- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 July 2025
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Current Status:
Answer expected on 13 August 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to monitor whether the funeral industry standards set out in the Burial and Cremation (Scotland) Act 2016 are being upheld.
Answer
Answer expected on 13 August 2025
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 July 2025
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Current Status:
Answer expected on 13 August 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made hiring funeral inspectors, as set out in the Burial and Cremation (Scotland) Act 2016.
Answer
Answer expected on 13 August 2025
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 July 2025
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Current Status:
Answer expected on 13 August 2025
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the 2024-25 edition of the Annual Report: Inspectors of Burial, Cremation and Funeral Directors.
Answer
Answer expected on 13 August 2025
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 July 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Ivan McKee on 15 July 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the planning appeal for the proposed development at Lomond Banks, and in light of it being called in by the Scottish Ministers, whether the proceedings will include any hearings, including on the issue of potential flooding.
Answer
This remains a live appeal, and it would not be appropriate to comment on any specific issues that may be involved in the consideration and decision-making process.
I can assure you that all submitted information and relevant issues will be thoroughly reviewed before a final decision is made. In reaching a decision, Ministers are required by law to have regard to the development plan and to all relevant material factors, including all submissions made by parties involved in the case and all representations made.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 July 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Ivan McKee on 15 July 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether a new reporter will consider the planning appeal for the proposed development at Lomond Banks, in light of it being called in by the Scottish Ministers.
Answer
A reporter from the Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA) was appointed to examine the proposed development in January 2025 and following our recent recall for ministerial decision on the appeal, will now produce a report to Ministers, with recommendations, instead of the reporter making the final decision.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 June 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Ivan McKee on 11 July 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what planning applications called in by the Scottish Ministers have yet to be determined, and when they were first submitted for consideration.
Answer
The following table sets out the planning applications called in by the Scottish Ministers which have yet to be determined, along with the dates the applications were notified to the Scottish Ministers before they were called in. Decisions by Scottish Ministers will be made on these cases in due course.
| Case Status | Date notified to Scottish Ministers |
NA-230-003 - City of Edinburgh Council - Mixed-Use Development Including Built-To-Rent Homes And Student Accommodation | Further procedure has concluded. A decision will be issued shortly. | 21-12-2022 |
NA-001-001- Cairngorms NPA - Erection Of 22 Self Catering Apartments, Shops, Hotel And Underground Parking | Further procedure has concluded. A decision will be issued shortly. | 27-03-2023 |
NA-270-010 Highland Council - Construction Of An 18 Hole Golf Course, Practice Area, Access, Parking, Ancillary Infrastructure And The Change Of Use Of Existing Buildings To Form Clubhouse, Pro Shop, Maintenance Shed And Ancillary Facilities (Coul Links), | The reporter’s report and recommendations are being finalised and will be submitted to Scottish Ministers as soon as possible. | 29-01-2024 |
NA-330-001 Orkney Island Council - Erect Four Wind Turbines (Maximum Height Of 180 Metres, Maximum Generation Capacity 26.4 Mw Total), A Substation And Maintenance Building, Create An Access, And Associated Infrastructure Including Access Tracks, Underground Cabling, Crane Hard standings And Borrow Pit, Nisthill Wind Farm Limited. | Requiring further procedure. Pre-examination meeting, 07 July 2025. A hearing/Inquiry will be held. | 27-01-2025 |
*The status of all cases can be tracked on the Scottish Government’s Planning and Environmental Appeals webpage at: https://www.dpea.scotland.gov.uk/Default.aspx
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 June 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Ivan McKee on 11 July 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether it is appropriate for the Minister for Public Finance to take a decision on the Flamingo Land Lomond Banks planning application at Balloch, in light of the views that he has expressed to the Parliament.
Answer
The Scottish Government considers that it is entirely appropriate. The Scottish Ministerial Code recognises that I am responsible for taking decisions on behalf of Scottish Ministers collectively on planning cases. In responding to questions in the Parliament on 20 May 2025, I pointed to the reporter’s earlier consideration of the appeal and explicitly noted on several occasions that it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the specific details of the case; and I did not do so. A decision will be made in a fair and impartial way which takes into account all relevant legal requirements and maintains the integrity of the planning process.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 June 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Ivan McKee on 11 July 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what the anticipated timetable is for ministerial consideration of the Flamingo Land Lomond Banks planning application for the development at Balloch.
Answer
Once Ministers receive a reporter’s report from the Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA), we normally aim to issue decisions on called in applications and recalled appeals within 3 months. The timescale can sometimes increase where there are more complex issues involved.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 June 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Ivan McKee on 11 July 2025
To ask the Scottish Government on how many occasions its Chief Planner has met with the Chief Reporter to discuss the Flamingo Land Lomond Banks planning application.
Answer
The Chief Planner advised the Chief Reporter in a call on 10 June 2025 that Ministers intended to recall the appeal. On 12 June 2025, the Chief Planner, the Chief Reporter and I subsequently discussed the next steps for the appeal, following the debate in the Scottish Parliament. The merits of the appeal itself were not discussed.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 June 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Ivan McKee on 11 July 2025
To ask the Scottish Government which of its ministers will take the decision on the Flamingo Land Lomond Banks planning application.
Answer
In my role as Planning Minister, I will take the decision on the Lomond Banks planning appeal.