- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 21 November 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 4 December 2024
To ask the Scottish Government how much additional workload the energy infrastructure consenting reforms will place on Transport Scotland.
Answer
Transport Scotland are a key stakeholder in the consenting process.
The ‘Verity House Agreement’ and the ‘New Deal for Business’ have set out how the Scottish Government intends to work collaboratively with local authorities and others to deliver a just transition to net zero.
The reform process launched by this consultation creates an opportunity to re-set the expectations on the bodies providing essential support to the application process, taking account of their views, suggestions and their specific circumstances.
- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 21 November 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 4 December 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what evidence it can provide that the proposed reforms to electricity infrastructure consenting will lead to (a) better quality applications and (b) fewer objections.
Answer
Scottish Government officials have worked closely with UK Government counterparts to demonstrate the challenges that are faced by all stakeholders in the process.
We are seeking views and any further evidence from stakeholders on the proposals contained in the consultation and these fill inform the decision on the next steps.
- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 21 November 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 4 December 2024
To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy last met the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to discuss the impact of energy infrastructure consenting reforms.
Answer
Through the consultation, Scottish Government is keen to understand what further support mechanisms, and practical measures, could be explored within a collaborative framework to reduce the time needed to provide consultation responses.
- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 21 November 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 4 December 2024
To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy last met NatureScot to discuss the potential impact of the energy infrastructure consenting reforms.
Answer
Through the consultation, Scottish Government is keen to understand what further support mechanisms, and practical measures, could be explored within a collaborative framework to reduce the time needed to provide consultation responses.
- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 21 November 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 4 December 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what assurances it can provide that the proposed electricity infrastructure consenting reforms will not lead to a reduction in the overall quality of decision-making in the consenting process.
Answer
The proposed reforms are about making the consideration and determination process more efficient, not making it easier for projects to get consent or to reduce the overall quality of decision-making in the consenting process.
- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 21 November 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 4 December 2024
To ask the Scottish Government how much additional workload energy infrastructure consenting reforms will place on the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).
Answer
Scottish Environment Protection Agency are a key stakeholder in the consenting process.
The ‘Verity House Agreement’ and the ‘New Deal for Business’ have set out how the Scottish Government intends to work collaboratively with local authorities and others to deliver a just transition to net zero.
The reform process launched by this consultation creates an opportunity to re-set the expectations on the bodies providing essential support to the application process, taking account of their views, suggestions and their specific circumstances.
- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 21 November 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 4 December 2024
To ask the Scottish Government how the proposed electricity infrastructure consenting reforms will impact the balance between accelerating infrastructure deployment and protecting environmental and community interests.
Answer
The proposed reforms are about making the determination process more efficient, not less robust. Environmental assessment standards will remain unchanged. Scottish Ministers will continue to consider each proposal on a case-by-case basis, following review of the application information, consultation responses and representations made by members of the public.
Potential impacts on communities, nature and other valued natural assets or cultural heritage 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, 21 November 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 4 December 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what additional resources will be allocated to local authorities to deal with any shortfall in capacity to process applications as a result of energy infrastructure consenting reforms.
Answer
Through the consultation, Scottish Government is keen to understand what further support mechanisms, and practical measures, could be explored within a collaborative framework to reduce the time needed to provide consultation responses.
- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 21 November 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 4 December 2024
To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy last met Scottish Forestry to discuss the impact of energy infrastructure consenting reforms.
Answer
Through the consultation, Scottish Government is keen to understand what further support mechanisms, and practical measures, could be explored within a collaborative framework to reduce the time needed to provide consultation responses.
- Asked by: Douglas Lumsden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 21 November 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 4 December 2024
To ask the Scottish Government how much additional workload energy infrastructure consenting reforms will place on Historic Environment Scotland.
Answer
Historic Environment Scotland are a key stakeholder in the consenting process.
The ‘Verity House Agreement’ and the ‘New Deal for Business’ have set out how the Scottish Government intends to work collaboratively with local authorities and others to deliver a just transition to net zero.
The reform process launched by this consultation creates an opportunity to re-set the expectations on the bodies providing essential support to the application process, taking account of their views, suggestions and their specific circumstances.