Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-42849

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 20 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-38776 by Ivan McKee on 11 July 2025, whether it will provide an update on what planning applications called in by the Scottish Ministers have yet to be determined, and when they were first submitted for consideration.

The following table lists planning applications called in by the Scottish Ministers and appeals recalled by them that are yet to be determined. It also includes the dates on which the applications were first notified to the Scottish Ministers prior to being called in, or the date the appeal was recalled. Decisions on these cases will be issued by the Scottish Ministers in due course.

Case Detail	Case Status	Date notified to or recalled by the Scottish Ministers
PPA-002-2021 - 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; Restoration And Redevelopment/Conversion Of Woodbank House And Attendant Listed Structures For Up To 21 Self-Catering Holiday Apartments (Subject To Other Necessary Consents); Leisure Pool, Waterpark, Spa; Restaurants, Hot Food Cafe And Retail Areas; Craft Brewery Inc - Pier Road, Ben Lomond Way And Old Luss Road, Known As West Riverside And Woodbank House, Balloch, G83 8QX	Recalled appeal - The Reporter’s report and recommendation was submitted to Scottish Ministers on 09-09-2025. Scottish Ministers will issue a decision in due course	10-06-25
NA-270-010 - Highland Council - 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 - Land 1700M NW Of Embo Community Centre, School Street, Embo	Called in planning application - The Reporter’s report and recommendation was submitted to Scottish Ministers on 29-08-2025. Scottish Ministers will issue a decision in due course	29-01-2024
NA-330-001 - Orkney Islands Council - 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 Including Access Tracks, Underground Cabling, Crane Hard standings And Borrow Pit, Nisthill Wind Farm Limited - Hundland Hill (Land Near), Birsay, Orkney, KW17 2NR	Called in planning application - Requiring further procedure. Allocated to a DPEA Reporter	27-01-2025
NA-260-005 - Glasgow City Council - Erection of Purpose-Built Student Accommodation With Ground Floor Food Hall (Class 1A) Food And Drink (Class 3) Public House And Hot Food Takeaway (Sui Generis) And Assembly And Leisure Uses (Class 11) With Associated Landscaping, Amenity, Access And Other Ancillary Works – 292-332 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, G2 2UG	Called in planning application - Allocated to a DPEA Reporter	18-06-2025
NA-200-004 - East Dunbartonshire Council - Erection Of 60 Bed Care Home With Associated Landscaping, Car Parking And Access Following Demolition Of Car Dealership - Former Arnold Clark Site, 111 Main Street, Milngavie, East Dunbartonshire, G62 6JP	Called in planning application - The Reporter’s report and recommendation was submitted to Scottish Ministers on 02-12-2025. Scottish Ministers will issue a decision in due course	18-07-2025
NA-270-011 - Highland Council - Change Of Use Of Land To Form Holiday Park At Former Bridgend Building Supplies Yard, Bridgend, Thurso - Former Bridgend Building Supplies Yard, Thurso, KW14 8JZ	Called in planning application - Allocated to a DPEA Reporter	15-09-2025
NA-330-003 - Orkney Islands Council - Erect A Three Storey Block Of 15 Flats And Alter An Access, With Associated Car Parking, Landscaping And Infrastructure - Great Western Road Car Park (Land Near), Kirkwall, Orkney	Called in planning application - Allocated to a DPEA Reporter	29-07-2025
NA-340-008 - Perth and Kinross Council - Formation Of A 30MW Battery Energy Storage Facility Comprising Battery Storage Units, Ancillary Buildings And Equipment, Access Road And Associated Works - Land 600 Metres North East Of Cordon Farm, Abernethy, PH2 9LN	Called in planning application - Ready for allocation to a DPEA Reporter	08-09-2025

*Case status indicates the current stage of the DPEA process: “Ready for allocation” means awaiting assignment to a Reporter; “Allocated” means a Reporter is actively handling the case. The status of all cases can be tracked on the Scottish Government’s Planning and Environmental Appeals Division webpage at: Scottish Government - Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA)

Question reference: S6W-42846

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 20 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has a strategy for (a) the conservation of and (b) investment in country parks.

The Scottish Government has no role in respect of country parks. Local authorities set up and manage most country parks using their powers under Section 48 of the Countryside (Scotland) Act 1967, though the National Trust for Scotland manages Brodick and Culzean. These parks are non-statutory designations that enable local authorities to establish areas for public access and enjoyment of the countryside, and as such, some private landowners also use the country park name. Local authorities can make by-laws to regulate inappropriate behaviour within these parks.

Question reference: S6W-42850

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 20 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what planning applications called in by the Scottish Ministers for consideration in the last five years have been subject to public hearings.

The following table lists 8 planning applications called in by Scottish Ministers and referred to the Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeal (DPEA) for determination which were subject to hearing session/s being held and received over the last 5 years.

case reference	site address	case detail	date case received by DPEA	date report submitted to PARD
NA-ABS-047	Land South West Of Eskview Farm, St Cyrus, DD10 0AQ	Change Of Use Of Agricultural Land To Form 9 Stance Caravan Park Touring Gypsy/Travellers Site, Formation Of Road And Erection Of Boundary Fencing, Walls, Gates, Pump Station And Amenity Blocks (Part Retrospective)	05-09-2019	21-01-2021
NA-ABS-048	Land South West Of Eskview Farm, St Cyrus, DD10 0AQ	Retrospective Change Of Use Of Agricultural Land To Form 10 Stance Private Permanent Caravan Park, Formation Of Road, Erection Of Boundary Fencing, Walls, Gates And Education Facility	05-09-2019	21-01-2021
NA-250-001	Land Adjacent To Ferrycraigs House, Ferry Road, North Queensferry, KY11 1HW	21/01770/Full \| Erection Of Holiday Accommodation (Sui Generis) \| Land Adjacent To Ferrycraigs House Ferry Road North Queensferry Fife	20-12-2022	05-09-2023
NA-260-002	Ingram Street/Albion Street, Glasgow, G1 1NQ	Mixed Use, Seven Storey Development Consisting Of 109 Apartments And Commercial Units, Site Bounded By Candleriggs/ Ingram Street/ Albion Street, Glasgow	28-02-2023	29-01-2024
NA-001-002	Nethy Bridge Station Yard, Nethy Bridge, Highland, PH25 3EP	Erection Of 21 No. Dwellings At Nethy Bridge Station Yard, Nethy Bridge, Highland	19-10-2023	30-04-2024
NA-270-010	Coul Links Golf Course Proposal, Land 1700M Nw Of Embo Community Centre, School Street, Embo, .	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	08-02-2024	29-08-2025
CIN-260-001	266 St Vincent Street, Glasgow, G2 5RL	Proposed Change Of Use Of Existing Vacant Offices To Form 14 Serviced Flats	08-02-2022	22-09-2022
CIN-190-001	Land Adjacent To Whitelee Windfarm, East Ayrshire, G76 0QG	Application For Planning Permission For Erection Of Green Hydrogen Production Facility With Associated Temporary Laydown Area And Ancillary Infrastructure Including Substation, Various Plant And Perimeter Security Fencing	30-08-2022	20-08-2024

Question reference: S6W-42979

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 12 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 20 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider instructing the Scottish Health Technologies Group to conduct a rapid review of its 2023 guidance on the Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score test for postmenopausal lymph node-positive breast cancer patients, in light of new evidence reportedly demonstrating its potential to reduce chemotherapy use by over 50% and generate significant NHS Scotland efficiencies and cost savings.

The Scottish Cancer Network (SCN) continue to regularly review the Clinical Management Pathway (CMP) for Breast Cancer and consider the need for updates based on new evidence relating to the use of tumour profiling tests for patients with early breast cancer. The Scottish Health Technologies Group (SHTG) also have criteria in place to judge whether new evidence is sufficient to revise its existing recommendations

Question reference: S6W-42847

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 20 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what funding it provides for country parks.

Local authorities set up and manage most country parks using their powers under Section 48 of the Countryside (Scotland) Act 1967. These parks are non-statutory designations that enable local authorities to establish areas for public access and enjoyment of the countryside.

The Scottish Government’s policy towards local authorities’ spending is to allow local authorities the financial freedom to operate independently. As such, the vast majority of funding is provided by means of a block grant. It is then the responsibility of individual local authorities to manage their own budgets and to allocate the total financial resources available to them, including on open spaces and countryside amenities, on the basis of local needs and priorities, having first fulfilled their statutory obligations and the jointly agreed set of national and local priorities. Ultimately, it is for locally elected representatives to make local decisions on how best to deliver services to their local communities.

In July 2021 we launched the Nature Restoration Fund, which provides additional funding for nature restoration projects to deliver significant improvements in biodiversity. The Nature Restoration Fund makes grants available through two main strands, including the Edinburgh Process strand, which provides direct allocations to Local Authorities. The Edinburgh Process strand is delivered through the General Capital Grant scheme to Local Authorities and is monitored through reports direct to the Scottish Government.

The NRF has already provided over £33 million directly allocated to Local Authorities and the National Parks to develop and deliver projects locally. Some examples of projects funded through the Edinburgh Process strand are outlined in an interim evaluation of the NRF available here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/interim-evaluation-nature-restoration-fund/documents/

Question reference: S6W-42845

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 20 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many country parks there are in Scotland, and who (a) owns and (b) manages each.

There are 40 country parks in Scotland. Local authorities set up and manage most country parks using their powers under Section 48 of the Countryside (Scotland) Act 1967, though the National Trust for Scotland manages Brodick and Culzean. These parks are non-statutory designations that enable local authorities to establish areas for public access and enjoyment of the countryside, and as such, some private landowners also use the country park name. You can find out more about individual country parks using the NatureScot guide: Find a country park | NatureScot

Question reference: S6W-42624

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 19 December 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 16 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-42082 by Angela Constance on 9 December 2025, for what reason it is not commenting on civil court proceedings, and what specifically is stopping it from doing so.

The Scottish Government’s long-held position, which mirrors the UK Government’s, is that it does not regard it as appropriate to engage in public comment in respect of live court proceedings. That is different from saying that the position is that Scottish Government cannot comment or is prevented from commenting generally on live litigation, although there will be cases in which the Contempt of Court Act 1981 is engaged to that effect - and additionally cases in which there are legal prohibitions that must be adhered to - to ensure there is no risk of impediment or prejudice to the proceedings. In all cases, the Scottish Government is mindful of the obligation to uphold the independence of the judiciary.

The Scottish Government is asked why it is choosing not to comment on this particular litigation. The answer to that applies to the Scottish Government’s approach to all live litigation. The appropriate forum for discussions on matters live before the court is in the court and that ensures that the proper respect is afforded to the judiciary and also to the litigants.

Question reference: S6W-42619

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 19 December 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 16 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-42080 by Angela Constance on 9 December 2025, whether all 21 transgender people in the prison estate are housed in the women's prison estate.

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

As explained in the answer to S6W-42080; as a public body we must uphold our statutory obligation to ensure everyone in our care has their personal information protected. Given that the 21 transgender people in our custody represent only 0.3% of the total prison population, we are unable to provide any further disaggregation of this data into which estate they are held in as there is a potential risk of identification of individuals due to the very small numbers involved.

You are aware of the current trans policy as set out in S6W-42080 ensures that no trans woman with a risk of violence against women and girls is placed in the female estate and that the relevant data on trans prison numbers is part of the data we publish on a quarterly basis, the last of which can be found here.

Question reference: S6W-43086

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 January 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 29 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government which NHS boards received brokerage funding in 2024-25, broken down by the amount.

Question reference: S6W-42852

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 15 January 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when the reporter’s report from the Planning and Environmental Appeals Division for the Lomond Banks planning application was received by the Scottish Ministers, and whether they subsequently sought additional information in determining the appeal.

Chamber and committees