Chamber and committees

Transport Scotland does not hold data on rejections or referrals so would be unable to provide the proportions as requested. However, this information would be held by individual local authorities.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-38137 on 10 June 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.

There is no guidance in place for Scottish Minsters to specify how to consider the recommendations of a public inquiry reporter in renewable energy cases.

The decision-making rationale for each of these applications is set out in the determination letters which are publicly available on the Energy Consents Unit website.

The decision whether to grant consent is made on a case-by-case basis, taken only after careful consideration of environmental information, consultee responses and public representations.

We do not consider it necessary to commission an independent review of the consistency and transparency of decisions made by ministers in cases where public inquiry recommendations have been decided against in favour of renewable energy development.

All Energy Consents decision letters are published online for transparency, and decisions may be challenged in the Scottish court system.

Of the 44 public inquiries into renewable energy applications held since January 2020, 4 related to developments located within the Scottish Borders local authority area. Case references WIN-140-5; WIN-140-6; WIN-140-8 and WIN-170-2007 refer and can be viewed here: Scottish Government - Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA).

Energy Consents applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis, with all relevant information considered to ensure balanced decision-making. This includes environmental information, consultee responses and if applicable, the inquiry report.

The Scottish Government has no plans to revisit the non-domestic rates relief policies announced for 2025-26.

COPFS rely on pathology providers as the medical experts to determine the nature and extent of the examination required to establish a cause of death.

COPFS would support any proposals where evidence is provided that a particular approach would fully meet the requirements of our investigation in a timely and cost-effective manner, whilst reducing distress to families from the post mortem examination process.

The potential further use of CT scanners has formed part of regular discussions with the current pathology providers. From May 2025, Glasgow University Pathology and NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde Health Board will undertake a service development pilot to investigate the potential benefits of incorporating CT scanning in Procurator Fiscal-instructed post mortem examinations taking place at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Mortuary in Glasgow. The findings of the pilot will be considered by COPFS as part of its future planning.

COPFS understands the impact that the loss of a loved one can have on bereaved families.

The Procurator Fiscal will investigate every death reported to us thoroughly and independently to establish what happened and consider whether criminal proceedings or a Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) would be appropriate.

It is a strength of the Scottish system, which reflects a common European model, that death investigations are undertaken by a public prosecutor. That investigation may, depending on the circumstances, disclose a basis for criminal proceedings.

More than 13,000 deaths are reported to COPFS each year. In 2024-25, 98% of deaths where no investigation was required were closed within 6 weeks and 71% where further investigation was required were concluded within 12 weeks.

COPFS has significantly reformed its processes in recent years to improve the quality of death investigations and reduce the time taken to investigate deaths and bring FAIs to court. We are committed to identifying further improvements that can be made. A Death Investigations Improvement Board has been established to oversee all ongoing pieces of work and new proposals to achieve greater public confidence, improve the service delivered to bereaved relatives and reduce the journey time for concluding investigations.