Portfolio Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament am 2:00 pm ar 26 Medi 2024.
Alexander Burnett
Ceidwadwyr
2:00,
26 Medi 2024
I refer members to my entry in the register of members’ interests regarding onshore wind.
To ask the Scottish Government when it last engaged with the four nations steering group on the review of noise guidance for onshore wind turbines as it applies to Scotland. (S6O-03767)
Gillian Martin
Scottish National Party
Scottish Government officials continue to engage on a regular basis in the United Kingdom Government-led process to update the ETSU-R-97 noise guidance, with the latest engagement having been in August this year.
Alexander Burnett
Ceidwadwyr
Regarding the review of the ETSU-R-97 noise guidance, my constituent asked the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero how authorities should act with regard to evidence that will form part of that review when determining applications before the review process is complete. The UK Government’s response made it clear that decision makers can consider other relevant evidence and may depart from existing policy and guidance if there is a rational justification for doing so. Will the acting Cabinet secretary confirm today that she will recognise the recommendations in the WSP report and act accordingly in making determinations?
Gillian Martin
Scottish National Party
Of course, any noise complaints can be reported to the relevant local authority and can be investigated under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. There are also provisions under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997, and any breach of consent conditions on noise can be investigated under that act. However, I will take on board Mr Burnett’s comments.
Bob Doris
Scottish National Party
We clearly need to work alongside communities to protect our natural environment, as well as driving forward decarbonisation and green economic growth. If Scotland and the UK are to comply with the independent Climate Change Committee’s advice that electricity supply from onshore wind must double by 2030 to meet net zero targets, how does the Scottish Government seek to strike the correct balance on that vital endeavour?
Gillian Martin
Scottish National Party
As Mr Doris says, Scotland’s potential for renewable energy generation is one of our greatest environmental and economic opportunities. In the recent programme for government, we set out our ambition to double renewable electricity capacity, with actions to deliver on our clean energy pipeline and its many benefits. As part of our just transition, we will prioritise community benefits, skills, supply chains, energy efficiency and decarbonisation projects. I was pleased recently to launch, alongside the Deputy First Minister, the green industrial strategy, which focuses specifically on seizing the economic opportunities of the global transition to net zero.
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.
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.
