Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government does not hold information on the number of staff employed in local authority planning services or their allocated duties. Staffing and resourcing decisions for planning services are matters for individual local authorities.

In 2025, the National Planning Improvement Champion (NPIC) published a workforce and capacity report, which is available at: www.improvementservice.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0029/64559/NPIF-Workforce-and-Capacity-Report.pdf. The NPIC is undertaking a survey of planning authorities in order to provide a refreshed evidence base for 2026.

Planning enforcement is a matter for the relevant planning authority. It is for the authority to decide what, if any, action to take in relation to any potential breach of planning control.

The Scottish Government recognises the financial and capacity pressures facing the planning system and continues to implement a package of measures to provide planning authorities with additional support and resources, including through increased planning fees, support from the National Planning Hub and actions to grow the planning profession in Scotland.

The creation of a High-Growth Unit and a Council for Economic Growth are both key commitments at the heart of our ambitions for Scotland’s economy.

Within the first 100 days of this Government, we established and convened the inaugural meeting of the National Council for Economic Growth, bringing together leaders from across Scotland's economy to help shape and drive our shared economic aims. We did not consult externally on the development of the Council.

We are currently in the early stages of the design and structure of the new High Growth Unit and will work closely with a range of partners across the public and private sector on the further development and delivery of the Unit, including considerations of international best practise.

The Scottish Government has not undertaken an assessment of the impact of the Vision 3 GP clinical system on GP appointment capacity.

Responsibility for the delivery and operation of GP IT systems, including the Vision 3 migration programme, sits with Public Services Delivery Scotland (PSDS), which manages the national GP IT service on behalf of NHS Scotland.

Public Services Delivery Scotland has advised that some short-term disruption to practices has been reported following migration. In response, a number of enhancements to post-migration support arrangements have been implemented in conjunction with OneAdvanced to support practices during their transition to the Vision 3 system.

It is for the decision maker (usually the relevant planning authority) to consider whether changes to a proposed development constitute a material or substantial change, having regard to the circumstances of the particular case. Whether Environmental Impact Assessment information on a particular matter is required is also for the decision-maker, in accordance with the relevant statutory framework.

It would not be appropriate for Scottish Ministers to comment on matters that fall within the planning authority's role and responsibilities.

Interpretation and application of Historic Environment Scotland’s non-statutory guidance is a matter for Historic Environment Scotland. Decisions on whether sufficient evidence has been provided in support of an application, including evidence relating to marketing and economic viability, are considered on a case-by-case basis by the decision maker having regard to the circumstances of the application.

The Scottish Government does not provide guidance requiring specific regeneration models or ownership arrangements to be exhausted before consent is granted for the demolition of a listed building. It is for planning authorities to assess each case on its merits, taking account of the evidence provided and the specific circumstances of the application.

Ministers consider the need for call-in on a case-by-case basis, taking account of the specific individual circumstances. They use their powers under section 46(1) of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 sparingly, recognising the important role of local planning authorities in decision making. As set out in the Ministerial statement on call-in, Ministers will generally consider intervention only where there may be some important issue at stake which should be determined at the national level.

The Scottish Government recognises that independent advocacy is highly valuable and may be the most appropriate form of support in some circumstances; however, it is not the only means through which children can be supported to have their views heard. Consistent with GIRFEC principles, many children may prefer, or have their needs best met through support from a parent, carer, family member or other trusted adult of their choosing. Children have different needs and preferences, and a single model of support will not be right for every child. The key consideration is that children are able to participate meaningfully and have their views given due weight in line with Article 12 of the UNCRC, rather than prescribing a single model of support for all children receiving social work services.

The deployment of resources is a matter for the Chief Constable based on operational priorities. This is also very clearly set out in the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012.

The consideration to use data acquired by Automatic Number Plate Recognition technology in combination with facial recognition and other biometric technologies would be an operational matter for Police Scotland, under the scrutiny of the Scottish Police Authority.

Equally Safe, Scotland’s strategy for preventing and eradicating violence against women and girls (VAWG), recognises that technology can be used to directly track, monitor, and facilitate violence against women and girls. While Equally Safe does not refer specifically to Automatic Number Plate Recognition, it acknowledges the wider risks associated with the misuse of technology and recognises that action to address VAWG must take account of these evolving risks.