Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-11281

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 30 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 5 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact that Green Freeport status would have on the provision of inter-island ferry services in Orkney.

As set out in the joint Bidding Prospectus, all green port bidders were required to ensure that their proposal embedded the second National Transport Strategy vision, priorities and outcomes for the transport system with in it as well as ensuring alignment with regional and local transport strategies.

Following selection there will of course be intensive discussions with each of the successful designations on all aspects of their proposals.

Question reference: S6W-11278

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 30 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 5 October 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact that Green Freeport status in Aberdeen Harbour would have on the contract for Northern Isles Ferry Services.

As set out in the joint Bidding Prospectus, all green port bidders were required to ensure that their proposal embedded the second National Transport Strategy vision, priorities and outcomes for the transport system with in it as well as ensuring alignment with regional and local transport strategies.

Following selection there will of course be intensive discussions with each of the successful designations on all aspects of their proposals.

Question reference: S6O-01393

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 September 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the findings of the survey of participants in 4 Day Week Global’s pilot.

Question reference: S6W-10891

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 21 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the publication of the analysis of responses to its consultation on A New Deal for Tenants, what engagement it has planned with the tenants' union, Living Rent, on (a) the development of an effective system of national rent controls and (b) emergency financial measures to support tenants during the current cost of living crisis, including a rent freeze.

Following the publication of the analysis of responses to the consultation on A New Deal for Tenants, the Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants’ Rights met with Living Rent, alongside other key stakeholders, at a roundtable meeting on 25 August 2022.

The Minister also met with Living Rent on 6 September, as part of his one to one conversations with key stakeholders, immediately following the publication of the Programme for Government 2022-23. These meetings included discussions on proposals for rent controls, emergency cost of living measures to support tenants and a rent freeze.

As we move at pace to introduce emergency legislation to implement a rent freeze and moratorium on evictions, we will ensure a continued dialogue with a range of key stakeholders, including Living Rent.

Question reference: S6W-10495

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 20 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-09839 by Tom Arthur on 11 August 2022, how many land sales in excess of 1,000 hectares (a) there have been and (b) have been registered in each of the last 10 years.

This is a question for the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland (RoS). She advises me that RoS does not hold information on transfers which may have occurred but for which no registration application has been submitted.

In relation to registrations in each of the last 10 years the position is given in the following table.

These numbers include transfers for value (sales) and transfers which are not for value (such as succession), but do not include voluntary registrations (where a property owner voluntarily moves their property from the Register of Sasines to the Land Register with no change in ownership).

As at 24 August 2022, in total there are 930 titles with an area over 1000 hectares registered in the Land Register of Scotland. A further 135 titles with a provisional extent over 1000 hectares are currently undergoing first registration.

Year	Total Ownership Changes
2012	50
2013	43
2014	38
2015	75
2016	124
2017	153
2018	143
2019	205
2020	149
2021	212
2022	116

Question reference: S6W-10496

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 20 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-09839 by Tom Arthur on 11 August 2022, how many land sales in excess of 2,000 hectares (a) there have been and (b) have been registered in each of the last 10 years.

This is a question for the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland (RoS). She advises me that RoS does not hold information on transfers which may have occurred but for which no registration application has been submitted.

In relation to registrations in each of the last 10 years the position is given in the following table.

These numbers include transfers for value (sales) and transfers which are not for value (such as succession), but do not include voluntary registrations (where a property owner voluntarily moves their property from the Register of Sasines to the Land Register with no change in ownership).

As at 24 August 2022, in total there are 545 titles with an area over 2000 hectares registered in the Land Register of Scotland. A further 61 titles with a provisional extent over 2000 hectares are currently undergoing first registration.

Year	Total Ownership Changes
2012	25
2013	36
2014	31
2015	62
2016	104
2017	132
2018	114
2019	152
2020	101
2021	125
2022	65

Question reference: S6W-10575

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 20 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-09839 by Tom Arthur on 11 August 2022, what information it holds on the annual totals of ownership changes of land over 3,000 hectares broken down by (a) sales and (b) transfers and succession.

This is a question for the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland (RoS).

Following on from the previous question, figures are provided for the last 10 years, for properties over 3000 ha.

Transfers are divided between sales/leases for the full monetary market value of the property, versus transfers for discounted or non-monetary consideration (e.g. succession).

Year	Full market value transfers (a)	Other transfers (b)	Total transfers
2012	5	8	13
2013	12	21	33
2014	10	12	22
2015	17	25	42
2016	20	50	70
2017	21	77	98
2018	7	93	100
2019	10	106	116
2020	9	78	87
2021	3	97	100
2022	1	53	54

The total figure for 2022 has increased from 53 to 54 since question S6W-09839 was answered, reflecting new activity since the previous data extraction on 22 July.

Figures are current on 26 August 2022.

Question reference: S6W-10890

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 20 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Scottish Water regarding its progress towards installing spill monitors on all sewer overflows that discharge to designated bathing waters by the end of 2024.

The Scottish Government is in regular discussions with Scottish Water on a wide range of issues. In relation to spill monitors, the first programme of installation has been focussed on proximity to bathing waters, particularly those that are at risk of failing to meet minimum water quality standards. In line with Scottish Water’s Improving Urban Waters Route Map, it aims to install 1,000 new monitors by 2024. Scottish Water is continuing to define the priority locations for installation of monitors and it is expected that around 400 will be required to monitor overflows within 2km of bathing waters.

Scottish Water is working on developing a specification for the monitors by reviewing lessons learned from the roll out in England and Wales and by consulting with its supply chain. Scottish Water is looking to leverage maximum value from the monitors it installs so that overall intelligence in how the sewerage system is operating can be improved.

Question reference: S6W-10889

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 20 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve the safety of designated bathing waters in response to the reported findings by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) that 49 of 87 designated bathing waters in Scotland have recorded levels of sewage contamination beyond safe limits since May 2022.

The Scottish Government is committed to reducing water pollution at beaches across Scotland.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is responsible for protecting and improving water quality at Scotland’s 87 designated Bathing Waters. This bathing water season Scotland has more bathing waters rated as ‘excellent’, ‘good’ or ‘sufficient’ than at any point since tighter bathing water standards first came into force in 2015. Last year, 99% of designated bathing waters achieved the bathing water quality standards.

SEPA has analysed 1,297 water quality samples from 87 designated Bathing Waters this season and 93% were found to be at safe levels. Short term fluctuations in water quality do though occur following heavy rainfall – causing sewer overflows, agricultural run-off from land, and surface water discharges from roads, car parks, and pavements etc., which are all sources of bacteria.

SEPA investigates poor water quality results and works with partners to reduce “short-term pollution” after heavy rainfall. Bathers are also advised on its website or electronic beach signs at 29 Bathing Waters if the water quality is predicted to be poor so they can make an informed choice before entering the water.

To help address the impact of sewer overflows, Scottish Water is investing up to £70m in 1000 new Combined Sewer Overflow event monitors across Scotland, including those at designated Bathing Wates, by December 2024. This spill monitoring information will be used to inform and prioritise investment to improve bathing water quality as well as informing the public.

Question reference: S6W-10371

Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 1 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-08457 by Mairi McAllan on 19 May 2022, what progress has been made on its consultation, Land Reform in a Net Zero Nation, which opened on 4 July 2022; which stakeholders have been involved to date, and whether any further public engagement events are planned before the consultation closes on 25 September 2022.

Following the opening of the consultation on 4 July 2022 a programme of six public meetings has taken place. Five in-person “Town hall events” have been held, as follows:

Langholm (20 July)

Invermoriston (25 July)

Helmsdale (26 July)

Stornoway (27 July)

Ballater (28 July)

An online event was held on Thursday 22 July, which was open to all and which attracted participants from across Scotland.

At each of these events the Minister and officials made presentations setting out what the SG aims to achieve with the next Land Reform Bill, and explaining the measures being put forward in the consultation. Local community groups also made presentations at the in-person meetings. This was followed by questions and discussion.

All six events were well attended.

Those attending included individuals, businesses, owners of farms and estates and their land managers and legal representatives, charity and third sector organisations, local authorities, and academic and research organisations/institutions.

The following stakeholder organisations registered to attend the consultation meetings:

Architecture and Design Scotland

Bòrd na Gidhlig

Central Association of Agricultural Valuers

Communities for Diverse Forestry

Community Land Scotland

Community Woodlands Association

Fauna & Flora International

Food, Farming and Countryside Commission

Foundation Scotland

National Sheep Association Scotland

National Farmers Union of Scotland

Paths for All

Scottish Land and Estates

Scottish Renewables

Scottish Rural Action

Highlands Regional Land Use Partnership

Trees for Life

We anticipate written consultation responses from a range of stakeholder organisations and members of the public. Engagement with stakeholders will continue after the consultation closes, in the light of the responses received.

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