Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S6W-02643

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 August 2021
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 10 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many wind turbines, and of what generating capacity, will be required to meet its net zero targets.

We expect the journey to net zero to require major contributions from a range of renewable sources, which will include onshore and offshore wind turbines, but also other generation technologies such as solar, hydro and marine renewables. Our work to refresh the Energy Strategy over the coming year will consider the various pathways to net zero, and what that might mean in terms of renewable energy generation as a whole. In the meantime, we have announced an ambition to deliver up to 11GW of installed offshore wind by 2030, and will consult later this year on an ambition to see between 8-12GW of onshore wind developed in the same time frame

Question reference: S6W-02642

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 August 2021
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 9 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on introducing a moratorium on windfarm development, pending the changes to the National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4).

The Scottish Government has no plans to introduce a moratorium on windfarm development.

As set out in our position statement last year, we need to rebalance our planning system so that climate change is a guiding principle for all plans and decisions. We expect National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) will strengthen support for renewable energy developments, including the re-powering and extension of existing wind farms, as part of a spatial strategy to support a transition to net zero and economic recovery.

We will lay a draft NPF4 in Parliament this autumn and will carry out extensive public consultation at the same time.

Question reference: S6W-02641

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 August 2021
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 6 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what research it has commissioned on the effects of windfarm development on tourism.

In line with our economic strategy, our aim for the Scottish tourism sector is to enable sustainable and inclusive growth. Whilst there has been no recent research into the effects of windfarm development on tourism in Scotland, VisitScotland research does however indicate that visitors are seeking to be more responsible, both in terms of their personal and environmental impact. VisitScotland's Trends 2020 Paper identified that travellers are now seeking to consciously off-set the carbon impact of their travel. The use of sustainable energy by local businesses may therefore appeal to this type of traveller and promote Scotland as an environmentally friendly and climate conscious country to visit.

Question reference: S6O-00105

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 September 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to support rural health services following the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Question reference: S6W-00760

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 1 July 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many wind farm applications it has determined in the last 24 months due to a local authority's non-determination, broken down by local authority area.

The number of wind farm applications determined in the last 24 months due to a local authority's non-determination, broken down by local authority area, are set out in the following table:

Planning Authority	Appeals Allowed	Appeals Dismissed
Dumfries and Galloway Council	2	1
South Ayrshire Council	1	0
Total	3	1

Decisions are made in line with the development plan for the area and national policies. Each case is considered on its own merits.

Question reference: S6W-00761

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 1 July 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many wind farm applications it has (a) approved, or (b) refused in the last 24 months, broken down by local authority area.

The information requested is given in the following table:

Planning Authority	Applications Allowed	Applications Refused
Argyll and Bute council	3	2
Dumfries and Galloway Council	5	2
East Ayrshire Council	3	0
Highland Council	7	2
Moray Council	2	0
Scottish Borders Council	3	2
South Lanarkshire Council	4	2
South Ayrshire Council	1	0
Scottish Borders Council/East Lothian Council*	2	0
Total	30	10

* Application sites covered both council areas

Question reference: S6W-00759

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 1 July 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many wind farm applications it has approved through the applicant appeal process in the last 24 months, broken down by local authority area.

The number of wind farm applications approved through the appeal process in the last 24 months, by local authority area, are set out in the following table:

Planning Authority	Appeals Allowed	Appeals Dismissed
Aberdeenshire Council	1	0
Argyll and Bute Council	1	1
Dumfries and Galloway Council	2	2
Highland Council	1	1
Scottish Borders Council	0	3
South Ayrshire Council	1	1
South Lanarkshire Council	0	1
Total	6	9

Decisions are made in line with the development plan for the area and national policies. Each case is considered on its own merits.

Question reference: S6W-00905

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 18 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 23 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish details of the bid process for the creation of Green Ports.

Question reference: S6W-00570

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 21 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that women who are pregnant, following the death of a baby, are prioritised for access to the continuity of carer model.

Our review of maternity and neonatal services, The Best Start: A Five-Year Forward Plan for Maternity and Neonatal Care in Scotland, recommended that all women receive continuity of maternity and obstetric care. The roll out of continuity of carer has started in all Boards, but further roll out was paused in many areas in light of COVID. The Best Start Programme Board has recently reconvened and is looking at remobilising continuity of carer and how that might be prioritised.

Question reference: S6W-00607

Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 21 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government when family members who are double-vaccinated against COVID-19 and wearing face coverings and outdoors will be able to take a burial cord at a funeral in a level 1 protection area.

The Scottish Government understands how difficult ongoing restrictions at funeral services are for those who are bereaved and wish to pay their final respects to a loved one.

We continue to review all of the funeral restrictions on a regular basis taking into account the stage of the pandemic, the public health risks and the impact on bereaved families.

Our funeral services guidance sets out that funeral directors can, on a case by case basis, undertake a risk assessment to assess whether the family can have a role in taking a cord at the graveside, given physical distancing requirements. The options should be discussed with the relatives beforehand and decisions should be made with compassion, as well as understanding of the risks.

The conclusion of the physical distancing review is expected shortly, which will consider the implications of 2 metre physical distancing at funeral services.

Not all vaccines prevent transmission and inoculation is not a guarantee against contracting COVID-19, nor is it guaranteed to prevent you from passing it on. However, we do know that the COVID-19 vaccines significantly reduce both mortality and morbidity. Further research is being conducted on the effect of the vaccination programme on transmission overall in relation to current and new variants of concern. Until we know more, it is essential that everyone continues to follow public health guidance and the COVID-19 protection level rules which apply in their Local Authority area.