Douglas Lumsden

22 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the role of parliamentary questions in enabling parliamentary scrutiny in instances where information that is available through administrative processes such as Freedom of Information requests is not provided in answers to similar parliamentary questions.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government strives to be as helpful as possible in its responses to both parliamentary questions and to requests made under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA). These are important and distinct routes by which Members – a…

22 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the cost was of each night of the accommodation for the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy while attending the COP30 UN climate summit.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The total cost of accommodation published here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/foi-202500498535/This is broken down into the following rate per night:Sao Paolo (booked for one night total) - £186.03 per nightBelém (booked for nine nights total…

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, what steps it takes to ensure consistency between information r…

Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-43288 on 6 February 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-committe…

22 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many nights of accommodation were booked for the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy for her attendance at the COP30 UN climate summit, and what the total accommodation cost was.

Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-43286 on February 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…

22 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether alternative accommodation options were considered for the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy’s attendance at the COP30 UN climate summit, and, if so, what the cost range was of these options.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The UK Government recommends a limited number of accommodation providers for devolved government’s attending COPs, in line with security considerations. The UK Government provided hotel and apartment options to Scottish Government, with all options requ…

15 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-42660 by Angus Robertson on 13 January 2026, what the reasons are for its Travel Management system not recording the use of frequent flyer or other travel loyalty scheme account numbers for ministerial air travel, and whether it will provide this in…

Answer · Ivan McKee: Frequent flyer mileage or other loyalty schemes are managed by airlines themselves and not by the Scottish Government's travel agent nor its Travel Management systems. Any membership of such schemes, and use of any accrued benefits is a personal matter for th…

15 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the evidence given by the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy to the Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee on 14 January 2026, what records it holds of occasions, since 2021, on which a planning decision by a local authority was called in by the Sco…

Answer · Ivan McKee: This table details all called in planning applications and recalled planning appeals by the Scottish Ministers since 2021.Details of each are available here Planning Portal by searching the reference.ReferenceCalled in dateCase detailStatusPPA-230-233322-02-2…

15 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what briefing materials were provided to the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy in advance of the transfer of responsibility for Electricity Act 1989 consents to the Minister for Public Finance, broken down by subject matter.

Answer · Gillian Martin: As per my response to S6W-42965 on 21 January 2026, the First Minister made the decision to transfer ministerial responsibility for determining energy consents. No briefing materials were provided to Ministers in advance of the decision.All answers to written…

15 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether briefing materials provided to the Minister for Public Finance in advance of the transfer of responsibility for Electricity Act 1989 consents included information on (a) overhead transmission line developments, (b) undergrounding alternatives and (c) community impact as…

Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-43131 on 3 February 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-committe…

15 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy retains any role in the oversight of officials within the Energy Consents Unit following the transfer of responsibility for Electricity Act 1989 consents to the Minister for Public Finance.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The Minister for Public Finance has assumed responsibility for determining the granting of consents for energy projects, alongside his other responsibilities with regard to planning. Oversight of other work conducted by the Energy Consents Unit remains my res…

15 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it made an assessment of any potential risk that transferring Electricity Act 1989 consent decisions to the Public Finance portfolio could increase the weighting given to capital cost considerations.

Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-43118 on 27 January 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-committe…

15 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will notify the Parliament of any future changes to ministerial responsibility for Electricity Act 1989 consents.

Answer · Gillian Martin: Should there be any future changes to ministerial responsibility for Electricity Act 1989 consents, a letter would be issued to the relevant Scottish Parliament Committee to notify them of the change, as was the case in this instance.

15 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide information on how any impacts on the environment, landscape and communities are balanced against financial considerations in Electricity Act 1989 consent decisions following the change in ministerial responsibility.

Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-43118 on 27 January 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-committ…

15 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government who has ministerial oversight of the Energy Consents Unit and the associated development portal, following the transfer of responsibility for Electricity Act 1989 consents to the Minister for Public Finance.

Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-43133 on 27 January 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-committe…

15 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions took place between the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy and the (a) First Minister and (b) cabinet secretary with responsibility for planning regarding the transfer of responsibility for Electricity Act 1989 consents to the Minister for Public Finance.

Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-43110 on 27 January 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-committe…

15 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the scope of any legal advice sought was in relation to the transfer of responsibility for Electricity Act 1989 consents to the Minister for Public Finance.

Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-43127 on 27 January 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-committe…

15 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether any objections were raised by officials during the process of transferring responsibility for Electricity Act 1989 consents to the Minister for Public Finance and, if so, at what level.

Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-43110 on 27 January 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-committe…

15 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that the transfer of responsibility for Electricity Act 1989 consents to the Minister for Public Finance does not impact transparency and public confidence in the consent process.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The full grounds for Scottish Ministers' decisions are set out in the decision letter which is publicly available online on the Energy Consents Unit portal. There are no plans to change this approach.

15 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it sought legal advice in advance of the transfer of responsibility for Electricity Act 1989 consents to the Minister for Public Finance on 18 December 2025.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The allocation of ministerial portfolios and responsibilities is a matter for the First Minister.

15 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether any of its ministers expressed concern regarding the transfer of responsibility for Electricity Act 1989 consents to the Minister for Public Finance, and if so, which ministerial portfolios were involved.

Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-43110 on 27 January 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-committe…

15 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how responsibility for Electricity Act 1989 consent applications that were live when it was transferred to the Minister for Public Finance on 18 December 2025 was managed during the transition between ministerial portfolios.

Answer · Gillian Martin: To protect the integrity of the decision-making process, and to adhere to the Ministerial Code, it is important that Ministers do not comment on live applications.Decisions made by Scottish Ministers are done so on the basis of collective responsibility. All …

15 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy retains responsibility for outcomes arising from Electricity Act 1989 consent decisions despite no longer having responsibility for decisions following the transfer of responsibility to the Minister for Public Finance. 

Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-43133 on 27 January 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-committe…

15 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the public confidence in the Electricity Act 1989 consent process following the transfer of responsibility to the Minister for Public Finance on 18 December 2025.

Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-43110 on 27 January 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-committe…

15 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the remuneration of the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy changed following the transfer of responsibility for Electricity Act 1989 consents to the Minister for Public Finance on 18 December 2025 and, if so, in what way.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Parliament is responsible for the payment of salaries for MSPs and members of the Scottish Government.

15 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the weighting given to cost considerations in Electricity Act 1989 consent decisions has changed following the transfer of responsibility to the Minister for Public Finance.

Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-43118 on 27 January 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-committ…

15 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how accountability for Electricity Act 1989 consent decisions will be assigned where responsibilities span over more than one ministerial portfolio.

Answer · Gillian Martin: Paragraph 1.4(d) of the Scottish Ministerial Code makes clear that holders of public office are accountable for their decisions and actions. This operates alongside the principle of collective responsibility, set out at paragraph 2.1, whereby decisions reache…

15 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many Electricity Act 1989 consent applications were live when responsibility transferred to the Minister for Public Finance on 18 December 2025.

Answer · Gillian Martin: Details of how many applications were live when responsibility transferred to the Minister for Public Finance on 18 December 2025 are as follows:Section 36 Applications (electricity generating station) 175 Section 37 Applications (overhead lines) 59

15 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the transfer of responsibility to the Minister for Public Finance for consents under the Electricity Act 1989 is intended to be a permanent arrangement.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The current allocation of responsibility for consents under the Electricity Act 1989 is expected to continue for the remainder of this parliamentary term, unless a future change in portfolio responsibility is made.

15 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what arrangements are in place to ensure that there is operational separation between decisions on Electricity Act 1989 consents and decisions relating to capital investment, infrastructure financing or budget allocation.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The Minister for Public Finance has no role in decisions relating to funding, financing or financial guarantees for electricity transmission infrastructure projects that are subject to Electricity Act 1989 consents.Legislation and regulations relating to elec…

15 Jan 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Minister for Public Finance has any role in decisions on funding, financing or financial guarantees for electricity transmission infrastructure projects that are also subject to Electricity Act 1989 consents.

Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-43113 on 27 January 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-committ…