Emma Roddick MSP for the Highlands & Islands has praised a pilot Youth Voluntary Services Scheme in Shetland, which brings together young people from the Scottish Fire & Rescue Service’s Youth Volunteer Scheme and Police Scotland’s Young Volunteers.  Emma met the team at Lerwick’s shared Fire and Ambulance Station and heard directly from those involved [...]

Emma Roddick MSP is set to lead a Members' Business Debate on Tuesday 29th October, calling on members of the Scottish Parliament to recognise the dangers of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The debate comes after a motion lodged by Ms Roddick gained cross-party support earlier this year. The SNP MSP believes that, for AI to operate [...]

Emma Roddick MSP for the Highlands & Islands has praised the resilience and dedication of the team at the SaxaVord Spaceport in Unst, following an explosion during testing on the site in August. Ms Roddick visited the site herself, to hear directly from those involved in the project. SaxaVord is Europe’s first fully licensed vertical [...]

MSP for the Highlands and Islands Emma Roddick has highlighted the positive impact Brora Learning Zone has on the lives of adults who use the service this World Mental Health Day. The dedicated space provides adults with a space they can use to learn new skills and be creative. Some of the art made by attendees is also sold in the centre, with the money being reinvested into its programme. The SNP MSP [...]

MSP for the Highlands & Islands Emma Roddick has stressed the need for a social tariff to be introduced, particularly in the Highlands and Islands, questioning the First Minister on his work to pursue lower energy bills for those who have the least to spend.  Emma highlighted the fact that on top of the UK [...]

We still have a chance to build a better Scotland ten years on from the 2014 Scottish Independence referendum, an SNP MSP has said. Speaking in the Parliament on the 10th anniversary of the vote last week, Emma Roddick urged independence supporters not to lose hope and to continue pushing for an independent Scotland. Commenting a decade later, Emma said: “Ten years ago on [...]

Highland MSP Emma Roddick has encouraged correspondence from constituents in Gaelic following Stage 1 of the Scottish Languages Bill, which was introduced in Parliament on Tuesday. If passed, the Bill will give the Gaelic and Scots languages official status in Scotland and improve the support and opportunities available for speakers. Commenting after, Emma said: “I was delighted to see [...]

MSP for the Highlands & Islands Emma Roddick met with the Co-founder and Master Distiller of the Isle of Raasay Distillery, Alasdair Day, and the Scotch Whisky Association last week to hear about the impact the distillery is having on the island. The distillery, opened in 2017, now employs around 40 people, including people who [...]

MSP for the Highlands & Islands Emma Roddick has called on the UK Government to cooperate with the Scottish Government to ensure a Rural Visa pilot can be brought forward in Scotland.  The Rural Visa Pilot Scheme, outlined as a commitment in the Programme for Government, would allow rural communities to attract workers to the [...]

MSP for the Highlands and Islands Emma Roddick has urged the Scottish Government to invest money into making use of the building we already have. It comes after the Programme for Government was announced yesterday, which saw almost £600 million committed to affordable housing, including £40 million to bring existing homes into affordable use. Speaking on this, [...]