- Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 December 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 19 December 2024
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
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-based and effective fisheries management measures for the large number of inshore sites is a complex and challenging process. Fisheries management measures for inshore MPAs and Priority Marine Features (PMFs) are currently going through a Sustainability Appraisal, and other statutory impact assessments are being undertaken in preparation for the inshore consultation. The consultation will be undertaken in line with the commitment in the current Programme for Government. Final fisheries management measures will then be implemented as soon as possible once the consultation responses have been analysed and a final decision on the measures taken.
- Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 December 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 19 December 2024
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish Regional Marine Plans for existing Marine Planning Partnership areas.
Answer
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 public consultations and are making progress towards being submitted to Scottish Ministers for consideration, approval and adoption. The draft Clyde Regional Marine Plan is currently in the process of a policy update ahead of identifying a suitable period for a public consultation.
Officials will continue to work constructively with each MPP to refine and develop their plans to be suitable for adoption by Scottish Ministers.
- Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 December 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 19 December 2024
To ask the Scottish Government when Regional Marine Plans will be developed for the remainder of the Scottish Marine Regions.
Answer
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 has provided a clear approach to regional marine planning moving forward, with the position that no further MPPs should be established until after the adoption of the updated National Marine Plan (NMP2). This is with the exception of the Western Isles, where early work on developing an MPP had already commenced.
- Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 December 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 19 December 2024
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to integrate inshore fisheries management with regional planning.
Answer
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 are covered by sector specific regulations outside of planning. Fisheries management measures form part of our ecosystem-based management but are not a national or regional marine planning matter.
We have a live call for evidence under our Inshore Fisheries Management Improvement (IFMI) Programme, which closes on 04 February 2025. This seeks expert input to help us transition to a more agile management model and enable a regional approach.
All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at /chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.
- Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 14 December 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Claire Baker (on behalf of the SPCB) on 12 January 2024
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
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 essential that the Parliament maintains its impartiality. There are no plans in place to fly the flag of Palestine on 29 November 2024.
- Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 14 December 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Claire Baker (on behalf of the SPCB) on 12 January 2024
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
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.
- Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 December 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 11 January 2024
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
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 biodiversity crises and will support continued activity as we strive to meet stretching targets for Scotland.
More information on the budget can be found here:
- Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 15 December 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 11 January 2024
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
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.
- Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 15 December 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 11 January 2024
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 survey.
Answer
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.
- Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 15 December 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 11 January 2024
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
NHS Grampian and Aberdeen City HSCP are responsible for the delivery of primary medical services in Aberdeen.
The Scottish Government recently published the report. This report sets out a clear framework for the core principles of how GP services should be delivered – equitably, sensitively, reasonably and appropriately, making the most effective use of resources and systems currently available.
The principles are intended to assist practices in their ongoing considerations of how to best meet those needs in differing and sometimes difficult circumstances. The Scottish Government will continue to work together with all relevant partners to implement these principles.