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Seòmar agus comataidhean

Official Report: search what was said in Parliament

The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.  

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Dates of parliamentary sessions
  1. Session 1: 12 May 1999 to 31 March 2003
  2. Session 2: 7 May 2003 to 2 April 2007
  3. Session 3: 9 May 2007 to 22 March 2011
  4. Session 4: 11 May 2011 to 23 March 2016
  5. Session 5: 12 May 2016 to 5 May 2021
  6. Current session: 12 May 2021 to 24 November 2024
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Displaying 575 contributions

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Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee

National Planning Framework 4 (Annual Review)

Meeting date: 21 May 2024

Gordon MacDonald

I want to ask you about the reuse of brownfield sites and the support available for that. According to the last numbers that I saw, the amount of vacant land across Scotland fell by a quarter between 2016 and 2022. Do you have any more information on the amount of land that has been recovered and reused? As I have said, the last numbers that I have go up to 2022, but there are still over 9,000 hectares of derelict land in Scotland. I know that NPF4 is only a year old, but does it contain any incentives to encourage developers to continue to use brownfield sites?

Economy and Fair Work Committee

Disability Employment Gap

Meeting date: 15 May 2024

Gordon MacDonald

It was about people from the most deprived backgrounds.

Economy and Fair Work Committee

Disability Employment Gap

Meeting date: 15 May 2024

Gordon MacDonald

Thank you all for a really interesting session. My questions were going to be on improving the transition to support, but I think that you have answered that pretty fully.

I have been listening to your responses, and I have written down that we need more job coaches and access to career advice; that the last year of school should be used for people to get ready for the world of work; that we need to support parents to inspire their youngsters; that access to work funding and administration should be devolved; and that we should upskill teachers. Is there anything that I have missed?

Secondly, are there any different or additional challenges facing people from black and minority ethnic backgrounds, or those who come from the most deprived areas of Scotland?

Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee

National Planning Framework 4 (Annual Review)

Meeting date: 14 May 2024

Gordon MacDonald

Is there a particular difficulty in attracting planners to work for local authorities, or is it just about resource?

Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee

National Planning Framework 4 (Annual Review)

Meeting date: 14 May 2024

Gordon MacDonald

But will guidance be enough to address those issues?

Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee

National Planning Framework 4 (Annual Review)

Meeting date: 14 May 2024

Gordon MacDonald

My final question is for you, Morag. Last week, we heard that there are particular challenges in the Highlands. As you highlighted, there is a need to develop renewable energy infrastructure there, but that would have to be done on carbon-rich soil. How do we get the balance right between protecting those areas and allowing development?

Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee

National Planning Framework 4 (Annual Review)

Meeting date: 14 May 2024

Gordon MacDonald

Okay. Thank you very much.

Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee

National Planning Framework 4 (Annual Review)

Meeting date: 14 May 2024

Gordon MacDonald

In the last couple of weeks, we have had the Miller Homes case ruling. What impact do you think that that will have on future developments?

Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee

National Planning Framework 4 (Annual Review)

Meeting date: 14 May 2024

Gordon MacDonald

I want to ask about the wording of some of the NPF4 policies. We heard evidence last week that suggested that policy 3 on biodiversity is too loosely written, but that, on the other hand, in policy 22, the flood risk iss being very rigidly interpreted. Could the interpretation being either too loose or too rigid lead to inconsistent decision making? If so, how do we address that problem—is it all about the guidance?

Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee

National Planning Framework 4 (Annual Review)

Meeting date: 14 May 2024

Gordon MacDonald

Given the amount of development that is happening, particularly in the east, what are the challenges that planning departments face?