Current status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 23 January 2026
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of how it is exercising its rights and meeting its obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024 with respect to decisions made through the Energy Consents Unit, and how compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is being documented.
In reaching their decision, Scottish Ministers determine applications made under Sections 36 and 37 of the Electricity Act 1989 in accordance with legislative requirements and relevant policy. Potential impacts on communities are important considerations in the decision-making process and the decision whether to grant consent is taken only after careful consideration of environmental information, consultee responses and public representations.
Scottish Ministers and their officials take great care to comply with all relevant obligations in the administration and determination of applications for energy consents.
As answered in the response to S6W-42239 on 9 December 2025, applications made under sections 36 or 37 of the Electricity Act 1989 do not legally require a Child Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment, which is the principal method to ensure compliance with United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child requirements.
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/written-questions-and-answers.