Mercedes Villalba
Scottish Labour
MSP for North East Scotland (Region) 2021 - present day
About Mercedes Villalba
Contact details
Contact online
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 2 committees
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee
Substitute Member
Cross-party groups
Mercedes is a member of 9 cross-party groups
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Cuba
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Medicinal Cannabis
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 Taiwan
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 3 previous roles
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
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 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
Member of Living Rent tenants' union.
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 Unite the Union.
Until 1 December 2022 I was a member of University and College Union. [Ceased interest 13 December 2022]
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: 30 May 2023
Deposit Return Scheme
Mercedes Villalba (North East Scotland) (Lab): "I thank the minister for the advance sight of her statement…
Chamber meeting date: 25 May 2023
Agriculture Policy
Mercedes Villalba (North East Scotland) (Lab): "It is clear that we need to make changes to support our agricultural sector. Our current direct payments system is deeply unequal…
Chamber meeting date: 24 May 2023
Just Transition (Offshore Workers)
4. Mercedes Villalba (North East Scotland) (Lab): "To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the energy minister has had with ministerial colleagues regarding the recommendations to the Scottish Government contained in the report, “Our Power: Offshore Workers’ Demands for a Just Energy Transition”. (S6O-02263)"
Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee meeting date: 23 May 2023
Trusts and Succession (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
Mercedes Villalba (North East Scotland) (Lab): "I would like to move us on to sections 16 and 17 of the bill, which relate to trustees’ powers of investment…
Chamber meeting date: 18 May 2023
Sewage Discharges (Monitoring)
Mercedes Villalba (North East Scotland) (Lab): "Scotland’s natural environment is not just the envy of the world; it is vital to our health…
Votes
How Mercedes Villalba has voted in Parliament
Find out how Mercedes Villalba has voted recently.
Let's Talk Education – The National Discussion
Submitted by: Stephen Kerr, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, May 30, 2023
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, May 31, 2023
Result 29 for, 90 against, 0 abstained, 10 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Hospital at Home Programme in Scotland
Submitted by: Michael Matheson, Falkirk West, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, May 24, 2023
Supported by: Jenni Minto, Maree Todd
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, May 30, 2023
Result 114 for, 0 against, 0 abstained, 15 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Hospital at Home Programme in Scotland
Submitted by: Dr. Sandesh Gulhane, Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Thursday, May 25, 2023
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, May 30, 2023
Result 47 for, 65 against, 0 abstained, 17 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Hospital at Home Programme in Scotland
Submitted by: Paul Sweeney, Glasgow, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Thursday, May 25, 2023
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, May 30, 2023
Result 17 for, 94 against, 3 abstained, 15 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Ending Violence in Scottish Schools
Submitted by: Jenny Gilruth, Mid Fife and Glenrothes, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, May 23, 2023
Supported by: Graeme Dey, Natalie Don
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, May 24, 2023
Result 93 for, 18 against, 0 abstained, 18 did not vote
MSP voted against
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: 31 May 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its progress in establishing a Peace Institute by the end of 2022, as set out in its 2021-22 Programme for Government."
Taken in the Chamber on 7 June 2023
Asked by: Villalba, Mercedes, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 12 May 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to concerns by the Environmental Rights Centre for Scotland regarding barriers to gaining bathing water status at Scotland’s rivers, lochs and beaches due to newly introduced requirements, including the need to gain the consent of landowners and local authorities, hold a local consultation…
Holding Answer by Mairi McAllan on 30 May 2023
Asked by: Villalba, Mercedes, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 23 May 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that global temperatures are likely to break the key 1.5C warming limit within the next four years."
Answer expected on 8 June 2023
Asked by: Villalba, Mercedes, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 11 May 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government how much SEPA has spent in the last 12 months on measures to prevent future seasonal water shortages."
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 23 May 2023
Asked by: Villalba, Mercedes, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 11 May 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reported early warnings of water scarcity from SEPA for summer 2023, what progress has been made since the water shortages in summer 2022 to improve water availability."
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 23 May 2023
Asked by: Villalba, Mercedes, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 11 May 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government how it incentivises responsible water usage by (a) industry and (b) the agriculture sector, in order to prevent seasonal water scarcity."
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 23 May 2023
Asked by: Villalba, Mercedes, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 11 May 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what the most recent research is that it has undertaken on Scotland’s resilience to seasonal water scarcity, and what the findings were."
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 23 May 2023
Asked by: Villalba, Mercedes, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 4 May 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will continue to distribute funding to (a) national parks and (b) local authorities, as part of its Edinburgh Process Fund, in 2023-24."
Answered by Lorna Slater on 18 May 2023
Asked by: Villalba, Mercedes, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 4 May 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what monitoring it puts in place for funding allocated to national parks and local authorities from its Edinburgh Process Fund."
Answered by Lorna Slater on 18 May 2023
Asked by: Villalba, Mercedes, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 4 May 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with COSLA regarding its Edinburgh Process Fund."
Answered by Lorna Slater on 18 May 2023
See all of Mercedes Villalba's questions submitted in Parliament