- Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 July 2025
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Current Status:
Answer expected on 12 August 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”.
Answer
Answer expected on 12 August 2025
- Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 23 June 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 9 July 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what recent assessment it has made of seafarer employment conditions on the MV (a) Helliar and (b) Hildasay freight vessel owned by CMAL, and whether these conditions are compliant with its Fair Work Framework.
Answer
Scottish Ministers require that those who deliver public contracts adopt fair employment practices for all workers engaged on delivering these contracts. Crew on board the freight vessels MV Helliar and MV Hildasay continue to benefit from the principles set out in the Fair Work Framework such as; access to training, genuine workforce engagement and payment of at least the Living Wage. Transport Scotland hold regular meetings with SNF to cover a variety of matters, including updates on union and employment issues. Scottish Ministers regularly engage with Trade Unions.
- Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 June 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 9 July 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it can take to ensure that the recognition agreement between Serco NorthLink and the RMT Union for staff on the MV (a) Hrossey, (b) Hjaltland and (c) Hamnavoe ro-pax vessel on the Northern Isles Ferry Services contract is extended to cover seafarers on the MV (i) Helliar and (ii) Hildasay freight vessel on the same contract.
Answer
Fair Work First principles are included in the Northern Isles Ferry Service (NIFS3) contract, including the support of progressive workforce engagement, such as Trade Union recognition and representation where possible, or otherwise alternative arrangements to give staff an effective voice.
- Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 June 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 9 July 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to assess any merits of activating the break clause in Transport Scotland’s current contract with Serco for the Northern Isles Ferry Services.
Answer
The Northern Isles Ferry Services contract sets out the requirement for a Revised Base Case exercise. Transport Scotland and Serco NorthLink completed the contractual requirement to rebase the bid submission figures for Contract Years 7 & 8. As the costs were agreed by Ministers the contract runs to 30 June 2028.
- Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 June 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 9 July 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether CMAL is the sole employer of seafarers working on the MV (a) Helliar and (b) Hildasay freight vessel operated by NorthLink Ferries.
Answer
CMAL are not the employer of any seafarers working on either MV Hellier or MV Hildasay.
- Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 June 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 3 July 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how much of the £500 million Just Transition Fund for the North East and Moray has been allocated since the establishment of the fund.
Answer
Since its establishment in 2022, the Scottish Government has allocated Just Transition Fund support to the North East and Moray as follows:
- 2022 - 2023: £10 million
- 2023 - 2024: £50 million
- 2024 - 2025: £12.172 million
- 2025 - 2026: £15.9 million
- Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 June 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 3 July 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what outcomes have been achieved through the Just Transition Fund.
Answer
With a view to assessing the value for public money and the impact of our investment to date, we commissioned an independent evaluation of the impact of the fund in its first two years of operation. The report, which will be published shortly, emphasised the enabling role of the Fund in delivering a just transition to net zero in region.
Its findings indicate the Fund has created and safeguarded at least 230 jobs, opened up more than 750 training places via skills-focused projects and, attracted over £30 million in private investment and £4.7m in public and third sector investment from £43 million of initial JTF investment.
These are the initial impacts of the Fund and we are confident that job numbers, investment leverage and other key outputs will increase as projects continue.
- Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 June 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 3 July 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how much has been allocated from the Just Transition Fund in each financial year since the fund was established.
Answer
Since its inception in 2022, the Scottish Government has allocated Just Transition Fund support to the North East and Moray as follows:
- 2022 - 2023: £10 million
- 2023 - 2024: £50 million
- 2024 - 2025: £12.172 million
- 2025 - 2026: £15.9 million
- Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 June 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 3 July 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve the (a) management and (b) tracking of marine traffic in Scotland's coastal waters.
Answer
Shipping safety and marine traffic management are matters largely reserved to the UK Government. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency is responsible for shipping regulations and safety in UK waters, including tracking marine traffic in UK waters.
The Marine Directorate of the Scottish Government uses a range of tools and technologies to support the integrated management of Scotland’s seas. This includes the use of Vessel Monitoring Systems and Remote Electronic Monitoring on fishing vessels. Data generated from such technology can be used for fisheries management, environmental protection and marine planning purposes.
Later this year, the Marine Directorate will be taking forward the outcomes of a consultation on requiring tracking and monitoring technology on all under 12 metre fishing vessels in Scottish waters.
Whilst wider shipping policy is reserved, the Scottish Government is committed to working with the UK Government and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to ensure that shipping safety and marine traffic management is given the highest priority for vessels accessing Scotland’s waters.
- Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 June 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 1 July 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how many jobs have been created through the Green Jobs Fund.
Answer
Figures provided by the recipients of the Green Jobs Fund awards estimated that the projects will support up to 7354 jobs over the life of the individual projects.