Parliamentary questions
Douglas Lumsden
1,891 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
21 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what additional resources will be allocated to Scottish Forestry to deal with any shortfall in capacity to process applications as a result of the energy infrastructure consenting reforms.
Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-31597 on 4 December 2024. 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-co…
21 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy last met Echt & Dunecht Against Pylons.
Answer · Gillian Martin: In my capacity as Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy, I can confirm that I have not met Echt & Dunecht Against Pylons.
21 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy last met the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to discuss the impact of energy infrastructure applications.
Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-31594 on 4 December 2024. 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-co…
21 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much additional workload energy infrastructure consenting reforms will place on Scottish Water.
Answer · Gillian Martin: Scottish Water are a key stakeholder in the consenting process.The ‘Verity House Agreement’ and the ‘New Deal for Business’ have set out how the Scottish Government intends to work collaboratively with local authorities and others to d…
21 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how the energy infrastructure consenting reforms will ensure that the quality of applications is not impacted by any emphasis on faster processing times.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The proposed reforms are intended to increase the quality of applications which are submitted to Scottish Ministers. Doing so, will in turn, allow for faster processing times.
21 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what additional resources will be allocated to local authorities to deal with any shortfall in capacity to process applications as a result of energy infrastructure consenting reforms.
Answer · Gillian Martin: Through the consultation, Scottish Government is keen to understand what further support mechanisms, and practical measures, could be explored within a collaborative framework to reduce the time needed to provide consultation responses.
21 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how the proposed changes to the public inquiry process, as part of the proposed reforms to energy infrastructure consenting, will ensure that all relevant issues are thoroughly examined.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The process proposed in the consultation is based on procedures already in place under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 and which is provided for in the Town and Country Planning (Appeals) (Scotland) Regulations 2013.It suggests ministers app…
21 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy last met Scottish Forestry to discuss the impact of energy infrastructure applications.
Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-31598 on 4 December 2024. 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-co…
21 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how the proposed electricity infrastructure consenting reforms will impact the balance between accelerating infrastructure deployment and protecting environmental and community interests.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The proposed reforms are about making the determination process more efficient, not less robust. Environmental assessment standards will remain unchanged. Scottish Ministers will continue to consider each proposal on a case-by-case basis, following review of …
21 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what additional resources will be allocated to Scottish Water to deal with any shortfall in capacity to process applications as a result of energy infrastructure consenting reforms.
Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-31601 on 4 December 2024. 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-co…
21 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential risks of the proposed powers to allow it to revoke, suspend or vary consents for energy infrastructure projects under specific circumstances, without a new application being made.
Answer · Gillian Martin: At present there is no mechanism by which consents for large overhead electric lines may be varied, or by which consents may be varied quickly in minor ways by the Scottish Government.These limitations can present barriers to the development of infrastructure…
21 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy last met Scottish Forestry to discuss the impact of energy infrastructure consenting reforms.
Answer · Gillian Martin: Through the consultation, Scottish Government is keen to understand what further support mechanisms, and practical measures, could be explored within a collaborative framework to reduce the time needed to provide consultation responses.
21 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what additional resources will be allocated to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to deal with any shortfall in capacity to process applications as a result of energy infrastructure consenting reforms.
Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-31593 on 4 December 2024. 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-co…
21 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy last met Historic Environment Scotland to discuss the impact of energy infrastructure consenting reforms.
Answer · Gillian Martin: Through the consultation, Scottish Government is keen to understand what further support mechanisms, and practical measures, could be explored within a collaborative framework to reduce the time needed to provide consultation responses.
21 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy last met with Transport Scotland to discuss the impact of energy infrastructure consenting reforms.
Answer · Gillian Martin: Through the consultation, Scottish Government is keen to understand what further support mechanisms, and practical measures, could be explored within a collaborative framework to reduce the time needed to provide consultation responses.
21 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how the proposed changes to energy infrastructure consenting will impact the transparency of the consenting process for electricity infrastructure projects.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The reforms would increase public participation in development proposals at pre application stage. The transparency of the process would remain unchanged. All information relating to applications to build, operate or modify onshore electricity generating stat…
21 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures will be in place to ensure that local communities' voices are heard and considered in the pre-application stage for major energy applications.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The consultation proposes new standardised processes for both onshore and offshore developers to engage with local communities and stakeholders before applying to the Scottish Government for new energy infrastructure.At present, the Electricity Act has no pro…
21 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy last met with Transport Scotland to discuss the impact of energy infrastructure applications.
Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-31606 on 4 December 2024. 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-co…
21 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how the proposed changes to the electricity infrastructure consenting regime will ensure that the electricity consenting process remains fair and equitable for all stakeholders.
Answer · Gillian Martin: Scottish Ministers will continue to consider each proposal on a case-by-case basis, following review of the application information, consultation responses and representations made by members of the public.
21 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much additional workload energy infrastructure consenting reforms will place on Historic Environment Scotland.
Answer · Gillian Martin: Historic Environment Scotland are a key stakeholder in the consenting process.The ‘Verity House Agreement’ and the ‘New Deal for Business’ have set out how the Scottish Government intends to work collaboratively with local authorities …
21 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much of the £62 million Energy Transition Fund, announced in June 2020, has been spent, and whether it will provide a breakdown of this spend.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The Energy Transition Fund provided £45.3m of funding to the end of financial year 2023-24. A further £8.7m is expected to be provided over financial year 2024-25.The following table provides a breakdown of the funding provided across the four pro…
21 Nov 2024 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how many email and domain accounts for MSP spouses there are on the Parliament IT system, and what the average annual cost is of administering any such accounts.
Answer · Claire Baker (on behalf of the SPCB): Email and domain accounts are included in the parliamentary resources which are provided by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body to support MSPs' and their staff in undertaking their parliamentary duties. As a requirement of the Reimbursement of Mem…
20 Nov 2024 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what is being done to address the reported shortage of forensic pathologists across Scotland.
14 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the impact of using locum pathologists from outside Scotland has been on the quality of post-mortem examinations in Aberdeen.
Answer · Dorothy Bain: All locum pathologists used to cover non-suspicious Crown-instructed post mortems in Aberdeen are NHS consultants with significant experience of conducting examinations. Prior to being instructed by the Crown, each locum pathologist is interviewed by COPFS of…
14 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the current status is of any work to address the recruitment of forensic pathologists in Aberdeen.
Answer · Dorothy Bain: NHS Grampian has provided COPFS with a commitment to implement a forensic pathology service in Aberdeen, including the recruitment of full-time forensic pathologists, and COPFS is supporting that process.It is however a matter for NHS Grampian to recruit fore…
14 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to reduce the reported backlog of post-mortem examinations in Aberdeen.
Answer · Dorothy Bain: There is no backlog of post mortem examinations in Aberdeen and the majority of routine examinations are completed within agreed targets.COPFS works closely with the Aberdeen mortuary team and locum pathologists to ensure that any issues with service delivery…
14 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the current average workload is for forensic pathologists in Aberdeen, and how this compares with other regions in Scotland.
Answer · Dorothy Bain: There are currently no forensic pathologists based in Aberdeen.
14 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many cases of sudden unexpected death have been referred to Edinburgh from Aberdeen in the last two years.
Answer · Dorothy Bain: The following table shows the numbers of forensic post mortems conducted by two doctors that would normally have been performed in Aberdeen and that were transferred to Edinburgh. Some post mortems were also transferred to Dundee and Glasgow.Only suspicious f…
14 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many death certificates in Aberdeen have been issued with “unascertained” as the cause of death, in the last year.
Answer · Dorothy Bain: The certification of a person’s death is a matter that falls solely within the clinical responsibility of medical practitioners, who require to be satisfied to the best of their knowledge and belief as to the cause of death.Following a post mortem exami…
14 Nov 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures are being taken to improve communication with families regarding the status of post-mortem examinations in Aberdeen.
Answer · Dorothy Bain: The Family Liaison Charter sets out the Crown’s obligations in relation to liaising with and providing information to bereaved relatives.COPFS has established a Death Investigation Improvement Board with a number of workstreams, one of which is focussed…