Portfolio Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament at 2:30 pm on 15 January 2026.
Paul McLennan
Scottish National Party
2:30,
15 January 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had regarding transport solutions to support the current and future development of Blindwells, East Lothian. (S6O-05383)
Fiona Hyslop
Scottish National Party
For the current development at Blindwells, Government officials are engaging with East Lothian Council and the developer to implement improvements to the A1 trunk road. Those improvements were agreed as part of existing planning permission for up to 1,600 homes.
For future development, officials are supporting the council as it prepares a new local development plan. Officials are also working with the council and other partners on a strategic outline business case for up to 10,000 homes that has been submitted to the Scottish Government under the Edinburgh and south-east Scotland city region deal.
Paul McLennan
Scottish National Party
As the Cabinet secretary knows, housing colleagues in the Scottish Government are engaging with East Lothian Council and the United Kingdom Government on the Blindwells business case, which she referred to, which would see a potential new town for East Lothian. What actions can Transport Scotland and the cabinet secretary take to ensure that transport solutions are progressed in tandem with housing proposals?
Fiona Hyslop
Scottish National Party
The Government is committed to ensuring that infrastructure is considered and understood early, as stated in national planning framework 4. Transport Scotland staff are engaging with the council on the business case for Blindwells, using the normal appraisal and business case process, which will identify what transport infrastructure Blindwells might need and set out a clear plan for how it will be funded and delivered.
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.
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