP Scottish Government.

There is much more the Scottish Government could do to support households lower their bills by delivering more energy efficient homes. It was disappointing that they cut the funding for solar panels for homeowners and Scottish Labour MSPs have been pushing them to promote community, cooperative and council owned energy projects would deliver more investment into our local communities. Three years on from the publication of the Scottish Government’s draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan we are still waiting for the actual plan to be published.

Scottish Labour has been clear that more must be done to bring down bills and maintain our energy security. The UK Labour Government is committed to take that action and deliver for all of Scotland, and a Scottish Labour Government would work hand in hand with the UK Government to deliver on this, removing roadblocks to nuclear, and investing in greens skills and jobs.

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, Rhoda Grant, convened a meeting earlier today between the four Highland based Women’s Aid groups, Highland MSPs, and Scottish Parliament election candidates to discuss the ongoing concerns surrounding the funding of Women’s Aid services in the north post March.

Speaking after the meeting which was attended by MSPs and candidates from all of the main parties, with Angus MacDonald MP also represented, Rhoda Grant said “There are real concerns over the ongoing funding uncertainty and the processes being adopted by Highland Council which have been described as “unclear and disingenuous”. Indeed many Highland Councillors appear to be in the dark about what is happening themselves.

“As a result of today’s meeting the group of MSPs and candidates have agreed to work cross-party in a bid to get answers and will now seek urgent meetings with the Management of Highland Council and with the Cabinet Secretary responsible for Local Government, Shona Robison.

Mrs Grant continued “Senior officials of Highland Council must now come forward with clear and unambiguous information on the funding of these services with calls also being made for the processes adopted by them to date to be clarified.

“The mood of the meeting was clear that the specialist outreach and Refuge services provided by Women’s Aid in the Highlands are essential with the uncertainty placing the services and staff members under extreme pressure. These issues must be resolved as a matter of the utmost urgency.”

Fergus Ewing MSP, Maree Todd MSP and Ariane Burgess MSP attended the meeting with Kate Forbes MSP, Edward Mountain MSP and Angus MacDonald MP all represented.

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, Rhoda Grant, questioned the Cabinet Secretary for Transport in Parliament today following the publication of the statement on the A9 which advised that the proposed Mutual Investment Model (MIM) contracts for five of the remaining sections of the A9 dualling will be replaced by Design and Build Contracts. The new Delivery Plan also highlights that about 40-50 miles of dualling works could be taking place simultaneously which will result in chaos and lengthy delays for road users. 

Mrs Grant said “The timeline suggests that about 40-50 miles of the A9 could be under construction at the same time yet the statement makes no mention of contingency for knock on construction delays and neither does it provide any mitigation for lengthy delays for road users at that time.” 

The MSP continued “It is clear that there are many risks to this project and therefore I ask would the Cabinet Secretary support the creation of a parliamentary committee dedicated to this project, as happened with the Queensferry crossing, and will she commit the Scottish Government to a duty of candour as called for by the Public Participation Committee.” 

Mrs Grant later said “The Cabinet Secretary acknowledged that frustrations will be felt during the dualling period but failed to answer my question asking for a duty of candour for communities and road users involved. 

“It appears to be an attitude of if you want the road you have to put up with the delays which takes no cognisance of the costs to businesses during these delays which could have been avoided if the Scottish Government had not dismally failed with the previous deadline for the dualling.” 

Rhoda Grant’s question to the Cabinet Secretary is available via the following link:-

Meeting of the Parliament from 14/01/2026

Rhoda Grant MSP Commends Highland and Islands’ Council Workers and Farmers Following Severe Winter Weather

Rhoda Grant, Member of the Scottish Parliament for the Highlands and Islands, has  lodged a Parliamentary Motion (S6M-20378) formally recognising the heroic efforts of local council workers and the farming community during the recent period of extreme winter weather.

Following a week of heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures across the region, Mrs. Grant is highlighting the “tireless efforts” of those who worked through the night to keep the North of Scotland moving.

The motion specifically notes that while many were sheltered indoors, council staff and local contractors worked unsociable hours in brutal conditions to grit roads and clear vital transport links.

Mrs. Grant also drew particular attention to the “indispensable role” of the farming community. In many of the most remote areas of the Highlands and Islands, local farmers utilised their own machinery to clear paths that council vehicles could not reach, ensuring that emergency services could still access vulnerable residents.

Rhoda Grant MSP commented: “The dedication shown by our council workers and farmers over the last few days has been nothing short of extraordinary. In the Highlands and Islands, we are no strangers to tough winters, but the sheer scale of this recent weather required a level of community spirit that deserves national recognition.

“Without the farmers and contractors stepping up with their own equipment to support council teams, many of our most remote neighbours would have been completely cut off. Their work ensured that essential supplies and emergency services could get through, undoubtedly saving lives.

“I want to express my deepest gratitude to everyone who went above and beyond. As the winter continues, I wish all those working on our roads a safe remainder of the season.”

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, Rhoda Grant, is to meet again with the four Women’s Aid groups in the Highlands next week and has invited all of the MSPs and MPs for the area to join the meeting.

Mrs Grant met with the Women’s Aid groups last month and has been in contact with Highland Council and the Scottish Government about the ongoing funding and operational uncertainty the groups are facing. She also urged the Women’s Aid groups to meet with their Councillors in a bid to get some clarity on the situation although she says “It has become clear that the majority of local councillors seem to have no idea of what the position currently is either.”

Highland Council issued a statement on 15 December 2025 to offer reassurance on domestic abuse services however Mrs Grant says “It leaves more questions than answers.”

The groups are having individual meetings with Highland Council in the coming days and Mrs Grant has arranged to meet with them again on Friday 16 January for an update on where things stand following these discussions. The MSP has also invited all of the MSPs and MPs representing the Highlands to join the meeting and has extended the invitation to their Scottish Parliamentary election candidates as well.

She said “I know some of my MSP colleagues and some of the Scottish Parliament election candidates are, like me, very concerned about the ongoing funding and operational uncertainty being faced by our Women’s Aid groups and I feel it is important to bring these representatives together for an update on the current position and to seek solutions to this extremely precarious situation.”

She continued “Highland Council sought to offer reassurance in a statement last month but in reality this has just heightened concerns. While three of the groups have signed contracts for outreach support from the beginning of April, refuge contracts which were due to terminate in March have been extended to the end of September as the review of refuge services has still not been concluded, with MARAC funding also still under review.”

Mrs Grant concluded “Some of the groups are having to look at a reduction in services going forward and the uncertainty surrounding all of this must be resolved without any more delay. I hope all of my MSP colleagues from throughout the Highlands will join me in trying to secure this resolution.”

Thank you to my constituents who have emailed me regarding business rates relief and the impact on pubs and breweries in Scotland.

Scottish Labour recognises the vital role that pubs and breweries play in our communities, not only as places to meet and socialise, but as key contributors to local economies and jobs. We share your concern about the pressures facing the sector and the risk of closures if support is withdrawn.

The Scottish Government’s decision to provide 40% relief for hospitality premises in 2025/26 was welcome, but came after years of missed opportunities to support businesses in Scotland. The SNP failed to pass on full business rates relief in 2024/25 and has offered only temporary, limited support this year. Local authorities’ ability to provide discretionary relief has also been severely curtailed by years of cuts to council budgets.

By contrast, the UK Labour Government is delivering a comprehensive package of support and reform for businesses across England and Wales. These measures include Permanent reductions in business rates multipliers for retail, hospitality and leisure, funded by higher rates for online warehouses to level the playing field, and Targeted investment in hospitality and high streets, including a £1.5 million Hospitality Scheme.

Since the 2024 General Election, Labour has delivered £10.3bn of additional funding for the Scottish Government. There is no excuse for failing to deliver for small business owners across Scotland. Scotland’s businesses don’t just need occasional support from the SNP, they need comprehensive reform of business rates, and a new direction with a government that is on the side of small businesses.

Scottish Labour believes that the current business rates system is not fit for purpose. In Scotland the system disincentivises investment, creates uncertainty and places an undue burden on our high streets. Scottish Labour has set out proposals to make business rates fairer, starting with reforms that level the playing field between the high street and online giants. We want to create a new system that will better incentivise investment, tackle empty properties and support entrepreneurship.

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, Rhoda Grant, has pressed for a meeting with Highland Council to discuss the ongoing uncertainty of contracts and funding for domestic abuse services in the Highlands.

Mrs Grant, who has a background in supporting domestic abuse services, is deeply concerned about the lack of clarity on funding for 2026/27 and on the allocation of contracts for the delivery of services.

The MSP has met with all four of the Women’s Aid groups in the Highlands in recent weeks and has submitted Freedom of Information requests to Highland Council in a bid to clarify just what is going on with funding and contracts for service provision going forward.

Mrs Grant is seeking clarity on the contracts being offered and the funding for outreach and rural services, together with refuge provision and MARAC funding. The Women’s Aid groups are to have individual meetings with Highland Council early in the new year.

Rhoda Grant said “The uncertainty of all of this is causing untold worry for the Women’s Aid groups themselves but also for people who have needed the specialist support of Women’s Aid in the past and know just how vital it is to protect these services.”

She continued “As things stand, some of the Women’s Aid groups will have to look at reduction in services going forward.

“At a time when domestic abuse crime is on the increase, we must have fully supported services in place to protect women and children when they leave an abuser.

“Highland Council’s communication on all of this has been patchy and confusing and we need clarity for the support groups involved to let them properly plan for the coming year.”