MSP for the Highlands and Islands Emma Roddick has been appointed to the Local Government, Housing & Planning Committee at the Scottish Parliament. The Committee focuses on housing provision, building standards, the planning system, democracy, and local councils in Scotland, scrutinising the work of government and suggesting or making changes to legislation and policy. The Committee will scrutinise the upcoming Housing Bill which Ms Roddick [...]

SNP MSP Emma Roddick has asked the Scottish Parliament to remember the positive potential of the Highlands and Islands when considering how to address depopulation. In a debate led by the Tory colleague Tim Eagle, she asked the Government not to think of rural and island areas simply as places that need money to remain [...]

SNP MSP Emma Roddick has pressed the Scottish Government to consider rail improvements between Inverness and Perth ahead of a meeting of Friends of the Far North Line in Inverness this weekend. The Highlands & Islands MSP has pressed Ministers to consider the doubling of the Highland Main Line in their transport plans since her [...]

MSP for the Highlands & Islands Emma Roddick has called for MSPs from across parties in the Scottish Parliament to recognise the dangers Artificial Intelligence (AI) presents. Ms Roddick has submitted a motion for debate, raising concerns about AI, which has already been deemed in some studies to be acting independently and in unexpected ways. The SNP [...]

MSP for the Highlands and Islands Emma Roddick believes that businesses in the Highlands and Islands would benefit from operating in an independent Scotland, compared to the current setup. Many businesses in the region have struggled with staffing since the UK left the EU, despite Scotland voting overwhelmingly in favour of remaining a member.  This, alongside tightening of immigration rules, has seen many [...]

SNP MSP for the Highlands & Islands Emma Roddick has called for an expansion to the visitor levy to include motorhomes. The Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill, that was passed last week [28th of May], will allow local authorities to apply a visitor tax on tourists to generate funds for communities so that facilities and roads can be upkept [...]

MSP for the Highlands and Islands Emma Roddick has launched a new survey to hear what issues constituents across the region are concerned about. With a fresh start for the SNP as a minority government in Holyrood, Emma is keen to hear from constituents directly about what their priorities and concerns are, to take them forward to Parliament on their behalf. The [...]

MSP for the Highlands and Islands Emma Roddick has claimed in Parliament that those who own multi-million-pound estates have a responsibility to ensure the wider community benefits from the land. The Land Reform (Scotland) Bill, which is currently going through the Scottish Parliament having been introduced in March this year, aims to reform the law [...]

Emma Roddick MSP has spoken out about the need to reassure rural and island Scotland that a minority SNP government will work for them. Questioning the First Minister John Swinney as he stated his priorities for Scotland in a statement to Parliament today, the Highlands & Islands MSP pushed for commitments to rural and island [...]

Emma Roddick MSP pressed the Scottish Government last week for "clarity" on rules around wood-burning stoves, following confusion as to whether they are banned for use in new-build properties as a main heating source despite being a sustainable fuel. The Minister for Climate Action, Gillian Martin, confirmed in the Chamber that she will be undertaking [...]