Questions and answers

Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for ��˿�� to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S6W-39520

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 July 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 30 July 2025

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.

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

Examples include £126,000 to Fisheries Innovation & Sustainability in 2024-25 for the Smarttrawl project to improve selectivity, and £299,000 to KIMO to help fishers responsibly dispose of and recycle waste, including nets.

Question reference: S6W-39521

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 July 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 30 July 2025

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.

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

An example of support for training is £51,000 awarded to Fishing into the Future in 2024-25. This enabled them to hold an event bringing together the fishing industry, scientists and fisheries management to encourage innovation and sustainable practices.

Question reference: S6W-39341

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 July 2025
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 29 July 2025

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 Corporation [that is The Lord Provost, Magistrates and Councillors of the City and Royal Burgh of Dundee] shall within five years from the annexation [of Broughty Ferry into Dundee] establish and thereafter maintain in the burgh [of Broughty Ferry] a fire station with staff and all necessary equipment”.

Question reference: S6W-39428

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 July 2025
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 28 July 2025

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.

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, only making awards to organisations that satisfy this assessment process. As part of this process companies must provide a written statement to Crown Estate Scotland to confirm they have not been convicted of unlawful activity, including corruption, bribery, fraud, and human trafficking and exploitation, within the last five years. The criteria underpinning this assessment process is published for the purposes of transparency and accountability.

For the ScotWind leasing round, Crown Estate Scotland required a statement of commitment from each applicant and any project partners confirming that they are not, and have not been, in contravention of a range of legislation, including sanction regimes. This requirement safeguarded against the successful participation of companies convicted of unlawful conduct either within the UK or internationally, including unlawful conduct in relation to ecologically damaging developments. In terms of ScotWind, companies that have proposed a change in ownership or structure following the award of a lease option agreement, Crown Estate Scotland undertakes a review of any incoming party to ensure they have the required capability, financial standing and have provided a duly signed statement of commitment, before consent to such a change in the project is granted.

Crown Estate Scotland also has responsibilities under the Scottish Government’s Slavery and Human trafficking statement and follow guidance on due diligence in relation to human rights.

Crown Estate Scotland are committed to taking all appropriate action to prevent the Scottish seabed from being used by any company that does not meet its terms of lease.

Crown Estate Scotland reserves the right to void any application (or terminate agreement) in relation to ScotWind, or other developments which is found to have provided false information.

Question reference: S6W-39429

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 July 2025
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 28 July 2025

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.

Question reference: S6W-39519

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 July 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 20 August 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many people are employed in the towed gear fishing industry.

Question reference: S6W-39525

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 July 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 20 August 2025

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.

Question reference: S6W-39522

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 July 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 20 August 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what recent assessment it has made of the impact of the fishing industry on marine carbon sequestration.

Question reference: S6W-39518

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 July 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 20 August 2025

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.

Question reference: S6W-39523

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 July 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 20 August 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what recent assessment it has made of the impact of the fishing industry on marine biodiversity.