Mercedes Villalba

16 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-33199 byMairi Gougeon on 15 January 2025, what assessment Forestry and Land Scotlandhas made of what the economic impact would be of installing its own facilitiesto process venison into meat products for the human food chain.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) does not hold a formal economic impact assessment relating to building its own facilities for processing venison. FLS experience of deer management over many decades, and working with professional meat processing business arou…

9 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the issue of redundancies was discussed when it last met with oil and gas contractors in Scotland.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government regularly engages with the offshore oil and gas industry on a range of topics, including workforce planning. For example, the First Minister last met with Offshore Energies UK along with the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy in…

9 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6O-04138 by Gillian Martin on 19 December 2024, and its statement that the new hub for offshore wind "is not going to be a training hub as such", how much of the £150 million of public funding will be used to fund the cost of retraining offshore …

Answer · Gillian Martin: Offshore wind offers a significant opportunity to create thousands of good jobs in Scotland, and the Scottish Government will drive forward skills development for the sector, including supporting the transition of workers from oil and gas.We are almost tripli…

9 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to the supplementary questions to S6O-04138 by Gillian Martin on 19 December 2024, how it is addressing the reported issue of safety tickets duplication.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government is continuing to work in partnership with business and industry to plan for a multi-skilled energy workforce, one that can benefit from opportunities across sectors as the transition to net zero progresses. This includes exploring oppo…

9 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it monitors the number of redundancies among oil and gas contractors in Scotland, and, if so, how many redundancies were made in 2023-24, and, based on asset owners' decommissioning schedules, how many it estimates will be made in each year from 2024-25 to 2029-30.

Answer · Gillian Martin: There is no obligation on private companies to inform the Scottish Government of their redundancy figures, therefore we do not hold this information centrally. However, the Scottish Government engages regularly with the oil and gas industry and the relevant t…

9 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6O-04121 by Mairi Gougeon on 18 December 2024, what assessment it has made of the potential economic impact of increasing the number of deer culled entering the food supply chain.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: No formal assessment has been made of the potential economic impact of increasing the number of culled deer entering the food supply chain. There is a great opportunity, however, for the industry including venison processors and retailers to promote this loca…

9 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6O-04121 by Mairi Gougeon on 18 December 2024, what proportion of venison sold is (a) sourced from the annual deer cull, (b) imported from overseas and (c) from other sources.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: With regard to question a), the industry estimate that around 80% of venison sold is sourced from the annual deer cull.With regard to b), the industry estimate that around 15-20,000 carcases are imported from New Zealand. This can be difficult to quantify bec…

9 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6O-04121 by Mairi Gougeon on 18 December 2024, how many carcasses of the 138,534 deer reportedly culled in the 2022-23 season were (a) processed for commercial meat sales, (b) integrated back into the local ecosystems and (c) disposed of through other …

Answer · Jim Fairlie: With regard to a), Scottish Government does not have precise information but we understand that an estimated 110,000 animals were processed by the three largest venison processors in Scotland in 2022-23. However, this figure includes around 20,000 carcasses o…

9 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-15040 by Mairi McAllan on 8 March 2023, what proportion of the venison sold by Forestry and Land Scotland in each year since 2016, was sold to public sector organisations.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) has never sold venison directly to public sector organisations.FLS does not have the facilities to process venison into meat products for the human food chain. Instead, FLS supplies chilled carcasses to its commercial partners…

12 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on passenger numbers in Scotland, what discussions it has had with National Rail regarding its current Railcard terms and conditions, including that tickets must be bought before boarding the train.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The terms and conditions of all GB-wide railcards are set by National Rail, part of the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) under UK Government rail industry rules. There have been no recent specific discussions concerning changes to railcard terms. ScotRail has confir…

11 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish Regional Marine Plans for existing Marine Planning Partnership areas.

Answer · Gillian Martin: Three Marine Planning Partnerships (MPPs) have been established covering the Shetland, Clyde and Orkney marine regions, and are at various stages of progressing with their Regional Marine Plans.The draft plans for Shetland and Orkney have concluded their publ…

11 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when Regional Marine Plans will be developed for the remainder of the Scottish Marine Regions.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government published the formal response to the final report of the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform (ECCLR) Committee Inquiry into Regional Marine Planning in Scotland in August 2023.As part of this response, the Scottish Government h…

11 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-20143 by Mairi McAllan on 15 August 2023, whether it anticipates any further delays to the implementation of fisheries management measures for both offshore and inshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Priority Marine Features.

Answer · Gillian Martin: Fisheries management measures for offshore MPAs were subject to public consultation, which ran from 19 August to 14 October 2024. The responses are currently being analysed, and final measures will be implemented in 2025.Ensuring that we develop evidence-base…

11 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to integrate inshore fisheries management with regional planning.

Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-22894 on 27 November 2023.The National Marine Plan (NMP2) will inform if, where, when and how development takes place and provide guidance on reaching those decisions.The regulation and management of activities…

10 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its commitment to establish a PeaceInstitute in Scotland and its ongoing work funded through its internationaldevelopment fund, whether it (a) has supported and (b) plans to supportpeacebuilding initiatives in Colombia.

Answer · Angus Robertson: In May 2024, the Scottish Government issued a request for proposals for a supplier to support the delivery of the Scottish Peace Programme, including establishment of a Scottish Peace Platform and the 1325 Women in Conflict Fellowships. In developing a Peace …

14 Dec 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6O-01318 by Humza Yousaf on 7 September 2022, when the improvement plan for any GP surgeries in Aberdeen with poor patient satisfaction results will be published.

Answer · Michael Matheson: NHS Grampian and Aberdeen City HSCP are responsible for the delivery of primary medical services in Aberdeen and the publication of any plans concerning those services.  

14 Dec 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6O-01318 by Humza Yousaf on 7 September 2022, whether it expects patient satisfaction results in the Health and Care Experience Survey 2023-24 to have improved for any GP practices in Aberdeen that had results below the national average in the 2021-22 …

Answer · Michael Matheson: Results from the Health and Care Experience Survey 2023-24 will be published in May 2024. NHS Grampian and Aberdeen City HSCP are responsible for the delivery of primary medical services in Aberdeen.

14 Dec 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6O-01318 by Humza Yousaf on 7 September 2022, what action it has taken to improve the services at any GP practices in Aberdeen that had patient satisfaction results below the national average in the Health and Care Experience Survey 2021-22.

Answer · Michael Matheson: NHS Grampian and Aberdeen City HSCP are responsible for the delivery of primary medical services in Aberdeen. The Scottish Government recently published the General Practice Access Principles report. This report sets out a clear framework for the core prin…

13 Dec 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether Police Scotland has provided any training, advice, guidance or support to the (a) Israel Police, (b) Israel Defence Forces (IDF) and (c) Israeli security services; if so, what type of support has been provided, and what the financial value was of any contract.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Chief Constable of Police Scotland, with oversight from the Scottish Police Authority, considers any requests to provide training to other police forces or organisations via their International Development and Innovation Unit. Police Scotland have confi…

13 Dec 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether any of its departments or agencies have established contractual links with any (a) department or agency of the Israeli government, (b) public body based in Israel, (c) non-governmental organisation (NGO) based in Israel and (d) private company that provides goods and services to …

Answer · Tom Arthur: An analysis of data from the Scottish Procurement Information Hub and Public Contracts Scotland, covering financial year 2017/18 to date, has not identified any spend or contracts with contractors in categories (a) to (c). We do not routinely capture informat…

13 Dec 2023 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether the Scottish Parliament will fly the flag of Palestine to mark International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People on 29 November 2024.

Answer · Claire Baker (on behalf of the SPCB): The Scottish Parliament has a flag flying policy in place which sets out the circumstances of when flags will be flown. A copy of the policy can be found here. The circumstances in which the flying of flags is appropriate are very carefully set out, as it is …

13 Dec 2023 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether the Scottish Parliament has ever flown the flag of Palestine to mark International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People on 29 November.

Answer · Claire Baker (on behalf of the SPCB): According to our records, we have not previously flown the flag of Palestine on 29 November to mark International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.

13 Dec 2023 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government to which countries Police Scotland has delivered international training projects to date.

11 Dec 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it will take, beyond rent adjudication, to protect tenants in the period between the lifting of the rent cap on 1 April 2024 and the introduction of a national system of rent controls.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Act 2022 sets out that upon the ending of the emergency rent cap, we will introduce temporary measures to support an appropriate transition in order to prevent tenants potentially facing unmanageable rent incr…

11 Dec 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the policy intention for a national system of permanent rent controls, when introduced, is for rents to be stabilised in real terms or to be reduced where appropriate.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: We will set out our approach in the Housing Bill when this is published, which will be according to the vision and principles set out in our New Deal for Tenants consultation published in December 2021.  

11 Dec 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-12781 by Patrick Harvie on 14 December 2022, whether it still plans to introduce a system of national rent controls by the end of 2025.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: Our Programme for Government published in September 2023 recommitted to the introduction of a Housing Bill this parliamentary year, to include the introduction of long-term rent controls for the Private Rented Sector.  

7 Dec 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the report, Killing to Kill: An Ethical Assessment of “Predator Control” on Scottish Moors, by the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics.

Answer · Gillian Martin: There are a range of strongly-held views on wildlife management in Scotland. The Scottish Government takes the view that field sports are an important component of the rural economy. We accept that control of predators is sometimes necessary for the managemen…

7 Dec 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact of the reported 26% real-terms reduction to SEPA's funding since 2010-11 on the agency’s ability to carry out its statutory duties.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: SEPA, along with other environment bodies, plays a pivotal role in protecting and maintaining a safe, healthy and sustainable environment for the people of Scotland. This is achieved through funding from Scottish Government alongside SEPA’s regulatory activit…

7 Dec 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported concerns from environmental third sector organisations that a real-terms reduction in funding to environmental agencies could lead to Scotland failing to meet environmental and biodiversity targets.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: As announced on the 19 December 2023 by the Deputy First Minister, Scotland’s key environmental agencies will all benefit from uplifts in resource funding in 2024-25. This additional funding recognises the increasing role they play in tackling the climate and…

7 Dec 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact of the reported 40% real-terms reduction to NatureScot's funding since 2010-11 on the agency’s ability to carry out its statutory duties.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government works closely with NatureScot on its development of corporate and annual operating plans and Ministers meet regularly to discuss progress. This assessment process is therefore continual and NatureScot is ultimately accountable to the S…