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Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S6W-40550

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 September 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 30 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the acquisition of the Woodland Invest portfolio by Gresham House Forest Fund VI LP, which was concluded in August 2025.

Question reference: S6W-40551

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 September 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 30 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the acquisition of the Griffin Forestry Estate by Gresham House FF VI LLP, which was concluded in July 2025, what assessment it has made of the potential impact of this on (a) community wealth building, (b) sustainable development, (c) local democracy, (d) environmental quality, and (e) biological diversity.

Question reference: S6W-40549

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 September 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 30 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the acquisition of the Griffin Forestry Estate by Gresham House FF VI LLP, which was concluded in July 2025.

Question reference: S6W-40548

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 September 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 30 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact of concentrated woodland ownership on (a) community wealth building, (b) sustainable development, (c) local democracy, (d) environmental quality and (e) biological diversity.

Question reference: S6W-40546

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 September 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 30 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the acquisition of the Woodland Invest portfolio by Gresham House Forest Fund VI LP, which was concluded in August 2025, what assessment it has made of the potential impact of this on (a) community wealth building, (b) sustainable development, (c) local democracy, (d) environmental quality and (e) biological diversity.

Question reference: S6W-40547

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 September 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 30 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact of concentrated land ownership on (a) community wealth building, (b) sustainable development, (c) local democracy, (d) environmental quality and (e) biological diversity.

Question reference: S6W-39997

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 August 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 3 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-39428 by Gillian Martin on 28 July 2025, what obligations Crown Estate Scotland has under the Fair Work Framework in administering seabed leasing for (a) offshore wind development and (b) other marine renewable energy developments.

Question reference: S6W-39996

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 August 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 3 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-39428 by Gillian Martin on 28 July 2025, whether it will list the criteria underpinning Crown Estate Scotland’s assessment process in administering seabed leasing for (a) offshore wind development and (b) other marine renewable energy developments.

The assessment process for seabed leasing for offshore wind and other marine renewable developments and the criteria that underpins that process, is a matter for Crown Estate Scotland.

The criteria underpinning the awarding of seabed option agreements by Crown Estate Scotland varies by leasing round and sector. In general, the awards process focuses on ensuring the organisation applying for the agreement has the experience and resources necessary to take the project through to completion. In competitive processes, this information will also be used as the basis for choosing between applications for the same area of seabed.

As an example, the ScotWind Leasing process required provision of the following categories of information from applicants:

i. Project Concept and Feasibility

ii. Project Delivery Plans

iii. Experience and capability of the Lead applicant and Project Partners

iv. Development budget

v. Financial strength

vi. Commitment and preparedness

In addition, Crown Estate Scotland requires confirmation that the applicant is not in breach of any laws or sanctions regimes, with that confirmation being provided by a Statement of Commitment signed by a duly authorised officer of the company.

Crown Estate Scotland is committed to the Fair Work Framework and its underlying principles. With regard to seabed leasing, they require a Statement of Commitment and, for the most recent leasing round (INTOG), the Statement of Commitment required inclusion of a commitment to adopting Fair Work First practices.

Crown Estate Scotland has confirmed that similar commitments will be a requirement of future leasing activities on both offshore wind and marine energy award processes.

Question reference: S6W-40144

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 August 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 24 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-39428 by Gillian Martin on 28 July 2025, what consideration it has given to barring companies repeatedly convicted of unlawful activity, including corruption, bribery, fraud, and human trafficking and exploitation, in the last five years, from applying to Crown Estate Scotland for seabed leasing for (a) offshore wind development and (b) other marine renewable energy developments.

Question reference: S6W-40146

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 August 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 24 September 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-39428 by Gillian Martin on 28 July 2025, what consideration it has given to introducing additional criteria for Crown Estate Scotland to void any application or terminate agreement with companies in relation to (a) offshore wind development and (b) other marine renewable energy developments.