Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-43526

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 12 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recommendations in the report, Just Transition Fund for the North East and Moray: final evaluation, in relation to the financial administration and payment delays to applicants to the Just Transition Fund.

We commissioned independent research to evaluate the impact of the first two years of the Just Transition Fund for the North East and Moray (JTF). This study noted several project delivery challenges and included suggestions from project partners on how Scottish Government should address these challenges.

We agree terms and conditions with each grant recipient individually, using the Scottish Government Model Offer of Grant as a basis. Under this Model Offer, grant payments are made in arrears and we are not able to make payments upfront. We have changed our processes between the FY 2022-23 round and the FY 2025-26 JTF round, and now process grant payments on a monthly basis rather than a quarterly basis.

Question reference: S6W-43527

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 12 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government (a) what engagement it has had with and (b) when it last met with representatives from (i) the offshore oil and gas sector, (ii) the offshore renewables sector and (iii) trade unions in Scotland following the publication of the report, Just Transition Fund for the North East and Moray: final evaluation.

We regularly engage with stakeholders, including the offshore oil and gas sector, offshore renewables sector and trade unions, on a variety of subjects, including on the Just Transition Fund. The last time we met with the offshore oil and gas sector was 10 February when officials met with OEUK. The last time officials met with the offshore renewables sector was 10 February. The last time officials met with STUC was on 15 January, to discuss the work STUC carries out to support just transition capacity within the trade union movement.

Question reference: S6W-43347

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 5 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what recent communication it has had with (a) Aberdeen City Council, (b) Aberdeenshire Council, (c) Moray Council, (d) SEPA and (e) Energy From Waste (EfW) Ness regarding the shutdown of the waste incinerator in East Tullos.

Waste collection and recycling services are a matter for individual local authorities and which strategy they adopt is entirely up to them. Local authorities are independent corporate bodies with their own powers and responsibilities, separate from the Scottish Government. As long as they act lawfully, it is up to each local authority how it manages its day-to-day business and decision making processes including on how to collect and process waste.

The Scottish Government liaises regularly with SEPA and local government representatives regarding waste contingency challenges. As part of ongoing liaison, Scottish Government was informed about the reported shutdown and reopening of the NESS incinerator in Aberdeen and actions taken by councils to mitigate any disruption of waste management services. Based on available information, Scottish Government’s understanding is that waste collections remained unaffected.

Question reference: S6W-43344

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 5 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact on (a) environmental, (b) air and (c) water quality of the shutdown of the waste incinerator in East Tullos.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is the regulator for municipal waste incineration. SEPA already publishes summary data on pollutant releases via the Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory (SPRI), site-specific monitoring data on its public register and also requires operators to make up to date emissions information available to the public via their own websites.

SEPA sets and enforces stringent permit conditions, including continuous emissions monitoring, periodic stack testing, and ambient air quality assessments. SEPA tightened emissions limits for Scottish plants in line with the 2019 EU Waste Incineration Best Available Technique (BAT) Conclusions, which cover air, water and other environmental considerations, with compliance required by 3 December 2023.

Question reference: S6W-43346

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 5 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to (a) local authority, (b) co-operative and (c) worker ownership as part of its assessment of energy from waste incineration facilities in Scotland.

Waste collection and recycling services are a matter for individual local authorities and which strategy they adopt is entirely up to them. Local authorities are independent corporate bodies with their own powers and responsibilities, separate from the Scottish Government. As long as they act lawfully, it is up to each local authority how it manages its day-to-day business and decision making processes including on how to collect and process waste.

Question reference: S6W-43345

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 5 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to (a) environmental, (b) air and (c) water quality as part of its assessment of energy from waste incineration facilities in Scotland.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is the regulator for municipal waste incineration. SEPA already publishes summary data on pollutant releases via the Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory (SPRI), site-specific monitoring data on its public register and also requires operators to make up to date emissions information available to the public via their own websites.

SEPA sets and enforces stringent permit conditions, including continuous emissions monitoring, periodic stack testing, and ambient air quality assessments. SEPA tightened emissions limits for Scottish plants in line with the 2019 EU Waste Incineration Best Available Technique (BAT) Conclusions, which cover air, water and other environmental considerations, with compliance required by 3 December 2023.

Question reference: S6W-43528

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 February 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 17 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to recommendations in the Just Transition Fund for the North East and Moray: final evaluation report, in relation to (a) extension of application timeframes, (b) earlier notice of funding rounds to applicants, (c) transparency of decision-making processes and (d) strength of monitoring of applicant project progress for applications to the Just Transition Fund.

Question reference: S6W-42531

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 December 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 6 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when it last discussed the safety of oil and gas workers in the central and northern North Sea with the UK Government.

The Scottish Government recognises the paramount importance of workplace health and safety in the offshore energy sector.

Health and safety legislation is, however, a matter reserved to the UK Government, with the Health and Safety Executive as the regulator across Great Britain. Maritime safety is also a reserved competence of the UK Government undertaken by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

Scottish Government officials meet regularly with UK Government counterparts and regulators to discuss a range of matters related to the offshore energy sector.

Question reference: S6W-42530

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 15 December 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 5 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update from the (a) Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and (b) Health and Safety Executive in Aberdeen regarding the fatality on the Valaris 121 jack-up rig on 14 November 2025.

Question reference: S6W-42532

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 December 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 31 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding staff pay for offshore regulators, when it last discussed the funding of the Health and Safety Executive with the UK Government.

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