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Chamber and committees

Official Report: search what was said in Parliament

The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.  

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Dates of parliamentary sessions
  1. Session 1: 12 May 1999 to 31 March 2003
  2. Session 2: 7 May 2003 to 2 April 2007
  3. Session 3: 9 May 2007 to 22 March 2011
  4. Session 4: 11 May 2011 to 23 March 2016
  5. Session 5: 12 May 2016 to 5 May 2021
  6. Current session: 12 May 2021 to 4 July 2025
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Displaying 418 contributions

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Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

Petition

Meeting date: 8 February 2023

Mercedes Villalba

I just want it to be noted that I wanted to keep the petition open.

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

Petition

Meeting date: 8 February 2023

Mercedes Villalba

What about the second part of my question? Do you see any dangers in the committee closing the petition?

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

Petition

Meeting date: 8 February 2023

Mercedes Villalba

I think that we should keep the petition open. The Scottish Government’s position is not clear to me, as it is still consulting on these issues. As the petitioner pointed out, we have had strong commitments in the past that have not materialised into action. It would therefore be premature to close the petition until we have a clear position from the Government and an outcome from the consultations.

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

Petition

Meeting date: 8 February 2023

Mercedes Villalba

As you will know, the Bute house agreement of November 2021 committed the Scottish Government to introducing highly protected marine areas and to capping fishing activity in inshore waters. The consultation on highly protected marine areas was launched only in December and is under way. As far as I am aware, the consultation on a cap on fishing activity has not yet begun.

To what extent would those proposals address the concerns that are raised in your petition? Given the current pace of work by the Scottish Government on those commitments, do you see any dangers if the committee were to close your petition today, prior to any progress on the Government’s commitments being made?

Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee

Shark Fins Bill

Meeting date: 25 January 2023

Mercedes Villalba

The minister mentioned that the bill will prevent the import of shark fins. Does she have any further information about fins being used as part of other products—for example, they might be ground up and incorporated into other products—or on whether there has been any research into the impact of the ban on importing such products, how widespread the practice is and how common shark fin importing is?

Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Meeting date: 14 December 2022

Mercedes Villalba

If retailers saw that the birds were not selling and that they therefore still had a lot in stock, would there be any option, as the convener suggested, to hold them back in order to put them on to the shelves in the new year, or will they literally have to be signed off as waste?

Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee

Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

Meeting date: 14 December 2022

Mercedes Villalba

So, this is about consistency with previous legislation.

Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee

Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

Meeting date: 14 December 2022

Mercedes Villalba

I am sorry. May I ask a follow-up question?

Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee

Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

Meeting date: 14 December 2022

Mercedes Villalba

Thank you, minister. Will you outline the Scottish Government’s understanding of the difference between believing and suspecting?

Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee

Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

Meeting date: 14 December 2022

Mercedes Villalba

Thank you.