- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 January 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 21 January 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that funding for community radio is distributed equitably across Scotland.
Answer
In Scotland, there is no funding out with the advertising spend that is allocated for community radio stations. The selection of the stations for campaigns is determined by the target audience and reach. Information on individual advertising spend per radio station is not available to us as this is deemed commercially sensitive.
- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 January 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 21 January 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to increase the transparency of its advertising expenditure.
Answer
The Scottish Government publish their annual marketing spend on
- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 10 January 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Ivan McKee on 21 January 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how it monitors the environmental impact of its vehicle fleet, including in relation to (a) emissions and (b) fuel usage.
Answer
The Scottish Government has a dedicated team that manage all aspects of our fleet. Part of this role is to ensure vehicles are maintained in line with manufacturers recommended maintenance schedules and guidelines to ensure emission compliance and the active monitoring of fuel usage.
- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 January 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Alasdair Allan on 20 January 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what role the Energy Consents Unit plays in balancing national energy policy objectives with the interests of rural communities, and how this is reflected in its assessment processes.
Answer
The Energy Consents Unit administers applications made to Scottish Ministers for determination in relation to energy infrastructure. In reaching their decision, the Scottish Ministers will determine applications in accordance with legislative requirements and relevant policy. The application process allows rural communities to provide views on the development, which are taken into consideration when final decisions are made.
- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 10 January 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 20 January 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how many junctions or road connections have been added to the A90 over the last five years.
Answer
No new junctions or connections have been added on the A90 trunk road or within the Aberdeen Western Periphery / Balmedie to Tipperty boundary in the last five years.
- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 January 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Alasdair Allan on 20 January 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review the criteria used by the Energy Consents Unit to evaluate energy infrastructure projects, in light of reported concerns that net zero contributions are being prioritised over community and environmental considerations.
Answer
The Energy Consents Unit processes applications in accordance with the relevant legislation and regulatory framework. Community and environmental considerations are integrated into the decision-making process and are essential factors when considering applications.
- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 January 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Ivan McKee on 20 January 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review the National Planning Framework 4 in relation to energy infrastructure planning, and what mechanisms are in place to ensure that rural communities’ views are adequately reflected in the decision-making processes.
Answer
National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) was published following extensive consultation and engagement, including with rural communities, and was adopted by the Scottish Ministers in February 2023. While Scottish Ministers can decide to amend the NPF or review it in full at any time, having an established and consistent policy framework enables confidence in the planning system and so we expect to exercise this power sparingly. We have no current plans to amend NPF4.
The Scottish planning system is plan-led, with a focus on involving all interests as early and effectively as possible. There are a range of opportunities for individuals and communities to get involved during both the plan-making and planning application stages of the planning and development process.
- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 January 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Alasdair Allan on 20 January 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how the Energy Consents Unit ensures that factors other than a project’s contribution to net zero targets, such as local environmental and social impacts, are given due weight in its decision-making processes.
Answer
Potential impacts on communities, nature, and cultural heritage, including the cumulative effects of developments, are important considerations in the decision-making process. When an application is received, a full public consultation is carried out, and Scottish Ministers invite representations from members of the public and consult the appropriate community councils, alongside other public bodies. The decision whether to grant consent is taken only after careful consideration of environmental information, consultee responses and public representations.
- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 January 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Alasdair Allan on 20 January 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how the National Planning Framework 4 and Energy Consents Unit jointly address the reported concerns about the cumulative impact of energy infrastructure projects on rural communities and the natural environment.
Answer
In reaching their decision, Scottish Ministers will determine applications in accordance with legislative requirements and relevant policy. Our National Planning Framework 4 ensures the potential impacts of energy infrastructure projects on communities, nature, and cultural heritage, including the cumulative effects of developments, are important considerations in the decision-making process.
- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 January 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Alasdair Allan on 20 January 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what measures are in place to ensure that the Energy Consents Unit’s decisions align with the principles of a just transition to net zero, particularly for rural communities.
Answer
In reaching their decision, Scottish Ministers will determine applications in accordance with legislative requirements and relevant policy. Our Just Transition Plan is just one of many policy documents which is considered as appropriate in the decision-making process.