- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 07 April 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 1 May 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-35639 by Maree Todd on 27 March 2025, which NHS boards will be supported to provide suicide bereavement support.
Answer
We are continuing to work closely with partners to design and plan the expansion of suicide bereavement support across Scotland, taking account of the evaluation findings and existing local provision.
In addition to delivering suicide bereavement support services in Highland and Ayrshire & Arran Health Boards, Suicide Prevention Scotland has progressed discussions to establish suicide bereavement support which connects to existing local and national provision in several NHS Board areas. These are: Borders, Tayside, Fife, Shetland, Dumfries & Galloway and Greater Glasgow & Clyde.
We will continue our discussions with the remaining health boards over the coming months.
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 07 April 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 1 May 2025
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its next Creating Hope Together suicide prevention action plan.
Answer
The first three year Creating Hope Together was published in 2022 and covers the period 2022-2025.
As outlined in the answer S6W-35639 on 27 March 2025, we are starting to develop our next three-year action plan which we intend to publish in early 2026. This will build on the existing suicide prevention work and the significant insights gathered over the lifespan of the current action plan, as well as reflecting emerging and new evidence on suicide prevention. We will be engaging with our key stakeholders, our lived experience panels and others in the coming months so that they can help shape the next action plan.
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: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 April 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 29 April 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how the proposed Cross-Border Connection development by SP Energy Networks will benefit residents in the Scottish Borders.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-36341 on 22 April 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: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 April 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Alasdair Allan on 29 April 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce compensation for any individuals affected by a decline in (a) land and (b) property value due to the impact of large-scale energy projects on property prices.
Answer
As per the response provided to question S6W-34540 on 4 March 2025, Compensation provisions do exist where land, or rights over land, are acquired by compulsion for the development of energy infrastructure under the Electricity Act 1989. However, there is no statutory provision or process set out in the Act to financially compensate those who consider their property value may be affected.
The Scottish Government does, however, continue to use all levers available to deliver sustainable, meaningful and impactful outcomes from the energy transition, informed by the voices of our diverse communities.
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: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 April 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Alasdair Allan on 22 April 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to reintroduce lynx into Scotland, and, if so, what assessment it has made of any potential impact that this would have on rural communities and livestock.
Answer
The Scottish Government has no plans to reintroduce lynx or any other large carnivorous species into Scotland.
Neither the Scottish Government, nor NatureScot, have carried out any formal assessment of any potential impact that lynx would have on rural communities and livestock in Scotland given our position on the matter.
Any proposed lynx reintroduction would require a significant amount of consultation, as well as evidence to assess the risks and benefits associated. Ensuring that the views of those who would be most affected are fully taken into account is a priority for NatureScot and the Scottish Government.
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 April 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 22 April 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any benefits or risks of the proposed Cross Border Connection development by SP Energy Networks in relation to (a) local communities and (b) energy prices.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-36341 on 22 April 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: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 April 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Alasdair Allan on 22 April 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, further to its Freedom of Information response of 28 February 2025, for what reason there has been a consistent rise in renewable energy applications in recent years.
Answer
There has been a consistent rise in applications due to increased demand from developers seeking consent to build renewable energy developments in Scotland.
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 April 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Alasdair Allan on 22 April 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide the criteria for approving or rejecting renewable energy applications, in light of its Freedom of Information response of 28 February 2025 stating that 100% of proposals between 2020 and 2025 have been approved.
Answer
It is not accurate to state that 100% of proposals between 2020 and 2025 have been approved.
To clarify, the Environment Information Request response of 28 February 2025 to which the question referred, noted that, of the 7 renewable energy applications received by the Energy Consents Unit in the Scottish Borders local authority area, all were approved.
Other applications for developments located elsewhere in Scotland have been rejected during this time.
The decision whether to grant consent is taken only after careful consideration of environmental information, consultee responses and public representations.
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 April 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Alasdair Allan on 22 April 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what steps its Energy Consents Unit takes to assess the visual impact and location of renewable energy applications during the consultation phase, in light of tourism reportedly contributing £4 billion to the Scottish economy annually, with 40% of that being nature-based tourism, according to NatureScot.
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. Scottish Ministers invite representations from members of the public, appropriate community councils and other public bodies, seeking their expertise to assist in examining applications.
The decision whether to grant consent is taken only after careful consideration of environmental information, consultee responses and public representations.
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 April 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Alasdair Allan on 22 April 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is considering implementing a cap on the number of renewable energy applications submitted within a given timeframe, such as an annual Scotland-wide limit.
Answer
The Electricity Act 1989 does not specifically allow for any limit to be placed on the number of applications that Scottish ministers can receive or process. The power to amend the Electricity Act is reserved to the UK Government, so the Scottish Government has no power over this matter.