Max Bannerman

15 Jun 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the House of Commons Library Standard Note SN/SC/1295, what consideration it has given to whether local authority planning application committees in Scotland qualify as an “appropriate tribunal” under Article 6 (civil) of the ECHR.

Answer · Hannah Mary Goodlad: The question of compliance of planning legislation with Article 6 of the ECHR was considered by the House of Lords in the case of Alconbury v Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions. In the Court’s 2001 decision it was found th…

29 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its current position is regarding whether it would support for a review of the governance arrangements, boundaries and size of the Highland Council area.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Councils are independent bodies with their own powers and responsibilities and are entirely separate from the Scottish Government. The Scottish Government believes that locally elected representatives are best placed to consider the needs of their communities…

27 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made in response to the Royal College of Psychiatrists in Scotland's 10-point action plan detailed in its report, Multi-system solutions for meeting the needs of autistic people and people with ADHD in Scotland.

Answer · Maree Todd: In our manifesto we committed to implementing the stepped care approach to support for adults with neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism and ADHD, as proposed by the Royal College of Psychiatrists. This will expand support to meet people’s needs,…

27 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what planning and practice scenarios have been undertaken with rural Scottish Fire and Rescue Service stations to address the practicalities of it responding to a potential battery energy storage scheme fire.

Answer · Neil Gray: Planning and training for tackling fires are operational matters for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) to consider. SFRS continually reviews its operational response concerning emerging technology, including battery storage, to keep communities safe…

27 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the total outstanding works on the NHS estate are, as identified through recommendations made by Healthcare Improvement Scotland and the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government recognises the importance of maintaining a safe, high-quality NHS estate and we are aware that there remain a substantial backlog of maintenance which Health Boards are actively managing and prioritising based on risk and patient safet…

27 May 2026 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment has been undertaken regarding a potential connection between the West Highland and Highland Main railway lines, which are 17 miles apart at their closest points.

Answer · Stephen Flynn: The second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2) appraised a potential new rail link between the Highland Main Line (HML) and the West Highland Line (WHL). However, this option did not progress beyond the Preliminary Appraisal stage, and there are curre…

27 May 2026 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether its commitment to reform public services includes removing reported blockages and inefficiencies in delayed capital projects, such as the A9 and A96 dualling, to expedite their completion.