Mercedes Villalba

31 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the work to make an informed policy decision on the contribution of North Sea production to the global climate emergency and to Scotland’s economy, security and wellbeing, as outlined in the Scottish Government and Scottish Green Party Shared Policy Programme, being due by t…

Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-07862 on  25 April 2022. 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-committe…

23 Mar 2022 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Department for Work and Pensions regarding proposed changes to its office estate that could result in job losses in the north east and elsewhere in Scotland.

17 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the comments by the Minister for Community Safety, during a debate in the Parliament on 10 February 2022, that “an independent Scottish Government analysis is under way to look at lessons that have been learned internationally about implementing laws to challenge men’s demand…

Answer · Ash Regan: An evidence review on international approaches to challenging demand is being carried out by Scottish Government’s Justice Analytical Services (JAS), and will be published later this year as an official social research report. As is the case with all Analyti…

17 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it took to determine whether LKJ Research, which is reportedly the successful bidder for the contract to produce national lived experience research relating to the current support service provision and needs of service users with lived experience of prostitution in Scotland (C…

Answer · Ash Regan: The contract has been awarded to sole trader Laura Jones, trading under LKJ Research. As outlined in the response to S6W-07527 on 19 April 2022, following the review of the tender received, there was consensus from the evaluation panel (comprising of Scottish…

17 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many suppliers were approached under the Quick Quote process to bid for the contract to produce national lived experience research relating to the current support service provision and needs of service users with lived experience of prostitution in Scotland (Contract reference no: JA…

Answer · Ash Regan: In November 2021, 10 organisations were invited to submit a bid to tender through the Public Contract Scotland website, to undertake lived experience engagement relating to the current support service provision and needs of service users who are engaged with,…

17 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the reference group that is advising the short life working group on tackling prostitution has met, and whether it will provide an update on the reference group’s activities.

Answer · Ash Regan: Recognising the range of interests and experience related to the work of the short life working group (SLWG) considering fundamental principles which will underpin a model for Scotland to effectively tackle and challenge men’s demand for prostitution, a refer…

16 Mar 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking, in relation to green skills, to remove barriers facing offshore oil and gas workers in transitioning to green jobs in the offshore energy sector.

9 Mar 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve public confidence in Police Scotland, in light of reported concerns about sexual misconduct on the part of police officers.

2 Mar 2022 · Portfolio 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 its 2021-22 Programme for Government. 

28 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish the non-commercially sensitive copy of the 2020-28 Northern Isles Ferry Services contract with Serco.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: We are aiming for a non-commercially sensitive contract to be available for publication by Summer 2022, once the necessary administrative work has been completed.

28 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has reviewed the 2020-28 Northern Isles Ferry Services contract with Serco since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Northern Isles Ferry Services contract awarded in June 2020 was reviewed before contract initiation to ensure lifeline ferry services were supported throughout the Covid pandemic.  

1 Feb 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what steps it is taking to improve the provision of services for NHS Tayside breast cancer patients.

31 Jan 2022 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to support those communities affected by Storm Malik and Storm Corrie, including addressing the impact on the provision of services such as public transport.

21 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which minister is responsible for the implementation of its Deposit Return Scheme.

Answer · Lorna Slater: Portfolio responsibility for Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) lies with me as Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity. In line with the principle of extended producer responsibility and the polluter pays principle, the work to deli…

21 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether its Deposit Return Scheme will be expanded in a similar way to the Latvian scheme, to include standardised refillable bottles and containers for one-way recycling.

Answer · Lorna Slater: Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) will focus on non-refillable single-use drinks containers. Including refillables in the scheme would add a significant degree of complexity, with the need for industry to agree and operate standard bottle and collection …

18 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to protect the pay, conditions and employment rights of workers in the hospitality sector, in light of reported allegations against the MacMerry 300 and Abandon Ship hospitality group regarding mistreatment of its workforce.

Answer · Ivan McKee: While many aspects of employment law and particularly pay legislation are reserved to the UK Government, promoting fair pay is a key element of the Scottish Government’s Fair Work policy. Scottish Ministers believe that all workers should receive a fair pay f…

14 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-04664 by Mairi Gougeon on 9 December 2021, what percentage of land holdings are estimated to be above a threshold of 2,500 acres, broken down by (a) tenanted crofts, (b) owner occupied crofts, (c) tenanted farms and (d) owner occupied farms.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Less than two percent of agricultural holdings in Scotland, covering 52 per cent of agricultural land, are estimated to be above a threshold of 2,500 acres. Less than one percent of owned or tenanted holdings with crofts are above 2,500 acres in size. Five pe…

12 Jan 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its discussions with the UK Government regarding the resettlement scheme for Afghan refugees who may be resettled in Scotland.

22 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether its short life working group on tackling prostitution will consider all options, including a decriminalisation model.

Answer · Ash Regan: The remit of the short life working group expressly omits the merits of different models to tackle prostitution .

22 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether its short life working group on tackling prostitution will include representation from sex worker-led organisations.

Answer · Ash Regan: Lived experience will be captured within the short life working group’s membership as many of our third sector organisations work directly or indirectly with women involved in prostitution. The consultation on draft principles will also enable further voices …

22 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether its short life working group on tackling prostitution will seek to develop (a) policies and (b) support services for sex workers in Scotland.

Answer · Ash Regan: A short life working group, comprising of key public bodies and third sector representatives, has been established to consider the fundamental principles which will underpin a model for Scotland to effectively tackle and challenge men’s demand for prostitutio…

22 Dec 2021 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve the provision of GP services in the north east.

20 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the changing situation with the COVID-19 pandemic, what additional support it will make available to mitigate any financial hardship faced by taxi drivers in (a) Dundee and (b) Scotland as a result of the pandemic's impact on their ability to earn a living, and what assuranc…

Answer · Kate Forbes: We recognise the pandemic’s impact on the economy and businesses across a wide range of sectors. So far, the Scottish Government has provided £79.3 million directly to taxi and private hire drivers and operators in response to the pandemic. Further support of…

13 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether its Climate Justice Fund is currently contributing to projects supporting international efforts to (a) tackle forest fires and (b) reforest the Amazon Basin and Indonesian provinces, and whether such projects will be eligible for funding in the future under the expanded fund.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Climate Justice Fund does not currently contribute to projects tackling forest fires or reforestation in the Amazon Basin or Indonesia. The focus of the Fund is on actions to achieve climate justice, principally supporting communities most affected by cli…

13 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to implement in full the recommendations in the report, Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis, prepared by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and, if so, what steps it will take to do so.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The latest report from the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change shows the very real threat and heightened risk the climate emergency poses to the planet - but it also makes it clear that with immediate, concerted international action to reduce emissio…

13 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that the views of people, who may be affected by the transition to net zero, will be heard by the Just Transition Commission. 

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The remit for the Just Transition Commission set by the Scottish Government tasks them with “undertaking meaningful engagement with those most likely to be impacted by the transition, hearing from a broad range of representative voices and advising on how to …

13 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to promote (a) public ownership, (b) integration and (c) the use of renewable energy in the public transport system.

Answer · Graeme Dey: We are pressing ahead to put in place arrangements to mobilise a wholly owned company of the Scottish Government to provide ScotRail services within the public sector under Scottish Government control. The revised arrangements will start when the current fran…

24 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the average size of a land holding in Scotland is, and what percentage of land holdings are estimated to be above a threshold of (a) 5,000 and (b) 10,000 acres, broken down by (i) tenanted crofts, (ii) owner occupied crofts, (iii) tenanted farms and (iv) owner occupied farms.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Table 1: Number and area of land holdings in Scotland, June 2021  All Percentage of holdings above 5,000 acres Percentage of holdings above 10,000 acres Number of Holdings Total Area (acres) Mean Average area (acres) Median Average area (acres) Hold…

11 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether Scottish Enterprise attaches conditions to public funding provided to defence companies with a view to ensuring that such funding is not used towards the production of arms and other defence equipment or the supply of arms and other defence equipment to countries engaged in human…

Answer · Ivan McKee: That Scottish Government does not support the manufacture of munitions and Scottish Enterprise does not provide funding for the manufacture of munitions. The support provided is mainly focused on helping firms to diversify and develop civilian applications fo…

10 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that tenants’ unions will be represented on the proposed tenant participation panel.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: Initial work is underway to support the establishment of a PRS tenant participation panel. The first phase of this work is focusing on hearing from PRS tenants in developing our draft Rented Sector Strategy consultation document. As part of this, we are worki…