General Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament at on 6 November 2025.
Douglas Lumsden
Conservative
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to increase the current threshold of 50MW for approval by its energy consents unit of onshore electricity-generating stations, to allow more decisions to be taken by local planning authorities. (S6O-05111)
Gillian Martin
Scottish National Party
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 will also consult on our new regulatory powers over Electricity Act 1989 applications through the United Kingdom Government’s Planning and Infrastructure Bill. Those new powers will enable changes to be made to address many of the concerns raised by local communities and to provide earlier, more structured engagement opportunities and better alignment with local planning procedures.
Douglas Lumsden
Conservative
Decisions such as those about the 500MW battery storage plant at Rothienorman should be taken by local planning authorities. Before the Cabinet secretary jets off on her latest taxpayer-funded jaunt to sell Scotland’s countryside to the highest bidder—[ Interruption .]
Alison Johnstone
Green
Let us hear Mr Lumsden.
Douglas Lumsden
Conservative
Will the Cabinet secretary explain to her constituents in Aberdeenshire East why local democracy is being ignored and energy projects are being decided by central belt, eco-zealot bureaucrats who are not answerable to local residents? [ Interruption .]
Gillian Martin
Scottish National Party
Well—what to say to that? Decisions about energy consents are made by local authorities if they fall under the threshold and by the Scottish Government if they are over the threshold. Regulations are put in place to determine the processes that are followed, and those processes are regulated by the United Kingdom Government.
I was about to say that I am looking forward to reading Douglas Lumsden’s submission to the consultation but, after that diatribe, I do not know whether I am. [ Interruption .]
Alison Johnstone
Green
Let us not be shouting at one another.
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.
The cabinet is the group of twenty or so (and no more than 22) senior government ministers who are responsible for running the departments of state and deciding government policy.
It is chaired by the prime minister.
The cabinet is bound by collective responsibility, which means that all its members must abide by and defend the decisions it takes, despite any private doubts that they might have.
Cabinet ministers are appointed by the prime minister and chosen from MPs or peers of the governing party.
However, during periods of national emergency, or when no single party gains a large enough majority to govern alone, coalition governments have been formed with cabinets containing members from more than one political party.
War cabinets have sometimes been formed with a much smaller membership than the full cabinet.
From time to time the prime minister will reorganise the cabinet in order to bring in new members, or to move existing members around. This reorganisation is known as a cabinet re-shuffle.
The cabinet normally meets once a week in the cabinet room at Downing Street.
