Chamber and committees

As this is an operational matter for Scottish Water, and the Scottish Government does not hold the information, I have asked them to respond. Their reply is as follows:

Combined sewer overflows are licensed by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and are designed to prevent the sewer network from becoming overwhelmed during times of heavy rainfall and putting homes and businesses at risk of internal flooding.

Scottish Water does not hold information for reported spills during dry weather, or the reasons for spills, however it publishes all reportable pollution events each year to SEPA and this information is available in its annual reports, which can be found at https://www.scottishwater.co.uk/Help-and-Resources/Document-Hub/Key-Publications/Annual-Reports. In addition, Scottish Water has recently launched an online map to provide customers with near real-time information about the operation of their monitored storm overflows and this map, as well as information about storm overflows, is available on its website at https://www.scottishwater.co.uk/Your-Home/Your-Waste-Water/Overflows/Live-Overflow-Map. To help address the issue of pollution incidents, Scottish Water is already expanding its intelligent sensor network to predict and prevent incidents and help speed up the operational response.

As you know, Project Willow has identified nine alternative projects that could be developed at Grangemouth including plastics recycling, bio-refining, sustainable aviation fuel and low carbon hydrogen production, demonstrating that a long term, new industrial future at Grangemouth is achievable if the public and private sector work together in the coming months to deliver.

If all nine potential projects identified in the base case were taken forward, Project Willow could create up to 800 jobs by 2040 and contribute £600-£700m in Gross Value Added, demonstrating the transformative impact Project Willow could bring to Grangemouth.

I am committed to realising as many of these opportunities as possible which is why Scottish Enterprise and the UK Office for Investment have established an Investor Taskforce to identify and attract investors with an interest in progressing the Project Willow proposals. Protecting and promoting the interests of the workers, businesses and wider Grangemouth community, remains this Government’s absolute priority.

It is not accurate to state that 100% of proposals between 2020 and 2025 have been approved.

To clarify, the Environment Information Request response of 28 February 2025 to which the question referred, noted that, of the 7 renewable energy applications received by the Energy Consents Unit in the Scottish Borders local authority area, all were approved.

Other applications for developments located elsewhere in Scotland have been rejected during this time.

The decision whether to grant consent is taken only after careful consideration of environmental information, consultee responses and public representations.

Caledonian Sleeper currently offers accessible rooms, toilets, and designated seating areas for Persons of Reduced Mobility (PRM) in its carriages. On board ramps operated by Caledonian Sleeper staff enable passengers to enter and exit the carriages, ensuring that the facilities comply with the PRM Technical Standards for Interoperability (TSI) and UK rail safety standards.

Therefore, the Scottish Government has no plans to require Caledonian Sleeper to modify its carriages.

Under the Ministerial code, it would not be appropriate for the Scottish Government to comment on the merits or otherwise of any development that is before them, or could come before them, for a decision through the application or appeal process.

On network infrastructure in general, the draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan sets out that investment to upgrade Scotland’s transmission network is needed to manage constraints and enable more renewable power to reach where it is needed. The Scottish Government also recognises the need for communities to be meaningfully engaged and consulted, to ensure they can have their say on proposed projects and influence design proposals to minimise potential impacts. Our fourth National Planning Framework ensures that potential impacts on communities and nature are important considerations in the decision-making process.

Legislation and regulations relating to electricity networks are reserved to the UK Government. The National Energy System Operator (NESO) is responsible for the strategic approach to transmission investment. Regulation of electricity networks, including approval of investment in infrastructure, is the responsibility of the regulator Ofgem. As such, the Scottish Government has no role in the regulation of electricity networks apart from its statutory planning and consenting processes.

The Scottish Government values our land for its multiple uses, which include food production, nature restoration, energy security and to our economy.

Many large-scale renewable energy projects lease the land where they are sited. Land managers will have site specific insights on how land is best used given its location, local demands and economic returns.

To deliver our Vision for Agriculture, we want to ensure that farming across Scotland continues sustainably into the future, by shifting to low carbon sustainable farming by producing high-quality food for the nation. While also using our land in alternative ways to help contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and delivering increased biodiversity and wider environmental benefits.

It is not accurate to state that no renewable energy projects have been rejected.

To clarify, the Environment Information Request response of 28 February 2025 to which the question referred, noted that, of the 7 renewable energy applications received by the Energy Consents Unit in the Scottish Borders local authority area, all were approved.

Other applications for developments located elsewhere in Scotland have been rejected during this time.

When an application is received, a full public consultation is carried out. Scottish Ministers invite representations from members of the public, appropriate community councils and other public bodies, seeking their expertise to assist in examining applications.

The decision whether to grant consent is taken only after careful consideration of environmental information, consultee responses and public representations.

The Scottish Government is carefully considering the recommendations of Project Willow, which shortlisted nine potential viable alternatives for the Grangemouth refinery site including two projects aligned to the production of SAF, demonstrating that a long term, new industrial future is achievable there. We continue to work closely with Scottish Enterprise, UK Office for Investment and the UK Government to realise these opportunities. Our enterprise agency, Scottish Enterprise, stands ready to support inward investors looking to progress any of these potential projects.

Ministers have previously sought assurances from the UK Government that all efforts are being made to secure for Scotland a share of the jobs and economic benefits that SAF could provide. We are pleased that the UK Government will now introduce a revenue certainty mechanism bill, which should encourage SAF production.

We fully recognise the significant efforts that have been made by Forestry Land Scotland, Trees for Life, and partners to consult with local communities and stakeholders as part of the process to apply to NatureScot for a licence to translocate beavers to Loch Beinn a' Mheadhoin in Glen Affric.

It is clear, however, that there remains considerable concern about the proposal among the local community and its representatives. In light of this and given we are now in the beaver kit dependency period when young beavers are reliant on their parents and trapping and translocation is not appropriate, NatureScot plan to undertake further engagement over the summer with those most likely to be affected before any licensing decision is made.

In the 12 month period covering March 2024 to February 2025, under the contract between Scottish Government and Energy Saving Trust, 97% of fully completed applications received across all schemes within the contract were processed within 10 working days.

The percentage processed relates to unique applications received in the period and cannot be broken down between schemes or separately by grant and loan. The average processing time is not tracked and reported on.