- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 November 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 9 December 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has agreed a peatland compensation ratio for onshore wind projects, and, if so, whether it will publish the scientific evidence it used to inform that decision.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-42174 on 9 December 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at /chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 November 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 9 December 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the report published in November 2025 by Eversheds Sutherland, Wind Energy Consenting: Increasing S36 Threshold to 100MW and Sector Deal Progress, which identifies that the current average timeframe for Section 36 determinations for onshore wind projects is 29 months without a Public Local Enquiry and 38 months with one.
Answer
The Scottish Government will consult on increasing the current threshold of 50MW for applications for onshore electricity generating stations to be considered by local authorities.
We therefore welcome the Eversheds Sutherland study as a contribution to the evidence base on energy consenting timescales and decision-making. Beyond just Sector Deal progress, the paper provides insight relating to consent rates, timescales and the comparative consistency of decision-making across different determination routes.
As noted in the answer to question S6W-42175 on 9 December 2025, the majority of applications determined in 2025 to date were submitted prior to this commitment taking effect. Many of these applications have legacy issues that must be resolved to ensure positive outcomes in the public interest for all relevant stakeholders. Accordingly, it is too early to assess whether the sector deal actions have achieved the intended impact on determination timescales. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at /chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 November 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 9 December 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the report published in January 2025 by climateXchange, Carbon Calculator for wind farms on Scottish peatlands: an evidence assessment, and what progress has been made to deliver against its recommendation that the carbon calculator, in its current form, should be updated.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-42174 on 9 December 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at /chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 October 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 4 November 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health will meet with beneficiaries of the Scottish Infected Blood Support Scheme and their families to discuss the impact of the decision to remove independent counselling grants.
Answer
The Scottish Minsters meet regularly with Haemophilia Scotland and the Scottish Infected Blood Forum to ensure that the views of infected and affected people are heard. The Scottish Ministers remain open to meeting individual Scottish Infected Blood Support Scheme beneficiaries and their families in order to discuss particular concerns.
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 October 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 27 October 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how it will monitor and evaluate the wellbeing outcomes of beneficiaries of the Scottish Infected Blood Support Scheme and their families following the withdrawal of independent counselling grants.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-41110 on 27 October 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at /chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 October 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 27 October 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the final report of the Infected Blood Inquiry, which suggested that uncertainty and delays in compensation are exacerbating victims’ mental distress, what its position is on the removal of independent counselling grants for beneficiaries of the Scottish Infected Blood Support Scheme and their families.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-41110 on 27 October 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at /chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 October 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 27 October 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the equality implications of removing independent counselling grants from beneficiaries of the Scottish Infected Blood Support Scheme and their families, particularly in relation to women carers affected by bereavement and trauma.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-41110 on 27 October 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at /chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 October 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 27 October 2025
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason independent counselling grants have been withdrawn for beneficiaries of the Scottish Infected Blood Support Scheme, in light of similar grants continuing in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-41110 on 27 October 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at /chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 October 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 27 October 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the (a) UK Government and (b) Infected Blood Compensation Authority regarding the continuation of counselling support for beneficiaries of the Scottish Infected Blood Support Scheme and their families.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-41110 on 27 October 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at /chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 October 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 27 October 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what consultation it carried out with beneficiaries of the
Scottish Infected Blood Support Scheme prior to removing the independent
counselling grant.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-41110 on 27 October 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at /chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.