Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-32118

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 20 December 2024
Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 14 January 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its commitment to establish a Peace Institute in Scotland and its ongoing work funded through its international development fund, whether it (a) has supported and (b) plans to support peacebuilding initiatives in Colombia.

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 platform the Scottish Government will be able to better assess the potential for further investment in a Peace institute, in line with the full recommendations of the research report on establishing a Peace Institute. More information is published on the Scottish Government website.

There are no plans at this time for the Scottish Peace Platform to focus on peacebuilding initiatives in Columbia specifically. However we have hosted nine peacebuilders from Colombia on the Women in Conflict Fellowship and the Scottish Human Rights Defenders programmes.

Question reference: S6W-32232

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 December 2024
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.

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 https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

Question reference: S6W-32229

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 December 2024
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.

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.

Question reference: S6W-32230

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 December 2024
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.

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.

Question reference: S6W-32231

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 December 2024
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.

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.

Question reference: S6O-03858

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 August 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 May 2028

To ask the Scottish Government test the BB.

Question reference: S6W-23930

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 December 2023
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.

Question reference: S6W-23929

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 December 2023
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.

Question reference: S6W-23956

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 15 December 2023
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.

Question reference: S6W-23957

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 15 December 2023
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.

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 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.

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