Chamber and committees

Under existing social security legislation, Social Security Scotland can already recover overpaid social security benefits through the Sheriff Court.

We will establish a ScotWind Wealth Fund by the end of this Parliament to ensure that Scotland’s future generations can benefit from our wealth of renewables.

The failure of successive UK governments to establish a dedicated Oil and Gas wealth fund means Scotland has not fully benefited from our wealth of natural resources.

Cameron Barracks in Inverness is part of the Ministry of Defence training estate. Any decisions around tenancies and engagement related to tenancies is a matter for the UK Government alone. We have repeatedly urged the Home Office to engage with all organisations and delivery partners that will be affected by these proposals.

Transport Scotland officials will engage with interested local authorities, and proceed with shared discussions to consider the potential risks, benefits and opportunities of trialling and ultimately introducing side road zebra crossings in Scotland. Transport Scotland officials are also engaging with the Department for Transport regarding on-site trials conducted in England.

We are keen to develop potential rural planning reforms, informed over the early period of this new Parliament by stakeholder engagement and consultation. This will build on the findings of previous engagement on issues relevant to how planning policy and the planning system impact on rural areas, for example, through the development of the National Planning Framework and on permitted development rights.

The Scottish Government has a track record of investment to improve croft housing. Since 2016, 220 croft houses have been built and recorded with Registers of Scotland.

This Government is committed to continuing to help crofters and their families to live on and work their croft, contributing to the sustainability of our rural and island communities.

No representations have been received suggesting that a new statutory framework to co-ordinate protections and responsibilities relating to war memorials in Scotland is required. However, Ministers are considering their position on the protection afforded to war memorials from damage by the criminal law and, in that context, would welcome representations from members on potential improvements to existing arrangements for the protection of, and responsibilities relating to, war memorials in Scotland.

It is the Scottish Ministers who determine applications made under sections 36 and 37 of the Electricity Act 1989. The Energy Consents Unit administers these applications on their behalf.

Following consent, developers are typically required to commence development within either three or five years of the decision date, depending on the terms of the consent. However, information on whether or how many approved developments have been commenced s not systematically recorded.

Developing evidence-based and effective fisheries management measures for more than 160 sites and areas within the inshore region has been a challenging process.