Douglas Lumsden

27 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the use of discontinuous electrification to electrify the east coast rail line to Aberdeen.

Answer · Stephen Flynn: I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-00628 on 5 June 2026. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/w…

27 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to support further electrification of the east coast rail line to Aberdeen by the end of the current parliamentary session.

Answer · Stephen Flynn: The Scottish Government remains committed to continued electrification of passenger rail services in Scotland.Electrification plans are being developed to align with Scotrail's fleet renewal requirements, in order to deliver electrification and decarbonisatio…

27 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the project to reduce average rail journey times between Aberdeen and the Central Belt by 20 minutes by 2026, whether it believes that this target will be achieved.

Answer · Stephen Flynn: The Scottish Government remains committed to the Aberdeen to Central Belt Enhancement project.The timescales for the Aberdeen to Central Belt Service Improvement project remain under review and will be subject to investment decisions based on a Final Business…

27 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will advance consideration of the provision of a railway to (a) Peterhead, (b) Fraserburgh and (c) Ellon.

Answer · Stephen Flynn: In 2025, the Buchan Sustainable Transport Study was commissioned by the Campaign for North East Rail and the Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce, with funding from the Scottish Government’s Just Transition Fund.Following officials’ advice, t…

14 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has assessed the impact of the Energy Consents Unit's consultation process on public confidence in decision making relating to major electricity transmission infrastructure projects and, if so, what the findings of that assessment were.

Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government is committed to reforming energy consenting, including improving the consultation process for communities affected by proposed electricity transmission infrastructure projects. To this end, a comprehensive review of Scottish electricit…

14 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding local authority participation in public inquiries relating to major electricity transmission infrastructure projects, (a) what financial, legal or technical support is available to local authorities participating in such inquiries, (b) whether it has assessed if local authorit…

Answer · Stephen Gethins: Local authorities participating in inquiries are required to provide all financial, legal and technical support required to support their participation. No additional funding is provided by the Scottish Government.The Scottish Government has reformed the cons…

14 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding representations submitted on major electricity transmission infrastructure projects, (a) what steps are taken to ensure that all representations are fully considered during the determination process, (b) whether it records the number of representations received by submission m…

Answer · Ivan McKee: All material considerations raised in representations and submitted by members of the public are carefully considered before the Scottish Ministers reach a decision on an application for energy consent.The Scottish Government does not routinely record the met…

14 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding consultations on major electricity transmission infrastructure projects, (a) what assessment it has made of the accessibility of the Energy Consents Unit's consultation process for (i) people in rural communities, (ii) older people and (iii) people with limited digital connect…

Answer · Ivan McKee: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-43830 on 2 March 2026. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees…

14 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many officials in the Energy Consents Unit are currently assigned to determining major electricity transmission infrastructure applications.

Answer · Ivan McKee: Scottish Ministers determine applications made under Section 37 of the Electricity Act 1989 for major electricity transmission infrastructure. The Energy Consents Unit administer these applications on their behalf and there are currently 14 officials directly…

14 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance is provided to reporters and inspectors regarding the consideration and weighting of representations submitted by (a) local residents, (b) community councils and (c) local authorities in relation to major electricity transmission infrastructure projects.

Answer · Stephen Gethins: Reporters, appointed by Scottish Ministers to consider applications for electricity transmission infrastructure are guided by the statutory framework of the Electricity Act 1989 and the associated Code of Practice for inquiries.In all cases where Scottish Min…

14 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether ministers or its officials have met representatives of SSEN Transmission regarding the timetable for a decision on the proposed Kintore to Tealing electricity transmission infrastructure project and, if so, on what dates.

Answer · Ivan McKee: Scottish Ministers have an ambition to determine priority applications for transmission infrastructure within 52 weeks of the date of application.Officials have routine meetings with SSEN Transmission in relation toa range of matters. While application handli…

14 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will (a) make and (b) announce its decision regarding the proposed (i) Kintore to Tealing and (i) Beauly to Peterhead electricity transmission infrastructure projects.

Answer · Ivan McKee: Determinations by Scottish Ministers will only be taken after careful consideration of all relevant information, the Reporter's assessment and recommendations from the public inquiries.

11 Mar 2026 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS boards regarding the 2017 Best Start plan to downgrade the number of level 3 neonatal intensive care units from eight to three.

10 Mar 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the total cost has been to date of payments to generators in Scotland under the Renewables Obligation. 

Answer · Gillian Martin: Payments to generators are made by licensed electricity suppliers through the purchase of renewable obligation certificates (ROCs). While the published buy out price acts as a ceiling, the actual price paid for certificates is a matter for negotiation between…

10 Mar 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the total net cost has been to date of payments to generators in Scotland under the Contracts for Difference scheme. 

Answer · Gillian Martin: The Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme is a reserved to and operated by the UK Government. The Scottish Government does not hold data on the net cost of CfD payments made to generators in Scotland.

10 Mar 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of how the total cost of the Renewables Obligation is expected to change over the next (a) five and (b) 10 years. 

Answer · Gillian Martin: While the Scottish Government is responsible for the legislation underpinning the Renewables Obligation Scotland (ROS), Ofgem are responsible for the operation and administration of the scheme and consequently hold the operational and administrative data.To d…

10 Mar 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of how the total cost of the Contracts for Difference scheme is expected to change over the next (a) five and (b) 10 years. 

Answer · Gillian Martin: The Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme is a reserved to, and operated by, the UK Government. As such, the Scottish Government does not undertake its own independent modelling of the scheme’s projected costs.We continue to support the CfD mechanism as…

10 Mar 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of how electricity transmission network charges in Scotland are expected to change over the next (a) five and (b) 10 years

Answer · Gillian Martin: As it is the UK Government which has responsibility for energy regulation and transmission charging, the Scottish Government has not carried out any formal analysis on how transmission charges are expected to change over the next decade.Forecasts are produced…

10 Mar 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of how renewable electricity curtailment costs are expected to change over the next (a) five and (b) 10 years in Scotland. 

Answer · Gillian Martin: As matters relating to the setting and management of constraint payments are reserved, the Scottish Government has not made its own assessment of expected future changes in curtailment costs.All regulation and legislation relating to electricity networks is r…

6 Mar 2026 · SPCB Oral Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether the Edinburgh accommodation allowance for MSPs will be reviewed, in light of the City of Edinburgh Council announcing that, from 1 April 2026, the premium applied to council tax on second homes will increase from 100% to 300%.

4 Mar 2026 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether it is appropriate for the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy to use terms such as "far right" in the context of objections to energy projects.

29 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-43144 by Ivan McKee on 27 January 2026, what arrangements it has in place to verify that any frequent flyer or other travel loyalty scheme benefits arising from ministerial air travel are not used for the traveller’s personal gain.

Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government has no arrangements in place to verify personal use of frequent flyer or other travel loyalty scheme benefits that may arise from Ministerial air travel.The Scottish Ministerial Code stipulates that Ministers must avoid arrangements th…

29 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-43127 by Gillian Martin on 27 January 2026, regarding the transfer of responsibility for Electricity Act 1989 consents to the Minister for Public Finance on 18 December 2025, what role the First Minister had in deciding the transfer; whether the Fir…

Answer · Gillian Martin: Regarding the First Minister’s role in the transfer of ministerial responsibility for determining energy consents, I refer the member to the answer to S6W-43259 on 3 February 2026.No legal advice was sought because, as stated in the answer to S6W-42965 …

29 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-43144 by Ivan McKee on 27 January 2026, whether it will confirm whether Corporate Travel Management North Ltd holds any data on frequent flyer or other travel loyalty scheme accounts used in connection with ministerial air travel booked through Scot…

Answer · Ivan McKee: CTM North Ltd. does not hold any data on any travel loyalty scheme accounts, including frequent flyer memberships, used in connection with Ministerial air travel.The current Crown Commercial Services Framework for Travel and Venue Solutions stipulates that th…

28 Jan 2026 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy will engage with community groups affected by new energy projects now that she is no longer responsible for energy consent decisions. 

22 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-42412 by Gillian Martin on 16 December 2025, and in light of the information provided in the response to a request under Freedom of Information (FoI) legislation, dated 20 January 2026, whether the information in the response to the FoI request, reg…

Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer the Member to the answer to question S6W-43292 on 6 February 2026, which confirms the information was still being collated. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be …

22 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-42412 by Gillian Martin on 16 December 2025, what guidance it provides to officials on whether information that is available for release through Freedom of Information legislation should also be provided in response to a parliamentary question.

Answer · Gillian Martin: Guidance for officials responding to parliamentary questions (PQs) and Freedom of Information (FOI) requests encourages alignment between the standard applied for both. In some instances, there may be examples where information is not available for release in…

22 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-42412 by Gillian Martin on 16 December 2025, whether it held the total cost information relating to the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy’s attendance at the COP30 UN climate summit at the time that the answer was provided.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government was still in the process of compiling and quality assuring the costs at the time of issuing the response. We routinely publish total costs approximately three months in arrears to allow all costs and expenses to be submitted, ensuring …

22 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what training it provides to its officials responsible for drafting answers to parliamentary questions, and whether this includes training delivered by officials responsible for responding to Freedom of Information requests.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government provides extensive guidance and training to officials assisting Scottish Ministers in answering parliamentary questions and in responding to Freedom of Information requests.

22 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government who is responsible for deciding whether detailed cost information is included in an answer to a parliamentary question, and what criteria are applied when determining whether such information should instead be released through proactive publication or in response to Freedom of Informatio…

Answer · Graeme Dey: The relevant Cabinet Secretary or Minister is responsible for the answer to any parliamentary question. The Lord Advocate or the Solicitor General for Scotland may also answer a written question concerning the operation of the systems of criminal prosecution …