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Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)

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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 not a member of any committees

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 5 previous roles

Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.

25 April 2023 - 25 September 2024

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

Substitute Member

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.

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.

University of Aberdeen (Proposed Strike Action)

Chamber meeting date: 26 February 2026

6. Mercedes Villalba (North East Scotland) (Lab): "::To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to the outcome of the University of Aberdeen UCU ballot, which resulted in 83 per cent of those voting in support of strike action and 90 per cent in favour of action short of a strike. (S6F-04709)"

University of Aberdeen (Proposed Strike Action)

Chamber meeting date: 26 February 2026

6. Mercedes Villalba (North East Scotland) (Lab): "::To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to the outcome of the University of Aberdeen UCU ballot, which resulted in 83 per cent of those voting in support of strike action and 90 per cent in favour of action short of a strike. (S6F-04709)"

University of Aberdeen (Proposed Strike Action)

Chamber meeting date: 26 February 2026

6. Mercedes Villalba (North East Scotland) (Lab): "::To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to the outcome of the University of Aberdeen UCU ballot, which resulted in 83 per cent of those voting in support of strike action and 90 per cent in favour of action short of a strike. (S6F-04709)"

Wave Energy Scotland (Funding)

Chamber meeting date: 26 February 2026

Mercedes Villalba (North East Scotland) (Lab): "::In a statement to the press, the Scottish Government said that it is“working closely with Wave Energy Scotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and other partners to sustain operations while future alternative sources of funding are identified…

University of Aberdeen (Proposed Strike Action)

Chamber meeting date: 26 February 2026

6. Mercedes Villalba (North East Scotland) (Lab): "::To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to the outcome of the University of Aberdeen UCU ballot, which resulted in 83 per cent of those voting in support of strike action and 90 per cent in favour of action short of a strike. (S6F-04709)"

Votes

How Mercedes Villalba has voted in Parliament

Find out how Mercedes Villalba has voted recently.

Local Government Finance (Scotland) Order 2026

Motion ref. S6M-20733

Submitted by: Ivan McKee, Glasgow Provan, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, February 10, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, February 26, 2026

Result 87 for, 0 against, 25 abstained, 17 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Business Programme

Motion ref. S6M-20898.1

Submitted by: Murdo Fraser, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, February 25, 2026

Supported by: Miles Briggs, Alexander Burnett, Jackson Carlaw, Finlay Carson, Sharon Dowey, Tim Eagle, Russell Findlay, Meghan Gallacher, Maurice Golden, Dr Pam Gosal MBE, Dr Sandesh Gulhane, Jamie Halcro Johnston, Rachael Hamilton, Craig Hoy, Liam Kerr, Stephen Kerr, Douglas Lumsden, Roz McCall, Edward Mountain, Oliver Mundell, Douglas Ross, Liz Smith, Alexander Stewart, Sue Webber, Annie Wells, Tess White, Brian Whittle
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, February 25, 2026

Result 51 for, 66 against, 1 abstained, 11 did not vote

MSP voted for

Disagreed

Business Programme

Motion ref. S6M-20898

Submitted by: Graeme Dey, Angus South, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, February 24, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, February 25, 2026

Result 92 for, 23 against, 0 abstained, 14 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Budget (Scotland) (No. 5) Bill

Motion ref. S6M-20860

Submitted by: Shona Robison, Dundee City East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Thursday, February 19, 2026

Supported by: Ivan McKee
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, February 25, 2026

Result 66 for, 29 against, 24 abstained, 10 did not vote

MSP abstained

Agreed

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 55 Amendment 67A

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, February 24, 2026

Result 25 for, 82 against, 0 abstained, 22 did not vote

MSP voted against

Disagreed

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.

Question reference: S6W-43909

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 26 February 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 12 March 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that its employee recruitment and progression remains (a) based on merit and (b) unconstrained by proximity to work location."

Question reference: S6W-43907

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 26 February 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 12 March 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment has been made of the potential impact of its hybrid working and location policies on the geographical distribution of its employees."

Question reference: S6W-43904

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 26 February 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 12 March 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government, in determining its hybrid working policy for Scottish Government employees, what specific consideration has been given to (a) rural and island employment, (b) rural and island population retention, (c) rural and island sustainable development, (d) the Public Sector equality duty, (e) the Fairer Scotland Duty, (f) the…

Question reference: S6W-43908

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 26 February 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 12 March 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that its employees who live in rural and island communities have equitable access to (a) promotion, (b) redeployment and (c) career development opportunities."

Question reference: S6W-43906

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 26 February 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 12 March 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government, in determining its hybrid working policy for Scottish Government employees, whether (a) an assessment of the commuting impact on employees, (b) an assessment of the financial impact on employees and (c) an islands communities impact assessment was undertaken."

Question reference: S6W-43903

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 26 February 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 12 March 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish its long-term location policy and what factors will be considered in its development."

Question reference: S6W-43905

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 26 February 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 12 March 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government whether an equality impact assessment of its hybrid working policy for Scottish Government employees was published after the hybrid working policy was determined, and if so, what the reason was for this."

Question reference: S6W-43898

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 24 February 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 10 March 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the potential closure of the butchers in Inverurie, Donald Russell, when it last met with the affected (a) trade unions and (b) employees to discuss this."

Question reference: S6F-04709

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 23 February 2026

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 February 2026

"To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the outcome of the University of Aberdeen UCU ballot, which resulted in 83% of those voting in support of strike action and 90% in favour of action short of a strike."

Question reference: S6W-43528

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 3 February 2026

Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin 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…