I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-40762 on 9 October 2025. 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

I understand and acknowledge that communities in the North East may have concerns regarding proposed electricity transmission infrastructure in their areas. It is vital that communities can have their say on proposed developments and Scottish Ministers are clear that major energy infrastructure requires meaningful and substantive consultation and engagement with the local communities before a developer submits an Electricity Act application.

There are established routes for constituents and community groups to make their views on developments known, and the Scottish Government is working with the UK Government to further strengthen these.

The Ministerial Code states that "the Planning Minister or any other Minister involved in the planning decision, must do nothing which might be seen as prejudicial to that process, particularly in advance of the decision being taken. Action that might be viewed as being prejudicial includes’: ‘expressing an opinion publicly on a particular case which is before, or may subsequently be referred to, the Minister(s) for decision”.

I understand constituents and community groups may wish to discuss infrastructure development with me. However, I do not believe it is possible to have a meaningful discussion without speaking about specific projects and, given the guidance which I have set out above, any discussion on specific projects would risk a breach of the Ministerial Code.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-40778 on 7 October 2025. 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.

The relevant documents will be published shortly and will be available on the Scottish Government website -Publications -gov.scot

Responsibility for dealing with day-to-day land use planning matters generally rests, in the first instance, at the most local level. The Scottish Government does not hold information on applications which are being or may be considered by planning authorities.

On 28 August 2025, 22 applications from SSEN Transmission to the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit were live. We expect further applications to be submitted over the next 12 months.

Planning applications did not form any part of the joint visit by the then UK Secretary of State and Cabinet Secretary to HAD Fab.

I was invited to attend the event at the Had Fab factory to celebrate the awarding of a non-government contract by SSEN to partner companies to manufacture pylons. I gave a short speech followed by the Secretary of State for Scotland, followed by a tour of the workshops in which she spoke to members of the Had Fab workforce before leaving.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-40778 on 7 October 2025. 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.

The Scottish Government is looking forward to seeing the Energy Skills Passport develop further as soon as possible, providing more options and pathways for workers to transition between sectors.

The Energy Skills Passport is an industry-led project, with Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) and RenewableUK (RUK) as the lead bodies. Decisions on the timings for “phase 2” of the initiative is, therefore, a matter for those bodies and the associated Steering Group, which also includes representation from employers, training bodies and trade unions. Success during “phase 2” of the Passport will require it to be fully supported from a range of bodies, including UK Government.

The Scottish Government continues to support an industry-led approach to the development of the Passport which promotes collaborative working across energy sectors and also between trade bodies, employers, training bodies and trade unions.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-40612 on 7 October 2025. 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.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-40612 on 7 October 2025. 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.