Chamber and committees

The Scottish Law Commission's homicide law project has been continued into their 11th Programme of Law Reform. In 2021, the Commission published their discussion paper on this subject. Scottish Government officials have engaged with the Scottish Law Commission who advise they hope to be in a position to publish their final report during 2024.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-22317 on 7 November 2023. 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.

Network Rail is a wholly owned subsidiary company of the UK Government. The responsibility for determining and monitoring its operation, maintenance and renewal expenditure rests with the Office of Rail and Road (ORR).

Transport Scotland funds Network Rail in accordance with the ORR’s determination. Therefore, Scottish Government does not hold the full investment information broken down by local authority within Scotland.

Therefore, I recommend that the member contacts Network Rail or the ORR for the detailed information requested for how much has been spent on rail infrastructure in each local authority area in each of the last ten years.

95 wind applications have been consented by Scottish Ministers, under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989, in the last ten years. Effects on peatland (where relevant) are assessed on a case by case basis in accordance with current methodology and available tools, including the carbon calculator , and are taken into account through the statutory consultation process with SEPA and NatureScot when considering applications made to Scottish Ministers.

The Scottish Government does not collate peatland data from each application and we are therefore unable to provide analysis of how much peatland has been excavated and restored and how much carbon has been emitted from those consented developments (if built). Applications and related environmental information are advertised and made publicly available for inspection in accordance with the Electricity Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2017 and the Electricity (Applications for Consent) Regulations 1990.

More about our processes and consultation requirements can be found on the Scottish Government website .

When an application for consent is received, the Energy Consents Unit (ECU) completes a data check in accordance with the relevant guidance. The carbon calculation is then published and available to view online.

All applications submitted and received using the carbon calculator may also be subject to audit by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). This is to ensure, as far as possible, that the carbon calculator continues to be used appropriately. Finally, on a case-by-case basis, the Scottish Ministers may request an audit by SEPA.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-22317 on 7 November 2023. 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-22335 on 7 November 2023. 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 does not have any current plans to implement a fish counter on the River Dee.

In the Onshore Wind Policy Statement 2022, the Scottish Government committed to assess the operation of, and if necessary update or replace the carbon calculator. This work is currently ongoing and its outcomes will be published in due course.

The Scottish Government does not collect data specific to the production of flax or other sustainable fibre crops. Currently, flax is not a major crop in Scotland, however we recognise there are potential benefits to flax production, and we are keen to speak with those interested in growing this and other sustainable fibre crops.

The Scottish Government does not offer support specific to the production of flax or other sustainable fibres. However, non-crop specific agricultural support is provided to farmers in a variety of ways, including through the Basic Payment Scheme, and we encourage those looking for further information to read more about these measures on our official website at https://www.mygov.scot/farm-payments-support .

We are aware of ongoing research by the Soil Association Scotland, which is running trials to compare several varieties of flax, and also work by the Rowett Institute to explore flax production.