Question reference: S5W-08415
- Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 24 March 2017 Registered interest
-
Current status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 4 May 2017
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-07337 by Paul Wheelhouse on 28 February 2017, how many people are directly employed by its Energy Consents Unit to assess section 36 and 37 applications under the Electricity Act 1989, and how many of them are (a) environmental experts, broken down by specialism, (b) chartered landscape architects, (c) planners and (d) solicitors.
Answer
The Energy Consents Unit employs 15 members of staff to assess section 36 and 37 applications under the Electricity Act 1989. The Energy Consents Unit employs no (a) environmental experts, (b) chartered landscape architects, (c) planners and (d) solicitors. In assessing such applications, the Scottish Government has access to expert advice from its statutory stakeholders namely, Local Planning Authorities, Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Scottish National Heritage and Historic Environment Scotland. In addition, subject to the details of the application, a wide range of other stakeholders may also be consulted where their specific expertise is required. Details of the individuals and resources utilised by these organisations is an operational matter for each of the bodies concerned and is not held centrally.
The Energy Consents Unit also utilises solicitors within Scottish Government Legal Directorate and on a project specific basis may also consult with Senior Counsel and the Lord Advocate.