Parliamentary questions
Mercedes Villalba
523 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
11 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what communication it has had with Crown Estate Scotland regarding the relinquishing of the CampionWind lease by Shell UK in November 2025.
Answer · Gillian Martin: Crown Estate Scotland(CES)is responsible for the leasing of the seabed and provides the Scottish Government with regular updates on the progress of offshore wind projects.The handing back of CampionWind’s lease option to CES was a commercial decision ma…
11 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that (a) ScotWind leases and (b) Supply Chain Development Statements (SCDS) produce stable, long-term economic benefits for (i) workers and (ii) businesses in north east Scotland.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The ScotWind leasing round and the Supply Chain Development Statement (SCDS) process have been carefully designed and are managed by Crown Estate Scotland (CES). The process has produced a leasing round focused on quality and deliverability of bids, and long-…
11 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to prevent relinquishing of ScotWind leases.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government is doing everything within its power to support the delivery of ScotWind projects and ensure that the offshore wind opportunity for Scotland is realised.To date, we have unlocked almost £900m of investment in port and supply chai…
11 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the conditions or penalties for ScotWind lease holders (a) breaching Supply Chain Development Statements (SCDS), (b) breaching conditions of lease and (c) relinquishing leases.
Answer · Gillian Martin: Crown Estate Scotland (CES) manages all aspects of the ScotWind process and is responsible for monitoring compliance with, and enforcing the conditions of, the ScotWind leasing round.We expect developers to deliver on their Supply Chain Development Statement …
11 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made in the Climate Change Plan of the impact of Peterhead Carbon Capture Power Station on (a) terrestrial and marine (i) environmental quality and (ii) biodiversity, (b) greenhouse gas emissions, (c) carbon capture technology development and (d) carbon capture tec…
Answer · Gillian Martin: The public consultation on the draft Climate Change Plan (CCP) closed on 29 January 2026. The final CCP was published on Tuesday 24th March.
11 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent engagement it has had with (a) SSE, (b) other developers, (c) local communities, (d) trade unions and (e) environmental organisations regarding (i) the proposed Peterhead Carbon Capture Power Station and (ii) the associated environmental impact assessment.
Answer · Ivan McKee: As this is a live application which will come before Scottish Ministers for determination, it would not be appropriate to comment on the specific merits of the proposal.Where appropriate, the Scottish Government engages with developers, statutory consultees a…
11 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the updated environmental impact assessment for the proposed Peterhead Carbon Capture Power Station.
Answer · Ivan McKee: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-44254 on 19 March 2026 .All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees…
10 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to establish a genetic testing programme for "feral pigs" or wild boar (Sus scrofa).
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government does not have any plans to establish a genetic testing programme for feral pigs or wild boar.Previous testing undertaken by NatureScot and Science and Advice for Scotland’s Agriculture (SASA), which assessed the DNA of shot pigs …
10 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent report from King’s College London and Czech Academy of Sciences, whether it will consider establishing a national forum comprising a broad range of stakeholders to develop advice on the management of “feral pigs” or wild boar (Sus scrofa).
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government does not intend to establish a national forum comprising a broad range of stakeholders to provide advice on the management of feral pigs or wild boar.The Scottish Government currently chairs the Feral Pig Co-ordination Group, which con…
10 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the Just Transition Fund for the North East and Moray funding on (a) air quality, (b) water quality, (c) soil quality, (d) public transport and (e) active travel.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that investment through the Just Transition Fund delivers value for public money and supports environmental and economic outcomes across the North East and Moray. To that end, an independent evaluation of the f…
10 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what funding it has provided for (a) local authority-owned, (b) worker-owned and (c) cooperatively-owned projects in the round of the Just Transition Fund for the North East and Moray that opened on 2 March 2026.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government has allocated up to £10 million for commercial and public sector projects as well as £4 million for community and social enterprise projects, comprising of:our annual £1 million commitment to Just Transition Participa…
10 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) full-time equivalent jobs, (b) total jobs, (c) training positions and (d) apprenticeships the round of the Just Transition Fund for the North East and Moray that opened on 2 March 2026 is anticipated to create.
Answer · Gillian Martin: Up to £10 million capital funding is available for projects that create jobs, build skills, and boost economic opportunities in the North East and Moray. The Scottish Government will have clear expectations of how many (a) full-time equivalent jobs, (b)…
5 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what provision it has made for deep geothermal energy generation development in the (a) Just Transition Fund for the North East and Moray, (b) Community and Renewable Energy Scheme and (c) Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The Just Transition Fund for the North East and Moray awards grants on a competitive basis. Geothermal projects are able to apply as long as the funding criteria are met.The Community and Renewable Energy Scheme provides support for communities across Scotlan…
5 Mar 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any potential for deep geothermal energy generation in (a) Scotland and (b) north east Scotland specifically.
Answer · Gillian Martin: Scotland’s geology provides the potential for deep geothermal to contribute to decarbonisation.We are continuing to work with partners to support stakeholders as they assess this resource. Examples of this work include:- Our enterprise agencies have awa…
2 Mar 2026 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether Scottish publicly owned infrastructure, such as Prestwick or Wick John O' Groats airports, has been used by the US Airforce for the recent strikes on Iran.
24 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that its employees who live in rural and island communities have equitable access to (a) promotion, (b) redeployment and (c) career development opportunities.
Answer · Ivan McKee: The Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government has responsibility for the operational running of the organisation, including the workforce related location and resourcing policies.All internal Civil Service vacancies within the Scottish Government are adv…
24 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment has been made of the potential impact of its hybrid working and location policies on the geographical distribution of its employees.
Answer · Ivan McKee: The Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government has responsibility for the operational running of the organisation, including the workforce related location policy.Scottish Government recognises the important contribution made by colleagues based across th…
24 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in determining its hybrid working policy for Scottish Government employees, whether (a) an assessment of the commuting impact on employees, (b) an assessment of the financial impact on employees and (c) an islands communities impact assessment was undertaken.
Answer · Ivan McKee: The Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government has responsibility for the operational running of the organisation, including the workforce related hybrid working policy.The Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) for the Scottish Government’s hybrid worki…
24 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in determining its hybrid working policy for Scottish Government employees, what specific consideration has been given to (a) rural and island employment, (b) rural and island population retention, (c) rural and island sustainable development, (d) the Public Sector equality du…
Answer · Ivan McKee: The Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government has responsibility for the operational running of the organisation, including the workforce related hybrid working policy.The Scottish Government’s hybrid working policy was developed following a detail…
24 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether an equality impact assessment of its hybrid working policy for Scottish Government employees was published after the hybrid working policy was determined, and if so, what the reason was for this.
Answer · Ivan McKee: The Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government has responsibility for the operational running of the organisation, including the workforce related hybrid working policy.A full Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) was undertaken during the internal review of …
24 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish its long-term location policy and what factors will be considered in its development.
Answer · Ivan McKee: The Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government has responsibility for the operational running of the organisation, including the workforce related location policy.The Scottish Government introduced an updated hybrid working policy on 27 October 2025 and a…
24 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that its employee recruitment and progression remains (a) based on merit and (b) unconstrained by proximity to work location.
Answer · Ivan McKee: The Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government has responsibility for the operational running of the organisation, including the workforce related location and resourcing policies.All internal Civil Service vacancies within the Scottish Government are adv…
24 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the potential closure of the butchers in Inverurie, Donald Russell, when it last met with the affected (a) trade unions and (b) employees to discuss this.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The company has indicated that there is no trade union involved in the consultation process. The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform & Islands and myself met with Donald Russell’s Interim CEO on 19 February to understand how the Scottis…
23 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what role the constitution of Wave Energy Scotland as a subsidiary of Highlands and Islands Enterprise played in its decision-making when it allocated funding in its draft Budget 2026-27, and what its position is on whether this type of arrangement supports the security of employment of …
Answer · Gillian Martin: Wave Energy Scotland (WES) is a subsidiary of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). As a non-departmental public body, HIE operates independently of the Scottish Government and is responsible for setting out arrangements between itself and its subsidiaries,…
23 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many meetings the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy has attended with workers at Wave Energy Scotland to discuss the organisation's future funding, and what its position is on whether the principle of effective worker voice has been upheld during its consideration of th…
Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-43883 on 17 March 2026. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees…
23 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it gave to the security of employment of the workers at Wave Energy Scotland as part of its decision to not allocate the organisation funding in its draft Budget 2026-27.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government has confirmed that transitional funding for WES will be provided in financial year 2026-2027 which will give WES the opportunity to explore longer term funding solutions. It is of course important that WES continues to engage directly …
23 Feb 2026 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the outcome of the University of Aberdeen UCU ballot, which resulted in 83% of those voting in support of strike action and 90% in favour of action short of a strike.
3 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recommendations in the report, Just Transition Fund for the North East and Moray: final evaluation, in relation to the financial administration and payment delays to applicants to the Just Transition Fund.
Answer · Gillian Martin: We commissioned independent research to evaluate the impact of the first two years of the Just Transition Fund for the North East and Moray (JTF). This study noted several project delivery challenges and included suggestions from project partners on how Scott…
3 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to recommendations in the Just Transition Fund for the North East and Moray: final evaluation report, in relation to (a) extension of application timeframes, (b) earlier notice of funding rounds to applicants, (c) transparency of decision-making processes and (d) st…
Answer · Gillian Martin: We have secured £15.9m capital and £1m resource for the JTF in the 2026-27 budget. We will announce plans for managing this spend imminently, including the publication of full criteria and guidance for applicants.The commissioned independent resea…
3 Feb 2026 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government (a) what engagement it has had with and (b) when it last met with representatives from (i) the offshore oil and gas sector, (ii) the offshore renewables sector and (iii) trade unions in Scotland following the publication of the report, Just Transition Fund for the North East and Mor…
Answer · Gillian Martin: We regularly engage with stakeholders, including the offshore oil and gas sector, offshore renewables sector and trade unions, on a variety of subjects, including on the Just Transition Fund. The last time we met with the offshore oil and gas sector was 10 Fe…