Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-43290

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 23 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 5 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what training it provides to its officials responsible for drafting answers to parliamentary questions, and whether this includes training delivered by officials responsible for responding to Freedom of Information requests.

Question reference: S6W-43135

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 3 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the evidence given by the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy to the Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee on 14 January 2026, what records it holds of occasions, since 2021, on which a planning decision by a local authority was called in by the Scottish Ministers.

This table details all called in planning applications and recalled planning appeals by the Scottish Ministers since 2021.

Details of each are available here Planning Portal by searching the reference.

Reference	Called in date	Case detail	Status
PPA-230-2333	22-02-2021	Mixed Use Development Including Business And Employment Uses	Decision issued
PPA-270-2239	25-02-2021	Change Of Use And Conversion Of Steading To Form Private Dwelling	Decision issued
NA-110-002	01-03-2021	Conversion And Extension Of Garage To Form Holiday Accommodation/Laundry	Decision issued
PPA-270-2241	12-03-2021	Change Of Use From Equestrian Centre To Holiday, Leisure And Hospitality Facilities Including 13 Lodges, Cafe/Shop, Reception, Laundry And Restaurant	Decision issued
NA-280-001	05-07-2021	Residential Development To Include Access, Roads, Open Space, Landscaping, Drainage And Other Associated Works (Major)	Decision issued
NA-410-001	23-07-2021	Create Access And Erect House With Attached Garage	Decision issued
CIN-330-001	23-09-2021	Erect 6 Wind Turbines (Maximum Height 149.9 Metres, Maximum Wind Farm Capacity 50Mw) With An Indicative Capacity Of 28.8 Mw, Erect A Meteorological Mast (Maximum Height 90 Metres) And A Substation	Decision issued
NA-260-001	11-10-2021	Residential Development Of Approximately 36 Flats And Associated Infrastructure	Decision issued
NA-270-002	11-10-2021	Proposed Dwellinghouse To Replace Existing Annexe	Decision issued
PPA-230-2361	16-11-2021	Formation Of New Access Road And Active Travel Route From East Of Terminal Building To Gogar Roundabout	Decision issued
NA-350-001	16-12-2021	Variation Of Wording For Condition 3 Of Planning Permission	Decision issued
CIN-260-001	08-02-2022	Proposed Change Of Use Of Existing Vacant Offices To Form 14 Serviced Flats	Decision issued
NA-290-001	11-03-2022	Erection Of 9 Dwellinghouses, Formation Of Car Park And Associated Works	Decision issued
NA-110-003	16-03-2022	Erection Of Boundary Fence And Gates Change Of Use And Conversion, Alterations And Formation Of External Stairs Of Mill To Class 9 (Dwellinghouse)	Decision issued
CIN-390-001	18-03-2022	Mixed Use Development - Offices (Classes 2 & 4), Retail, Drive-Thru Restaurant, Car Showroom And Associated Car Parking, Infrastructure And Landscaping	Decision issued
NA-270-005	18-03-2022	Siting Of Catering Trailer	Decision issued
NA-270-007	23-05-2022	Erection Of New House	Decision issued
NA-170-001	30-05-2022	Agricultural Land To Form Mixed Use Development Comprising Of; Erection Of Boat Shed	Decision issued
NA-270-003	15-06-2022	Erection Of Commercial Storage And Office Unit	Decision issued
NA-270-004	15-06-2022	Erection Of Office/Workshop Building	Decision issued
NA-270-004	15-06-2022	Erection Of Office/Workshop Building	Decision issued
NA-270-006	15-06-2022	Erection Of Office/Workshop Building, Installation Of Storage Unit And Associated Parking Arrangements	Decision issued
NA-270-008	28-06-2022	Facilities For Tourists And Regulate The Use Of The Site For Camper Vans. Upgrade Of The Existing Toilets, The Provision Of A New Chemical Waste Disposal Point For Campers	Decision issued
PPA-400-2147	01-08-2022	Residential Development With Associated Infrastructure, Landscaping And Engineering Works.	Decision issued
NA-360-001	18-08-2022	Demolition Of An Existing Derelict Building And Erect A Dwellinghouse (Planning Permission In Principle)	Decision issued
CIN-190-001	30-08-2022	Erection Of Green Hydrogen Production Facility With Associated Temporary Laydown Area And Ancillary Infrastructure Including Substation, Various Plant And Perimeter Security Fencing	Decision issued
NA-130-005	02-11-2022	Demolition Of Five Tenement Blocks	Decision issued
PPA-170-2168	19-12-2022	Erection Of Wind Farm Comprising Seven Wind Turbines Substation, Battery Storage Associated Control Building, Formation Of Access Tracks etc	Live
NA-110-004	20-12-2022	Alterations And Extension To Dwellinghouse Including Installation Of Air Source Heat Pump	Decision issued
NA-250-001	20-12-2022	21/01770/Full \| Erection Of Holiday Accommodation (Sui Generis) \| Land Adjacent To Ferrycraigs House Ferry Road North Queensferry Fife	Decision issued
PPA-002-2020	03-02-2023	Installation Of A Marine Fish Farm And Associated Development Including Shore Base, Slipway And Pontoon And Road Upgrades	Decision issued
NA-260-002	28-02-2023	Mixed Use, Seven Storey Development Consisting Of 109 Apartments And Commercial Units, Site Bounded By Candleriggs/ Ingram Street/ Albion Street, Glasgow	Decision issued
NA-130-006	01-03-2023	Alterations To Existing Offices And Funeral Facilities At Ground Floor Level And Alterations And Change Of Use Create 4 Flats	Decision issued
PPA-320-2168	14-03-2023	Rail Freight Terminal, Distribution Centre And Office With Ancillary Buildings, Cranes And Associated Landscaping And Infrastructure (Eia Development)	Decision issued
NA-230-003	12-04-2023	Mixed-Use Development Including Built-To-Rent Homes And Student Accommodation (Comprising 393 Built-To-Rent Apartments And Student Accommodation)	Decision issued
NOD-270-002	26-04-2023	Erection Of A House	Decision issued
NA-001-001	03-05-2023	Erection Of 22 Self Catering Apartments, Shops, Hotel And Underground Parking	Decision issued
NA-350-002	23-05-2023	Erection Of Waste Tyre And Rubber Recycling And Processing Plant	Decision issued
NA-240-003	29-06-2023	Construction Of 2 No. Temporary Buildings And Changes Of Use Of Existing Ground To Form Parking And Yard Area (Part Retrospective)	Decision issued
PPA-170-2175	08-08-2023	Erection Of Wind Farm Comprising Nine Turbines, Formation Of Access Tracks, Borrow Pits, Battery Storage, Temporary Construction Compound, Substation And Associated Infrastructure	Live
NA-360-002	22-09-2023	Demolition Of Linkshouse, Mid Yell.Listed Building Consent Application	Decision issued
NA-001-002	19-10-2023	Erection Of 21 No. Dwellings At Nethy Bridge Station Yard, Nethy Bridge, Highland	Decision issued
NA-130-009	19-10-2023	Proposal: Erection Of Dwellinghouse	Decision issued
NA-140-004	09-11-2023	The Erection Of A Dwellinghouse	Decision issued
PPA-340-2156	05-01-2024	Formation Of A 49.9Mw Solar Farm Comprising Ground Mounted Solar Arrays, Inverters, Transformers, A Substation, Security Fencing, Cctv Cameras, Cabling, Access Tracks And Associated Works.	Decision issued
NA-270-010	08-02-2024	Construction Of An 18 Hole Golf Course, Practice Area, Access, Parking, Ancillary Infrastructure And The Change Of Use Of Existing Buildings To Form Clubhouse, Pro Shop, Maintenance Shed And Ancillary Facilities	Decision issued
NA-300-001	11-03-2024	Convert The Old Stable Bar To Three Holiday Let Apartments At Seaview Caravan Site, Kinloss.	Decision issued
PPA-390-2088	25-04-2024	Formation Of Golf Driving Range (Class 11) With Ancillary Uses Including, Food And Drink Café	Decision issued
NOD-190-001	25-04-2024	Erection And Operation Of A Maturation Warehousing Facility, Spirit Supply, With Adjoining Office, And All Associated Ancillary Development Including Demolition Of Existing Farm Buildings.	Decision issued
NOD-390-001	21-08-2024	Formation Of Trotting Track (Class 11 Assembly And Leisure)	Decision issued
NA-160-004	09-10-2024	Formation Of A Dwellinghouse With The Re-Establishment Of The Derelict Ferrydyke Cottage Into A Family Home,	Decision issued
PPA-380-2121	28-11-2024	Erection Of 6 No. Wind Turbines With A Maximum Height To Tip Of 149M And Associated Infrastructure	Withdrawn
NA-350-003	19-12-2024	Change Of Use Application To Create 33No. Serviced Caravan Pitches On Vacant Land. 23/0193/PP	Decision issued
PPA-002-2021	20-12-2024	Erection And Operation Of A Mixed-Use Tourism And Leisure Development Including Refurbished Tourist Information Building; Up To 60-Bedroom Apartment Hotel; Up To 32-Bedspace Budget Hotel, Up To 104 No. Self-Catering Holiday Lodges	Live
NA-330-001	27-02-2025	Erect Four Wind Turbines (Maximum Height Of 180 Metres, Maximum Generation Capacity 26.4 Mw Total), A Substation And Maintenance Building, Create An Access, And Associated Infrastructure	Decision issued
NA-260-005	15-07-2025	Sauchiehall Street Erection Of Purpose-Built Student Accommodation With Ground Floor Food Hall	Live
NA-210-001	23-07-2025	Demolition Of The Existing Building At 34 Dirleton Avenue, North Berwick And Associated PP The Erection Of 14 Flats A	Decision Issued
NA-200-004	02-09-2025	Erection Of 60 Bed Care Home With Associated Landscaping, Car Parking And Access Following Demolition Of Car Dealership.	Live
NA-270-011	13-10-2025	Change Of Use Of Land To Form Holiday Park At Former Bridgend Building Supplies Yard, Bridgend Thurso.	Live
NA-330-003	16-10-2025	Erect A Three Storey Block Of 15 Flats And Alter An Access, With Associated Car Parking, Landscaping And Infrastructure (Resubmission Of 21/266/Pp) Great Western Road Car Park (Land Near), Kirkwall, Orkney	Live
NA-340-008	18-11-2025	Formation Of A 30Mw Battery Energy Storage Facility Comprising Battery Storage Units, Ancillary Buildings And Equipment, Access Road And Associated Works	Live

Question reference: S6W-43131

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 3 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what briefing materials were provided to the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy in advance of the transfer of responsibility for Electricity Act 1989 consents to the Minister for Public Finance, broken down by subject matter.

As per my response to S6W-42965 on 21 January 2026, the First Minister made the decision to transfer ministerial responsibility for determining energy consents. No briefing materials were provided to Ministers in advance of the decision.

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.

Question reference: S6W-43132

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 3 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether briefing materials provided to the Minister for Public Finance in advance of the transfer of responsibility for Electricity Act 1989 consents included information on (a) overhead transmission line developments, (b) undergrounding alternatives and (c) community impact assessments.

Question reference: S6W-43294

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 January 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 12 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-42412 by Gillian Martin on 16 December 2025, and in light of the information provided in the response to a request under Freedom of Information (FoI) legislation, dated 20 January 2026, whether the information in the response to the FoI request, regarding the travel costs for the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy’s attendance at the COP30 UN climate summit, had been collated prior to the answer to the parliamentary question being provided, and, if so, for what reason that information was not included in the answer.

Question reference: S6W-43458

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 January 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 12 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-43127 by Gillian Martin on 27 January 2026, regarding the transfer of responsibility for Electricity Act 1989 consents to the Minister for Public Finance on 18 December 2025, what role the First Minister had in deciding the transfer; whether the First Minister sought or received legal advice in advance of the transfer; if so, whether that advice was provided (a) internally or (b) externally, and what its reasons are for not answering whether legal advice was sought in the answer to question S6W-43127.

Question reference: S6W-43113

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 29 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what arrangements are in place to ensure that there is operational separation between decisions on Electricity Act 1989 consents and decisions relating to capital investment, infrastructure financing or budget allocation.

The Minister for Public Finance has no role in decisions relating to funding, financing or financial guarantees for electricity transmission infrastructure projects that are subject to Electricity Act 1989 consents.

Legislation and regulations relating to electricity networks are reserved to the UK Government, with the National Energy System Operator (NESO) responsible for the strategic approach to the development of the electricity system across Great Britain.

Regulation of the electricity network including approval of investment in infrastructure is carried out by the independent energy regulator Ofgem.

Question reference: S6O-05476

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 January 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy will engage with community groups affected by new energy projects now that she is no longer responsible for energy consent decisions.

Question reference: S6W-43134

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 16 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 27 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government who has ministerial oversight of the Energy Consents Unit and the associated development portal, following the transfer of responsibility for Electricity Act 1989 consents to the Minister for Public Finance.

Question reference: S6W-43121

Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 16 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 27 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide information on how any impacts on the environment, landscape and communities are balanced against financial considerations in Electricity Act 1989 consent decisions following the change in ministerial responsibility.

Chamber and committees