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Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S6W-21725

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 25 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 20 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many decisions to refuse applications for onshore wind development with a capacity of less than 50 megawatts have been overturned by the Planning and Environmental Appeals Division.

The number of decisions to refuse applications for onshore wind developments*, with a capacity of less than 50 megawatts, which have been overturned (appeal allowed) by the Planning and Environmental Appeals Division is set out in the table below.

The number of decisions to refuse applications for onshore wind development which have been upheld (appeal dismissed) by the Planning and Environmental Appeals Division are also provided as a point of comparison.

	Single Turbine	Windfarm (multiple turbines)	Total
Appeals Allowed	78	84	162
Appeals Dismissed	75	112	187

Decisions are required to be made in line with the development plan for the area and on the planning merits of each case . Planning approvals by reporters make up a small percentage of permissions granted each year. In the last year planning authorities determined 24,983** planning applications granting planning permission in 93.5% of cases.

* figures shown cover the period between 2002 and 26 September 2023

** Planning applications referred to cover a wide range of matters and are not restricted to wind farm proposal applications

Question reference: S6W-21727

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 25 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 9 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the total value of community benefit payments paid to local communities by onshore renewable developers has been in each year since 2007, broken down by local authority area.

The Register of Community Benefit, administered by Local Energy Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government, indicates that, since 2010, over £198 million in community benefit from onshore renewable projects has been committed to communities, including over £25 million in the 12 months. The register can be accessed here: https://localenergy.scot/community-benefits-register/ .

The Register relies on developers and communities voluntarily submitting data. It is not exhaustive and does not provide a full picture of community benefit payments across Scotland. The Register should therefore be seen as a guide to community benefit provisions across Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-21720

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 25 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 9 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of anticipated community benefit payments have been successfully made to the affected communities in each year since 2007, broken down by local authority area.

The Scottish Government does not hold information centrally on the percentage of anticipated community benefit payments made to communities from renewable energy projects, broken down by local authority area.

The Scottish Government’s Register of Community Benefit, administered by Local Energy Scotland, shows commitments from operational renewable energy projects and can be accessed here: https://localenergy.scot/community-benefits-register/

Question reference: S6O-02598

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 September 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the provision of health services across the Highlands and Islands region meets the needs of local communities.

Question reference: S6W-21668

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 22 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 27 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure transparency around the data collection measures within its proposed Agriculture Bill.

Question reference: S6W-21670

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 22 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 27 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how it has factored the role of young people into its proposed Agriculture Bill.

Question reference: S6W-21671

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 22 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 27 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of concerns raised in the consultation on the proposed Agriculture Bill, what its position is on whether its proposals would lead to a reduction in jobs.

Question reference: S6W-21339

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 27 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the concerns reportedly raised during its consultation on the proposed Agriculture Bill, that some farmers would be reluctant to share their data under the legislation.

Question reference: S6W-21335

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 27 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how its proposed Agriculture Bill will encourage young people to (a) stay in the farming sector and (b) see farming and agriculture as a potential career.

Question reference: S6W-21334

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 27 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to amend its proposals for the planned Agriculture Bill to provide greater support for farming families.