Parliamentary questions
Mercedes Villalba
523 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
16 Sep 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the acquisition of the Woodland Invest portfolio by Gresham House Forest Fund VI LP, which was concluded in August 2025.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-40549 on 24 September 2025. 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-commit…
16 Sep 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the acquisition of the Woodland Invest portfolio by Gresham House Forest Fund VI LP, which was concluded in August 2025, what assessment it has made of the potential impact of this on (a) community wealth building, (b) sustainable development, (c) local democracy, (d) enviro…
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The purchase of forest estates by Gresham House FF VI LLP was conducted via normal market mechanisms. The Scottish Government does not monitor land or forest sales in Scotland and does not carry out assessments around the impacts of individual land transactio…
16 Sep 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact of concentrated land ownership on (a) community wealth building, (b) sustainable development, (c) local democracy, (d) environmental quality and (e) biological diversity.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Policy Memorandum for the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill highlights concentrated land ownership and the associated lack of supply of land can lead to many important social, economic or environmental objectives being more difficult to achieve. The Memorandum …
16 Sep 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the acquisition of the Griffin Forestry Estate by Gresham House FF VI LLP, which was concluded in July 2025.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government expects all managers of afforested land, including Gresham House, to meet the requirements of sustainable forest management as outlined in the UK Forestry Standard. The UK Forestry Standard contains requirements and guidelines on envir…
16 Sep 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact of concentrated woodland ownership on (a) community wealth building, (b) sustainable development, (c) local democracy, (d) environmental quality and (e) biological diversity.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-40457 on 30 September 2025. 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-commit…
16 Sep 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the acquisition of the Griffin Forestry Estate by Gresham House FF VI LLP, which was concluded in July 2025, what assessment it has made of the potential impact of this on (a) community wealth building, (b) sustainable development, (c) local democracy, (d) environmental qual…
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-40546 on 24 September 2025. 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-commit…
26 Aug 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-39428 by Gillian Martin on 28 July 2025, what consideration it has given to introducing additional criteria for companies applying to Crown Estate Scotland for seabed leasing for (a) offshore wind development and (b) other marine renewable ener…
Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-40144 on 10 September 2025. 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-commit…
26 Aug 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-39428 by Gillian Martin on 28 July 2025, what action it is taking to deal with companies repeatedly convicted of unlawful activity, including corruption, bribery, fraud, and human trafficking and exploitation, in the last five years, from apply…
Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-40144 on 10 September 2025. 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-commit…
26 Aug 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-39428 by Gillian Martin on 28 July 2025, under what criteria Crown Estate Scotland would void any application or terminate agreement with companies in relation to (a) offshore wind development and (b) other marine renewable energy developments.
Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-40144 on 10 September 2025. 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-commit…
26 Aug 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-39428 by Gillian Martin on 28 July 2025, what consideration it has given to introducing additional criteria for Crown Estate Scotland to void any application or terminate agreement with companies in relation to (a) offshore wind development and…
Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-40144 on 10 September 2025. 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-commit…
26 Aug 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-39428 by Gillian Martin on 28 July 2025, what consideration it has given to barring companies repeatedly convicted of unlawful activity, including corruption, bribery, fraud, and human trafficking and exploitation, in the last five years, from …
Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer to the answers I provided to questions S6W-39428 on 28 July 2025 and S6W-39996 on 3 September 2025 and confirm that Crown Estate Scotland is responsible for managing seabed leasing for offshore wind and other marine renewable energy developments. Ther…
26 Aug 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-39520 by Mairi Gougeon on 30 July 2025, whether it will provide a breakdown of the total amount that it has awarded from the Marine Fund Scotland to (a) aquaculture and fish farming, (b) trawling and (c) dredging, in each year since the fund starte…
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: As set out in the answer to S6W-39520, a full breakdown of the awards made through the Marine Fund Scotland (MFS) since it was first launched in 2021-22 to the most recent awards made in 2024-25 is available at: www.gov.scot/publications/marine-fund-scotland-…
26 Aug 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-39522 by Gillian Martin on 6 August 2025, what consideration it has given to including blue carbon emissions from the marine environment in its (a) annual monitoring of the Climate Change Plan update and (b) next Climate Change Plan.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government intends to include blue carbon in the next Climate Change Plan, based on the best available scientific evidence.However, there are still evidence gaps relating to blue carbon habitats that impact on a) how blue carbon habitats can be m…
19 Aug 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-39428 by Gillian Martin on 28 July 2025, what obligations Crown Estate Scotland has under the Fair Work Framework in administering seabed leasing for (a) offshore wind development and (b) other marine renewable energy developments.
Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-39996 on 3 September 2025. 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-committ…
19 Aug 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-39428 by Gillian Martin on 28 July 2025, whether it will list the criteria underpinning Crown Estate Scotland’s assessment process in administering seabed leasing for (a) offshore wind development and (b) other marine renewable energy developm…
Answer · Gillian Martin: The assessment process for seabed leasing for offshore wind and other marine renewable developments and the criteria that underpins that process, is a matter for Crown Estate Scotland.The criteria underpinning the awarding of seabed option agreements by Crown…
23 Jul 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent assessment it has made of the impact of the fishing industry on marine carbon sequestration.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government regularly reviews the latest scientific evidence to inform our policy approach to protecting the marine environment, including natural carbon stores, from potentially harmful activities.We are currently preparing a Blue Carbon Action P…
23 Jul 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any barriers that might prevent the transition to low-impact and sustainable fishing methods.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: We have not done a formal assessment of barriers at this stage, however we discuss issues such as this through our engagements with industry and will consider barriers in the course of our work to develop a climate change action plan for fisheries.
23 Jul 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people are employed in the towed gear fishing industry.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The number of fishers working on Scottish registered vessels on 31 December 2024, whose main gear in 2024 was a towed gear (trawl or dredge), was 1,761. This includes 1,708 regular fishers and 53 irregular fishers. This information is provisional and may be r…
23 Jul 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent assessment it has made of the impact of the fishing industry on marine biodiversity.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government takes a comprehensive approach to assessing the impact of the fishing industry on marine biodiversity. Consideration of marine biodiversity is embedded across a range of statutory and non statutory assessments that inform the developme…
23 Jul 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its publications, Scottish Biodiversity Strategy to 2045 and Scottish Biodiversity Delivery Plan 2024–2030, what action it is taking towards implementing the goal of protecting 30% of the marine environment by 2030.
Answer · Gillian Martin: Scotland’s Marine Protected Area (MPA) network covers 37% of our seas, meeting the globally agreed target to conserve at least 30% of marine areas through protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures by 2030.In addition to existi…
23 Jul 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what financial support it offers to (a) workers and (b) employers in the fishing industry to transition to low-impact or sustainable fishing methods.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government supports the fishing industry to transition to low-impact or sustainable fishing methods through the £14m Marine Fund Scotland (MFS).Details of support awarded to date is available at www.gov.scot/publications/marine-fund-scotlan…
23 Jul 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to banning (a) dredging and (b) bottom trawling by the fishing industry.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government has not given consideration to a blanket ban on dredging or bottom trawling, however, it is standard management practice to put in place measures that limit these and other types of fishing methods for a variety of reasons relating to …
23 Jul 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to practical training programmes for (a) workers and (b) employers seeking to transition to low-impact or sustainable fishing methods.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government supports the fishing industry to transition to low-impact or sustainable fishing methods through the £14m Marine Fund Scotland (MFS).Details of support awarded to date is available at www.gov.scot/publications/marine-fund-scotlan…
17 Jul 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will carry out assessments of new shareholders of ScotWind projects for developer information, such as their capability, experience and financial resources, as carried out during the initial leasing process.
Answer · Gillian Martin: Seabed leasing for offshore wind is administered by Crown Estate Scotland. Crown Estate Scotland appraises lease applications as part of its internal assessment and due diligence process to confirm developer suitability, experience and financial strength, onl…
17 Jul 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether new shareholders of ScotWind projects will be asked to submit assurances that they have not been convicted of unlawful activity, including corruption, bribery and human trafficking, as required during the initial leasing process.
Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-39428 on 28 July 2025. 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/…
14 Jul 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has sought legal advice on any implications for the "Options for change" regarding Balmossie fire station, in the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service delivery review, of the Dundee Boundaries Act 1913, in light of it reportedly stating, at section 30(1)(B)(i), that "The Corporati…
Answer · Siobhian Brown: Section 30 of the Dundee Boundaries Act 1913 has been repealed. Under the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 (as amended by the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012) the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service can take decisions on its heritable property to deliver fire…
24 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the expert and independent analysis that it announced it would commission as part of its announcement in February 2025 on building consensus on council tax reform, when this analysis was commissioned; what the timeline is; who is conducting it; when it will be published, and w…
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is working with COSLA through the Joint Working Group on public engagement on Council Tax Reform. We have procured the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) to carry out expert and independent analysis to support this work.The analysis is…
24 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the public consultation process committed to in its announcement in February 2025 on building consensus on council tax reform, when the public will be invited to submit their views on how to make the council tax system fairer, and (a) when in the autumn and (b) where the publi…
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-38980 on 23 July 2025. 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-commi…
24 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, following its announcement in February 2025 on building consensus on council tax reform, what its position is on a proportional property tax.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-38980 on 23 July 2025. 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-commi…
24 Jun 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its announcement in February 2025 on building consensus on council tax reform, what powers it has to conduct a nationwide revaluation of all homes.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is not planning to undertake a Council Tax revaluation. Any suggestion of a revaluation could only proceed if a broad political consensus in favour existed – no such consensus currently exists.Any changes to Council Tax must also…