SNP MSP EMMA RODDICK WELCOMES NEWS INVESTMENT IN EARLY INTERVENTION AND FAMILY SUPPORT Orkney will benefit from nearly £288,207 of new investment to support people affected by drugs and alcohol including earlier intervention and better family support.  This is part of a nationwide announcement by the SNP Scottish Government. A total of 77 initiatives the [...]

Speaking in the Scottish Parliament on Thursday [31ST MARCH], Highlands and Islands MSP Emma Roddick backed the call by a cross-party group of MSPs on the UK Government’s Department of Work and Pensions to share anonymised data on benefits sanctions with a team of University of Glasgow-based researchers. Roddick, who herself has experience of living [...]

Highlands and Islands MSP Emma Roddick praised the mental health support work developed by Penumbra at their Edinburgh Crisis Centre and called for a similar model to be rolled out across the country, including in the Highlands and Islands. The Edinburgh Crisis Centre is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and provides [...]

Highlands and Islands MSP Emma Roddick has weighed in on the recent land ownership scandal surrounding the “Everyone Wins” gift bags for top nominees at the Academy Awards, where recipients were given informal certificates from Highland Titles Ltd claiming they are now ‘lords’ and ‘ladies of Glencoe’ and granting them ownership of 1 square foot [...]

On Thursday [24TH MARCH], speaking at a briefing for MSPs on globally significant energy research in the Highlands and Islands, SNP MSP Emma Roddick said that ‘people are screaming out across the world for the lessons that only the Highlands and Islands is ready and able to teach’ and emphasised the importance of researching the [...]

SNP MSP Emma Roddick, attending a rally outside the Scottish Parliament in support of the Fix Student Housing campaign on Wednesday [23RD MARCH], expressed her support for the campaign’s aims and pledged to work to end substandard housing conditions experienced by Scotland’s students. The campaign, organised by the National Union of Students, seeks to increase [...]

Highlands and Islands MSP Emma Roddick has lambasted the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s Spring Statement, noting recent polling that suggests over 80% of people in Scotland are worried about the cost of living crisis. Commenting, Roddick said: “The Tories can talk about responsible government all they like but the truth is that they are hiking [...]

Highlands and Islands MSP Emma Roddick has welcomed the passing of emergency regulations from the Scottish Government which will ensure that Ukrainian refugees brought to the UK won’t face extra barriers when claiming social security they are entitled to. The decision to make the change passed without opposition in the Parliament this evening, and will [...]

On Tuesday 22ND MARCH Highlands and Islands MSP and retiring Highland councillor Emma Roddick requested an explanation for ongoing delays in a final decision on the application by developer Bricks Capital to redevelop music venue Ironworks into a 162-bedroom hotel. The application, initially due to be considered in March, has now been postponed twice. Members [...]

Highland Councillors have voted to keep local decisions secret at a meeting of the Full Council on Thursday 10th March. SNP councillor Emma Roddick proposed a motion that Ward Business Meetings – forums where all the councillors representing one Highland ward regularly meet to make very local decisions – have action notes published for the [...]