Portfolio Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament at 2:30 pm on 12 December 2024.
Alexander Burnett
Conservative
2:30,
12 December 2024
I refer members to my entry in the register of members’ interests.
To ask the Scottish Government what additional support it will provide to local authorities in relation to holding public inquiries into onshore wind farms. (S6O-04113)
Alasdair Allan
Scottish National Party
Improving planning skills and capacity is a key commitment and priority for the Scottish Government. Together with the Improvement Service, we offer planning authorities training on appeals processes including public local inquiries. We have also been working closely with the United Kingdom Government on its review of Scottish consenting, which included a recent public consultation on potential reforms to the UK Electricity Act 1989. Those reforms are intended to mandate early engagement with statutory consultees to increase application quality and reduce the need for public local inquiries.
Alexander Burnett
Conservative
The Hill of Fare wind farm proposal has been unanimously opposed by Aberdeenshire Council and the wider community. Over the 50-year lifespan of the project, the developer, Renewable Energy Systems Ltd, would generate around £1.2 billion of income at today’s prices and the landowner, Dunecht Estates, would be paid more than £140 million in rent, while the community benefit would amount to only £26 million. If Dunecht Estates does not withdraw the application by 21 January, there will need to be a public inquiry at further cost to Aberdeenshire Council, despite whistleblowers in Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks telling me that it is already a done deal as they prepare connections.
Does the Minister believe that those who profit so obscenely from the destruction of a community should bear the cost of the public inquiry, particularly at a time when councils are so stretched for cash?
Alasdair Allan
Scottish National Party
The member is well aware that I simply cannot comment on a live application of the kind that he mentions. I reiterate what I said about the fact that, looking into the future, the Scottish Government is happy to work with the UK Government on finding solutions and reform around the planning system. However, as I said, the member knows full well that I cannot comment on a live application.
Bill Kidd
Scottish National Party
Reaching our net zero goal should be done in collaboration with local communities, which must see the benefits of the Scottish Government’s efforts to kick-start Scotland’s green reindustrialisation. Can the Minister say any more about the twin aims of ensuring a fair process while decarbonising the country?
Alasdair Allan
Scottish National Party
There are twin aims, and it is vital that people and communities share the wealth of Scotland’s abundant renewable energy resources and net zero transition. Through our good-practice principles for onshore development, the Scottish Government continues to encourage developers to offer community benefits as standard on all renewable energy projects. Community benefits are a well-established and integral part of renewable energy projects in Scotland, with more than £30 million of community benefits being offered to Scottish communities in the past 12 months.
Question Time is an opportunity for MPs and Members of the House of Lords to ask Government Ministers questions. These questions are asked in the Chamber itself and are known as Oral Questions. Members may also put down Written Questions. In the House of Commons, Question Time takes place for an hour on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays after Prayers. The different Government Departments answer questions according to a rota and the questions asked must relate to the responsibilities of the Government Department concerned. In the House of Lords up to four questions may be asked of the Government at the beginning of each day's business. They are known as 'starred questions' because they are marked with a star on the Order Paper. Questions may also be asked at the end of each day's business and these may include a short debate. They are known as 'unstarred questions' and are less frequent. Questions in both Houses must be written down in advance and put on the agenda and both Houses have methods for selecting the questions that will be asked. Further information can be obtained from factsheet P1 at the UK Parliament site.
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
