The Scottish Parliament

Question reference: S7W-01526

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 03 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 31 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that National Planning Framework 4 provides sufficient guidance to local authorities on the siting of large-scale data centres, including whether applicants are required to justify use of prime agricultural land, green belt land or wetland sites in their proposed developments.

Question reference: S7W-01527

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 03 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 31 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential heat island effect associated with large-scale data centre developments, including any implications for human health, biodiversity and agricultural productivity in surrounding areas.

The Scottish Government has not undertaken a national assessment of the remit the member has specifically outlined on data centres. However, we are currently engaging with industry and partner agencies to better understand the cumulative impacts of data centre developments on the environment.

Planning authorities have a responsibility to consider the environmental implications of all developments which require an application for planning permission.

Scotland’s National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) ensures the potential impacts of proposals, including cumulative impacts, are important considerations in the decision-making process. All applications are subject to site specific assessments.

Question reference: S7W-01534

Asked by: Amanda Lindsay, MSP for Central Scot and Lothians West, Reform UK
Date lodged: Friday, 03 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 31 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what support is available for residents who wish to switch to an electric vehicle but are unable to do so due to a lack of practical and affordable home charging options.

To help address this, it provides support through Energy Saving Trust, including grants of up to £400 through the Domestic Charge Point Fund for eligible households installing a home charge point, with support targeting rural and island households facing additional barriers to EV adoption. It also provides grants of up to £3,500 through the Cross-Pavement Charging Grant for approved charging solutions where off-street parking is not available, subject to local authority approval.

These measures support access to lower-cost home charging and a fair and accessible transition to electric vehicles across Scotland.

We also continue to call on the UK Government to address the imbalance in the rates of VAT levied on domestic and public EV chargers and provide equity for consumers.

Question reference: S7W-01525

Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 03 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 31 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any cumulative impact of proposed large-scale data centre developments on agricultural land, including the loss of prime quality farmland.

The Scottish Government has not undertaken a national assessment of the remit the member has specifically outlined on data centres. However, we are currently engaging with industry and partner agencies to better understand the cumulative impacts of data centre developments on the environment.

When new planning applications come forward, Scotland’s National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) ensures the potential impacts of proposals, including cumulative impacts, are important considerations in the decision-making process. NPF4 policy 5 (soils) sets out policy protections for peatland and carbon rich soils, including prime agricultural land.

Question reference: S7W-01512

Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 31 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of Scottish Enterprise's Human Rights Due Diligence procedure, including whether it considers it to be of public interest.

Following a Parliamentary motion (S6M-16571) in February 2025, Scottish Enterprise undertook a review of its human rights due diligence checks. The Scottish Government supported this motion, and therefore supported a review undertaken by Scottish Enterprise.

Scottish Government officials remained in close contact with Scottish Enterprise throughout its review, exchanging and providing relevant advice and views where appropriate. This included in relation to Scottish Government’s own guidance which sets out recommendations on how we, our executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies should undertake appropriate due diligence on companies, including their human rights record, before entering into an "investment relationship" with them. It is however for the accountable officer of each agency and non-departmental public body to ensure that their organisation complies with guidance issued by Scottish ministers.

The former Deputy First Minister updated Parliament in December (S6W-42527 on 11 December 2025) 2025 that Scottish Enterprise had confirmed that its updated human rights due diligence policy and procedure was substantially finalised and being operationalised in a phased manner.

Decisions regarding the publication and disclosure of information held by Scottish Enterprise, including its updated human rights diligence procedure, are ultimately an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise.

It is my understanding however, that Scottish Enterprise does intend to publish its human rights due diligence policy, at a future date.

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.

Question reference: S7W-02151

Asked by: Kristopher Leask, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 27 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what community consultation took place prior to the renewal of the lease for Whitelee Windfarm and whether any opportunities were provided for local community organisations to bid for the lease and, if so, what those opportunities were.

Question reference: S7W-01799

Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 27 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding the minimum standards set for the operating life of hearing aid batteries within the current national hearing aid battery contract, and how compliance with those standards is monitored.

Question reference: S7W-02148

Asked by: Sanne Dijkstra-Downie, MSP for Edinburgh Northern, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 27 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to extend free bus travel or any other free travel schemes to military veterans, and whether it will provide an update on any consideration it has given to this issue since it was discussed during the previous parliamentary session.

Question reference: S7W-01800

Asked by: Michael Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 27 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS Tayside regarding the quality and lifespan of hearing aid batteries currently being distributed, in light of reported concerns raised by patients and audiology staff.

Question reference: S7W-02152

Asked by: Kristopher Leask, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 27 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that opportunities for community ownership are maximised as part of the repowering of Whitelee Windfarm.

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