Mercedes Villalba
Scottish Labour
MSP for North East Scotland (Region) 2021 - present day
About Mercedes Villalba
Contact details
Contact online
Email: [email protected]
Contact at the Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 348 6390
Text relay calls welcome.
Committees
Mercedes is a member of 1 committee
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee
Substitute Member
Cross-party groups
Mercedes is a member of 7 cross-party groups
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Cuba
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Migration
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Nature and Climate
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Nuclear Disarmament
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Palestine
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Rural Policy
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Tibet
Member
Parliamentary and Government Roles
Mercedes does not have any parliamentary or government roles
Party Roles
Mercedes has 2 party roles
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Biodiversity
Scottish Labour
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Environment
Scottish Labour
Previous roles
Mercedes has had 4 previous roles
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
25 April 2023 - 16 November 2023
Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee
Member
01 February 2023 - 25 April 2023
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee
Member
22 September 2021 - 25 April 2023
Net Zero Energy and Transport Committee
Substitute Member
17 June 2021 - 01 February 2023
Rural Affairs Islands and Natural Environment Committee
Member
Register of interests
Mercedes's register of interests
MSPs must provide details of their financial interests in the Register of Interests. They make an initial statement on becoming or being returned as an MSP. This is then updated with any changes they provide.
Here is the register for Mercedes Villalba. The date of their initial statement was 08 June 2021.
Remuneration and related undertaking
No registrable interests
Gifts
No registrable interests
Overseas visits
From 17 to 24 October 2023, I took part in the International Visitors Program for the 2023 General Elections of Argentina in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The program was organised by the Directorate for Electoral Cooperation and Assistance of the Ministry of the Interior of Argentina (Gascón 352 - Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires) which manages issues pertaining to domestic politics such as immigration and co-ordination between the federal government and the governments of the provinces of Argentina. The costs, which were met by the Ministry, were as follows: internal travel, hotels and food £850; logistical and organisational support £600; and international travel £1,200. [Registered 14 November 2023]
From 27 May to 2 June 2022 I took part in an international delegation to Colombia to monitor the current state of trade union rights, human rights and the peace deal signed between the Colombian state and the FARC-EP in November 2016. The delegation was organised by the British-Irish organisation, Justice for Colombia (75 St John Street, London, EC1M 4NN), which campaigns in support of peace and human rights in Colombia. The costs, which were met by Justice for Colombia, were as follows: internal travel, hotels and food £900; logistical and organisational support £583; and international travel £862. [Registered 24 June 2022]
Controlled transactions
No registrable interests
Heritable property
No registrable interests
Interest in shares
No registrable interests
Voluntary
As a funded PhD student prior to the election, I received a monthly stipend of £1,273.75. I received the last stipend on 28 May 2021, but returned this to the university on 8 June 2021.
Member of ACORN tenants' union.
Member of Living Rent tenants' union.
[Ceased interest removed from entry: 13 December 2023]
Member of Unite the Union.
Recent Activity
What was said
What Mercedes Villalba has said in Parliament
These are the official transcripts of what was said by this MSP in the chamber and at committee meetings. You'll find the topic discussed and how many times this MSP has contributed to the discussion.
Chamber meeting date: 13 December 2023
Wealth Tax
4. Mercedes Villalba (North East Scotland) (Lab): "To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to develop a wealth tax. (S6O-02873)"
Chamber meeting date: 12 December 2023
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (75th Anniversary)
Mercedes Villalba (North East Scotland) (Lab): "I thank Kaukab Stewart for securing the debate to enable us, as a Parliament, to mark the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights…
Chamber meeting date: 23 November 2023
University of Aberdeen (Languages)
Mercedes Villalba (North East Scotland) (Lab): "Constituents who work in modern languages at the University of Aberdeen have contacted me about the university management’s plans to withdraw honours degrees in languages, cultures and societies…
Chamber meeting date: 23 November 2023
Air Pollution (Urban Towns)
Mercedes Villalba (North East Scotland) (Lab): "The Kingsway in Dundee goes through several of the most deprived communities in the city, and it is used by thousands of vehicles each day. That exposes residents to high levels of air pollution…
Chamber meeting date: 22 November 2023
Living Wage (Support for Rural Businesses)
Mercedes Villalba (North East Scotland) (Lab): "Does the Scottish Government know how many of Scotland’s 1,125 rural estates are accredited living wage employers? Will the cabinet secretary join me in calling on any estates that are not yet accredited to register today?"
Votes
How Mercedes Villalba has voted in Parliament
Find out how Mercedes Villalba has voted recently.
Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill
Submitted by: Angela Constance, Almond Valley, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, April 22, 2024
Supported by: Siobhian Brown
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, April 23, 2024
Result 60 for, 0 against, 62 abstained, 7 did not vote
MSP not voted
Vote Passed
Scottish Employment Injuries Advisory Council Bill
Submitted by: Mark Griffin, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Tuesday, April 16, 2024
Supported by: Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, April 18, 2024
Result 20 for, 95 against, 0 abstained, 14 did not vote
MSP not voted
Vote Defeated
Business Programme
Submitted by: Meghan Gallacher, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Supported by: Jeremy Balfour, Alexander Burnett, Sharon Dowey, Tim Eagle, Russell Findlay, Pam Gosal, Jamie Halcro Johnston, Rachael Hamilton, Liam Kerr, Douglas Ross, Brian Whittle
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Result 53 for, 60 against, 5 abstained, 11 did not vote
MSP not voted
Vote Defeated
Approval of SSI
Submitted by: George Adam, Paisley, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, April 16, 2024
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Result 88 for, 28 against, 0 abstained, 13 did not vote
MSP not voted
Vote Passed
Repealing the Hate Crime Act
Submitted by: Russell Findlay, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Monday, April 15, 2024
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Result 64 for, 29 against, 25 abstained, 11 did not vote
MSP not voted
Vote Passed
Motions
Motions made by Mercedes Villalba in Parliament
Find out what motions Mercedes Villalba has submitted recently.
Questions
Questions Mercedes Villalba has asked
These are the questions that this MSP has asked in Parliament. It also includes any answer to those questions.
Asked by: Villalba, Mercedes, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 14 December 2023
"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."
Answered by Claire Baker (on behalf of the SPCB) on 12 January 2024
Asked by: Villalba, Mercedes, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 14 December 2023
"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."
Answered by Claire Baker (on behalf of the SPCB) on 12 January 2024
Asked by: Villalba, Mercedes, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 15 December 2023
"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."
Answered by Michael Matheson on 11 January 2024
Asked by: Villalba, Mercedes, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 15 December 2023
"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."
Answered by Michael Matheson on 11 January 2024
Asked by: Villalba, Mercedes, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 13 December 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact of the reported 26% real-terms reduction to SEPA's funding since 2010-11 on the agency’s ability to carry out its statutory duties."
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 11 January 2024
Asked by: Villalba, Mercedes, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 13 December 2023
"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."
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 11 January 2024
Asked by: Villalba, Mercedes, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 15 December 2023
"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."
Answered by Michael Matheson on 11 January 2024
Asked by: Villalba, Mercedes, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 12 December 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-12781 by Patrick Harvie on 14 December 2022, whether it still plans to introduce a system of national rent controls by the end of 2025."
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 10 January 2024
Asked by: Villalba, Mercedes, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 12 December 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government whether the policy intention for a national system of permanent rent controls, when introduced, is for rents to be stabilised in real terms or to be reduced where appropriate."
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 10 January 2024
Asked by: Villalba, Mercedes, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 12 December 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what measures it will take, beyond rent adjudication, to protect tenants in the period between the lifting of the rent cap on 1 April 2024 and the introduction of a national system of rent controls."
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 10 January 2024
See all of Mercedes Villalba's questions submitted in Parliament