Parliamentary questions

Mercedes Villalba

523 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

29 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Bute House Agreement, whether it plans to update inshore spatial management for Scotland's inshore fisheries prior to the agreement of regional marine plans or the next National Marine Plan, and outwith the marine planning process.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government deploys a range of spatial and technical measures to manage Scotland’s fisheries. In addition, we have delivered a number of projects over the past four years to improve spatial management of inshore fisheries. These have included the …

29 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what evidence there is that a cap on fishing activity in inshore waters, up to three nautical miles, limiting activity to current levels, as per the Bute House Agreement, will bring economic or ecological benefits.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: As is reflected in the response to question S6W-12758 on 13 December 2022, The Scottish Government will consult on our proposals to apply an activity cap on fishing activity in inshore waters, in due course. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are…

29 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking through the Fair Work Framework and Fair Work First initiatives to develop best-practice guidance on anti-sexist practices and prevention of sexual harassment in the workplace.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government is clear that there is no place for harassment or abuse in any form in the workplace and that everyone has the right to go to work without fear of intimidation. Equality Law and Employment Law, are reserved to the UK Parliament. In th…

29 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will seek to introduce a duty on preventing sexual harassment under the Scotland-specific regulations of the public sector equality duty, including a requirement to develop a standalone policy on sexual harassment.

Answer · Christina McKelvie: The Scottish Government is currently undertaking a review of the operation of the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) in Scotland with the aim of ensuring the effect of the PSED is improved so that it becomes a key contributor to improved lives of people with …

29 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to raise public awareness of the different forms of sexual harassment, including workplace harassment.

Answer · Christina McKelvie: Everyone has the right to a safe workplace and to live their lives without fear or intimidation. The Scottish Government is determined to tackle the scourge of sexual harassment wherever it happens: in public spaces, places of education and workplaces. That…

29 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of whether an independent specialist body is needed to receive sexual harassment complaints, offer advice, investigate patterns of concern and make structural recommendations for specific employers in Scotland.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Equality Law and Employment Law, are reserved to the UK Parliament. The Equality and Human Rights Commission is the independent specialist body tasked to promoting and upholding equality and human rights ideals and laws across Scotland, England and Wales. T…

29 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to introduce trials for a four-day working week in the public sector.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government recognises the wellbeing, health and environmental benefits, along with the efficiency gains, that a four-day working week could bring. We remain committed to taking forward public-sector pilots and are considering how best to develop …

29 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the four-day working week trials in the private sector are scheduled to begin.

Answer · John Swinney: Ministers remain committed to exploring the benefits of a four-day working week, which is why the 2022-23 Programme for Government included a commitment to undertake research and advice to improve workplace productivity and wellbeing, including on the deliver…

16 Nov 2022 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address high private sector rents.

8 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the report of the Short Life Working Group on Facilitating Peaceful Assemblies, what steps it is taking to ensure that the proposed human rights-based approach to peaceful assemblies does not lead to financial charges being placed on the organisers of such assemblies for l…

Answer · Keith Brown: The right to peaceful assembly and protest is a right that we all have and the Scottish Government wants to encourage the exercise of that right wherever possible. While it is not an absolute right - and conditions and prohibitions can be imposed where requir…

7 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making towards the establishment of a Peace Institute by the end of 2022, as set out in the Programme for Government 2021-22.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government is committed to Scotland being an active and responsible global citizen and we are actively considering the options received in the report commissioned earlier to advise on a Scottish Peace Institute. Our priority is to ensure our offe…

7 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the report of the independent review group regarding the establishment of a Peace Institute will be published, and, if it is already published, when it will respond to its findings.

Answer · Keith Brown: The independent report commissioned by the Scottish Government earlier this year is actively being considered by Ministers. Our priority is to ensure our offer compliments peace work already underway in Scotland and internationally and the report will be made…

28 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Orkney Islands Council regarding the future (a) budget and (b) procurement process for replacing the large and small ferry fleet at Orkney Ferries.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Scottish Ministers continue to engage with Orkney Islands Council on a regular basis with regard to ferries, including my visit to Orkney in August to meet with the council on these matters. We have made an offer to all 4 ferry operating local authorities t…

28 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact that Green Freeport status would have on the provision of inter-island ferry services in Orkney.

Answer · Ivan McKee: As set out in the joint Bidding Prospectus, all green port bidders were required to ensure that their proposal embedded the second National Transport Strategy vision, priorities and outcomes for the transport system with in it as well as ensuring alignment wi…

28 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the delivery of ferry services for island communities in Scotland.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Lifeline Ferries are devolved and therefore are discussed only with broader maritime issues where these are relevant to island ferry services.

28 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact that Green Freeport status in Aberdeen Harbour would have on the contract for Northern Isles Ferry Services.

28 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-10575 by Tom Arthur on 20 September 2022, what information it holds on whether transfers of land over 3,000 hectares not involving a payment include transfers into Trusts, and how many such transfers occurred in each of the last 10 years.

Answer · Tom Arthur: This is a question for the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland. She advises me that transfers of interest relating to properties over 3000 hectares are counted where:at least one applicant in the application for registration was designated as acting in the ca…

28 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-10495 by Tom Arthur on 20 September 2022, what information it holds on whether transfers of land over 1,000 hectares not involving a payment include transfers into Trusts, and how many such transfers occurred in each of the last 10 years.

Answer · Tom Arthur: This is a question for the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland. She advises me that transfers of interest relating to properties over 1000 hectares were counted where:at least one applicant in the application for registration was designated as acting in the c…

28 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-10496 by Tom Arthur on 20 September 2022, what information it holds on whether transfers of land over 2,000 hectares not involving a payment include transfers into Trusts, and how many such transfers occurred in each of the last 10 years.

Answer · Tom Arthur: This is a question for the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland. She advises me that transfers of interest relating to properties over 2000 hectares were counted where:at least one applicant in the application for registration was designated as acting in the c…

22 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what its position is regarding the impact in Scotland of reports that the Scottish Assessors Association is considering the valuation of ATM sites and that it is likely that such sites will be deleted from the valuation roll, and, in the case of any s…

Answer · Tom Arthur: The valuation of all non-domestic property, including the sites of ATMs, is a matter for the Scottish Assessors who are independent of local and Scottish Government. We are aware that Assessors were considering the valuation of ATM sites and they concluded t…

21 Sep 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the findings of the survey of participants in 4 Day Week Global’s pilot.

5 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the publication of the analysis of responses to its consultation on A New Deal for Tenants, what engagement it has planned with the tenants' union, Living Rent, on (a) the development of an effective system of national rent controls and (b) emergency financial measures to su…

Answer · Patrick Harvie: Following the publication of the analysis of responses to the consultation on A New Deal for Tenants, the Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants’ Rights met with Living Rent, alongside other key stakeholders, at a roundtable meeting on …

5 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Scottish Water regarding its progress towards installing spill monitors on all sewer overflows that discharge to designated bathing waters by the end of 2024.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government is in regular discussions with Scottish Water on a wide range of issues. In relation to spill monitors, the first programme of installation has been focussed on proximity to bathing waters, particularly those that are at risk of failin…

5 Sep 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve the safety of designated bathing waters in response to the reported findings by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) that 49 of 87 designated bathing waters in Scotland have recorded levels of sewage contamination beyond safe limits since M…

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government is committed to reducing water pollution at beaches across Scotland. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is responsible for protecting and improving water quality at Scotland’s 87 designated Bathing Waters. This bathing …

30 Aug 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the findings of the Health and Care Experience Survey 2021-22 in relation to patient satisfaction with GP services.

23 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-09839 by Tom Arthur on 11 August 2022, what information it holds on the annual totals of ownership changes of land over 3,000 hectares broken down by (a) sales and (b) transfers and succession.

Answer · Tom Arthur: This is a question for the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland (RoS). Following on from the previous question, figures are provided for the last 10 years, for properties over 3000 ha. Transfers are divided between sales/leases for the full monetary market v…

17 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-09839 by Tom Arthur on 11 August 2022, how many land sales in excess of 1,000 hectares (a) there have been and (b) have been registered in each of the last 10 years.

Answer · Tom Arthur: This is a question for the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland (RoS). She advises me that RoS does not hold information on transfers which may have occurred but for which no registration application has been submitted. In relation to registrations in each of…

17 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-09839 by Tom Arthur on 11 August 2022, how many land sales in excess of 2,000 hectares (a) there have been and (b) have been registered in each of the last 10 years.

11 Aug 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-08457 by Mairi McAllan on 19 May 2022, what progress has been made on its consultation, Land Reform in a Net Zero Nation, which opened on 4 July 2022; which stakeholders have been involved to date, and whether any further public engagement events ar…

Answer · Mairi McAllan: Following the opening of the consultation on 4 July 2022 a programme of six public meetings has taken place. Five in-person “Town hall events” have been held, as follows: Langholm (20 July) Invermoriston (25 July) Helmsdale (26 July) Stornoway (27 July) …

13 Jul 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many land sales in excess of 3,000 hectares (a) have there been (b) have been registered, in each of the last 10 years.