Contributing to yesterday's Stage 1 Debate on the Housing (Scotland) Bill, MSP for the Highlands and Islands Emma Roddick championed the progress already made on the bill by the Scottish Government, and renewed her commitment to strengthening its measures, such as rent controls. Calling the data on those in rent-induced poverty 'terrifying', she highlighted that [...]

Emma Roddick MSP has welcomed the Scottish Government’s renewed commitment to dualling the A96 between Inverness and Aberdeen, including constructing the Nairn Bypass. Speaking after receiving a response to her Government Initiated Question, Ms Roddick acknowledged the Cabinet Secretary’s determination to deliver these vital infrastructure projects and stressed the importance of providing clear timelines and [...]

Emma Roddick has welcomed the progress of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill and called on the Scottish Government to ensure that the Bill provides adequate support to community groups who wish to take ownership of land. Ms Roddick highlighted the importance of the Bill in supporting community groups to own and manage land for the [...]

Official statistics published today by the Scottish Government show that rents across Scotland consistently outstripped inflation for all property types since 2010, with an alarming increase over the past year. In the Highlands and Islands, tenants in one-bedroom shared properties have seen rents go up by an average of 67% since 2010, a full third [...]

The SNP Government has significantly expanded the support available through Scotland’s Migration Service. This service, introduced by the SNP in Government, ensures newcomers to Scotland have the information they need to move here and that businesses are guided through the process of sponsoring and employing international workers. Population decline is one of the biggest challenges [...]

Emma Roddick MSP has praised the work of teachers at Brae High School and the Shetland Islands Council’s Youth Employability Service after a visit to the young people, who asked a range of questions about the impact of government decisions on the isles. She said: ”I just love how engaged the young people in Brae [...]

Highlands and Islands MSP Emma Roddick has written to the Managing Director of NorthLink Ferries urging the company to reinstate shared cabins on its service between Shetland and Aberdeen.  The option for passengers to share a cabin on the overnight service between Shetland and Aberdeen was removed during the COVID-19 pandemic and is yet to [...]

I was deeply concerned to hear the news last month that Rural Housing Scotland was to close.   I wrote to the Housing Minister to seek clarification on how the Scottish Government could fill the gap and continue to ensure the delivery of much-needed homes in my region – here is the reply.     [...]

MSP for the Highlands and Islands Emma Roddick has pressed the Scottish Government on the urgent need to improve healthcare for those who suffer with chronic pain and fatigue conditions like Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), Myalgic Encephalitis (ME), and Long COVID. Ms Roddick pressed the Scottish Government on what steps it is taking to ensure that [...]

Emma Roddick MSP has highlighted the need to introduce regulations to keep workers safe in the workplace. The SNP MSP highlighted the fact that in the Highlands and Islands, more people work remotely, which means the online world is their office. Given the recent rise in the use of AI in our daily lives, including [...]