Paul McLennan
Scottish National Party · Scotland
“To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking forward in partnership with East Lothian Council, Taylor Wimpey and Hargreaves, to deliver and expand the housing development at Blindwells, which has been classified as a strategic housing site. (S7O- 00129)”
“Scotland has decarbonised its electricity supply faster than almost any other country in Europe has done. More than 90 per cent of our electricity now comes from renewable sources—a transformation that is powered by the wind, waves and tides that shape our East Lothian shores every day.”
“We are at a moment that will define the future that we leave to our children and grandchildren. The science is clear, the evidence is all around us and the window for action is narrowing. Today, red weather warnings for extreme heat have been issued in the south-east of England.”
“Therefore, does he regret his party’s decision to close down nuclear energy in Scotland, which has been a huge contributor to the Scottish economy? Paul McLennan: I will touch on that. I mentioned the need for investment in the green jobs and infrastructure that grow our economy.”
“Paul McLennan: I go back to my point that the broader debate is about ensuring that those who are successful pay their fair share towards the foundations that make that success possible.”
“As the efficient and fair function of Scotland’s justice system is a priority for all in this chamber, does the cabinet secretary agree with me on the importance of the Scottish Sentencing Council and the courts working independently to ensure that objective?”
The complete record
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“Institutions such as Edinburgh will continue to play a crucial role in training the next generation of clinicians, driving innovation and strengthening Scotland’s internationally recognised life sciences sector. For those reasons, I am pleased to recognise this important anniversary and wish the staff, students and researchers of the University of Edinburgh every success as they shape the future of medical education and discovery in the centuries ahead. 13:06”
“Today, women make up a majority of medical students across the United Kingdom and play leading roles in clinical practice, research and medical leadership. In that progress, they stand on the shoulders of those early pioneers. As we mark this 300-year milestone, it is right that we celebrate the achievements of the University of Edinburgh’s medical school—its contribution to science, to innovation and to improving health in Scotland and around the world. The next chapter of medical education will be shaped by the challenges that we face today: supporting the workforce of NHS Scotland, responding to an ageing population and harnessing advances in technology and medical research.”
“As Martin Whitfield mentioned, in 1869, a group of pioneering women now known as the Edinburgh seven enrolled to study medicine at the university. Led by Sophia Jex-Blake, they were the first women in Britain to be admitted to a university medical programme. Their determination opened doors that had previously been closed but their journey was far from straightforward. They faced hostility and institutional resistance and were ultimately denied the degrees that they had worked hard to earn. It took almost 150 years before the University of Edinburgh formally recognised their achievements and awarded those degrees posthumously. Their story reminds us that progress in medicine—and, indeed, in society—often comes because individuals challenge barriers and expand opportunity for those who follow.”
“The relationship between the university and NHS Lothian also demonstrates how important the partnership between education and front-line healthcare is. Many of the doctors, researchers and healthcare professionals who study in Edinburgh go on to serve communities across Lothian and beyond, including my constituency of East Lothian. That partnership helps to ensure that the knowledge and innovation that are developed in our universities translate directly into better care for patients. Anniversaries such as this are an opportunity not only to celebrate the past but to reflect honestly on the journey that has brought us here and the responsibilities that we carry into the future. During women’s history month, it is particularly fitting to recognise the role of women in shaping the story of medical education in Edinburgh.”
“I thank Martin Whitfield for bringing the debate to the chamber, and I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the recognition of the 300th anniversary of formal medical teaching at the University of Edinburgh medical school. Three centuries of medical education is an extraordinary milestone. Over that time, the school has built a reputation that stretches far beyond Scotland. Its graduates have helped to shape modern medicine, contributed to global research and improved the health of communities across the world. For Scotland, the impact has been profound. The medical school has played a central role in establishing Edinburgh as a global centre for medical research, innovation and education, which has helped to strengthen Scotland’s reputation as a leader in the life sciences sector.”
“Scotland does not have the powers to take that forward. Prices are set in the UK Parliament, but we need those powers here in Scotland. The report is not a critique; it is a road map to success. We must all seize the moment to rebuild momentum, foster collaboration and secure a sustainable future for Scotland. Net zero is not optional; it is our legacy, and we can deliver it together. 16:28”
“The East Lothian Climate Hub has done fantastic work with local communities. I remember talking to the cabinet secretary about the fact that embedding the plan means embedding it in our local communities, and the climate hub has done amazing work in that regard. I spent time with it last Friday restoring hedgerows in Tranent, believe it or not. I found that very therapeutic, and it had an important impact. Edward Mountain put it well when he said: “The Plan must be focused on delivery, with credible proposals and clear lines of accountability”. Everyone agrees with that. He said that getting it right means listening to industry, NGOs, experts and Parliament, and other committees said the same. Electricity pricing reform is vital as we move forward. That is one of the issues that we have spoken about.”
“Freight decarbonisation is key, and 80 per cent of operators are small businesses, so the way that we work with them is really important. There must be more measures to deter car use, including demand management, multiyear funding and integrated ticketing. I come back to what was said about rural access to public transport, which is important. On waste, the draft circular economy strategy is important. We need tighter timelines for reductions in emissions from landfills and incineration. Again, I speak from a local perspective on that. I have spoken previously about the work of the East Lothian Climate Hub. Climate and environmental change impact us all. The issues of increasing flooding, food availability, the livelihoods of farmers and access to green spaces affect everyone in East Lothian.”
“Paul McLennan: I am conscious of the time. The Deputy Presiding Officer: I can give you the time back. Sarah Boyack: It is difficult for young and older people to use their bus passes, because we have lost hundreds of bus routes. East Lothian, West Lothian, Midlothian and Edinburgh have Lothian Buses, but other parts of the country have no bus services, which is a real challenge. Does the member agree that the final plan should include support for new bus services? Paul McLennan: That is really important. I know that East Lothian Council gives about £1 million a year to support bus routes. There is a bus route development grant, and the Government has worked with local and national bus companies. It is really important to encourage that.”
“Members will know that I have done lots of walking since I had my little health scare and have seen the benefits of that. We heard from Walking Scotland about the ambition for a £50 million path fund. That is being discussed and it is something that I support and that I encourage the Government to look at. We must encourage walking and cycling for health, leisure and work and we must support active travel hubs. We have spoken about the issue of car mileage and use, which is something that we need to look at. The Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Fiona Hyslop, spoke about that. Bus passenger numbers have dropped since the Covid pandemic, and the Scottish Government has looked at incentives to get people back on to buses, such as free bus travel for the under-22s and a cap on bus fares. Sarah Boyack: Will the member take an intervention?”
“[Interruption.] The Deputy Presiding Officer: Before I ask Paul McLennan to resume, could members resist the temptation to shout out rather than asking for an intervention? Paul McLennan: I thank the cabinet secretary for that important point. It is all about how much cheaper prices are for consumers. One third of people in Scotland are in fuel poverty, so how we tackle climate change is incredibly important. Stephen Kerr: Will the member give way? Paul McLennan: I want to move on from that, Mr Kerr. Transport is a major emitter. The draft plan talks about modal shifts and encourages walking, cycling, the use of public transport and a reduction in dependency on cars. We have spoken about incentives such as free bus travel for under-22s and investment in active travel infrastructure. Walking is key.”
“Stephen Kerr: I do not doubt Paul McLennan’s commitment to green and clean energy sources, but why does he not accept what the European Union now accepts, which is that nuclear is a clean energy source and that we should be investing in it for our energy and national security? Paul McLennan: As the member knows, I have a nuclear power station in my constituency. When it comes down to it, there are a number of reasons why we are going forward with renewables. The strike price is considerably cheaper. We might continue to disagree and debate that, but it is cheaper to deliver renewables. Gillian Martin: I have the strike prices here. Hinkley Point’s strike price is £92.50 per megawatt hour. For onshore wind, the figure is £64 and for solar power it is £61.”
“In energy supply, the Government’s plan for renewables and grid upgrades is positive, but we all need to do more to scale up. That comes back to how serious the UK Government is about that point, and I know that the cabinet secretary has been dealing with that. The UK Government was behind the curve for a number of years and is now catching up, but that has had an impact on our ability to grow the renewables sector. The UK Government needs to pick up the pace and move more quickly on that. We need clearer pathways to decarbonise energy from waste. I have an energy from waste plant in my constituency and I met representatives of Viridor to discuss that point. Emissions projections in that area are key as we move forward.”
“A number of months ago, I brought the National Energy System Operator to the Parliament, and a number of MSPs went along and spoke at that event. Grid capacity is essential, but we need close collaboration with the UK Government. I come from down in East Lothian, where the eastern green link is being built to export energy down to England. There must be closer collaboration with the UK Government on grid capacity, and I know that the cabinet secretary has been talking about that. Dependencies on external actors, from Westminster to private industry, heighten risks, as do ambitious assumptions around rapid electric vehicle adoption, which we have had debates about. Ariane Burgess spoke about home heat decarbonisation and emissions technologies. I turn to other key sectors that are under our remit.”
“At its core, the report talks about how the final climate change plan will have to prioritise delivery. Concrete policies must be backed by clear targets, timelines, assigned leadership and, where possible, costings. This is not just about Government policies. As we have heard, local authorities and communities have a role, and I will touch on that later in my speech. A robust monitoring system is essential to track progress and flag risks early. We cannot get to two or three years down the line and realise where we are. We must be able to do that monitoring on an annual basis. The draft plan talks about electrification across the economy, but that brings challenges such as ensuring affordable electricity through collaboration with the UK Government.”
“We have all heard that the draft climate change plan outlines policies across sectors such as transport, energy, waste, agriculture and buildings to meet our carbon budgets over the next 15 years. However, ambition alone is not enough; we need delivery. That is important, and I will come on to talk about that. As we all know, the Scottish Parliament undertook a 120-day review, with our Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee leading the charge. It examined the plan’s governance, monitoring and fiscal aspects, which are important, and we have heard from other committees today. What emerged and what is important is a clear consensus that Scotland needs to regain momentum in our net zero journey. I will touch on the impact of that and why we have not progressed as quickly as we should.”
“How do I follow that? I am grateful for the opportunity to speak in today’s debate on the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee’s report on “Scotland’s Draft Climate Change Plan: 2026-2040”. I thank the committee and its clerks. We are in a defining decade in our fight against climate change, and the report serves as a critical friend as we engage in that fight. I think that we are also in a defining period politically. In a few months, we could have a Parliament in which there are 15 to 20 Reform MSPs—that is what the polls are showing us—and I have been at hustings with Reform candidates who flatly deny climate change. Kemi Badenoch has not been particularly supportive of the challenge against net zero. The Tories and Reform are hand in hand. Scotland has set an ambitious target for net zero emissions by 2045.”
“From April 2026, care leavers will receive a new £2,000 care leavers payment, which will help young people to begin adulthood with much greater security. All that is on top of the Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill, which will soon have its stage 3 proceedings in the Parliament. Infrastructure (Local Authority Support) 3.”
“The Scottish National Party Government is delivering policies to support, and improve access to opportunities for, care-experienced young people. Will the minister speak further about how Scottish Government investment is continuing that vital work through, for example, the care-experienced children and young people fund? Natalie Don-Innes: We continue to invest across the board to support improved outcomes for care-experienced children and young people, which includes providing more than £80 million from the care-experienced children and young people fund. There has been an increase in further education that has led the number of people accessing the care-experienced students bursary to more than double since 2019-20.”
“We will debate those issues in the days ahead in the coming election. However, it is clear to me that, after almost two decades of the SNP Government being in power, we need a new direction in Scotland. 15:36”
“As I said at the outset of the debate, we were promised a recovery from Covid in this session of Parliament—that was to be the relentless focus of this session. It was going to be the relentless focus of John Swinney, the man who now finds himself in the role of First Minister. However, we are nowhere near where we need to be in that recovery from Covid. The debate has allowed us to reflect on what has gone before, but it also gives us an opportunity to put on record what needs to happen to move forward. For me, that is about giving confidence and support to teachers to allow them to teach, to maintain discipline and order in their classrooms, to drive up literacy and numeracy across the board and to deal with the significant challenges relating to additional support needs, not just in terms of funding but in terms of structure.”
“There are a lot of unknowns out there. We are trying to move at pace and, at the same time, deal with rapid change. The Deputy Presiding Officer: I can give you the time back for that, Mr O’Kane. Paul O’Kane: Of course I recognise what Karen Adam says about the challenges. Any Government has to deal with shocks and other such issues, but we are reflecting on almost two decades of the SNP’s decision making in this space. We have to ask what the picture and position was on many of those issues pre-Covid. Similarly, in the health service, the Government sometimes desires to point to the pandemic as the root of all challenges, ills and issues, but the reality is that things were in a difficult situation prior to the pandemic.”
“She reflected on her time in the Parliament over that 10‑year period and beyond and she considered the issues of apprenticeships and skills, what we are teaching young people and how we are preparing them for work. She said that, in many ways, we have not moved beyond the issues that she raised back in 2007. That tells us all we need to know about the progress that has, and has not, been made during this session of Parliament—these past five years—and, more acutely, over almost two decades of SNP government. Karen Adam: I understand what the member says about time, but things have changed so much in the past six years since Covid. Also, young people just do not know what type of roles and jobs will be available in the future. They might be in school right now, but the jobs that they will be going into do not even exist yet.”
“As she was talking about the innovations, the reviews and what is happening now, I reflected that those very issues were being discussed in 2016, when I was working in the sector and helping people, particularly parents, to advocate for their views. At the time, John Swinney was the education secretary, and he pledged to look at a number of recommendations that were made, including those in “#IncludED in the Main?!”, which was Enable’s piece of work on the issue. None of that was progressed in a particularly meaningful way. We find ourselves in the position of revisiting much of that 10 years on and we are only just making a start on the issues that need to be dealt with. That leads me to Liz Smith’s speech. I pay tribute to Liz Smith, because she will be a loss to the Parliament.”
“15:32 Paul O’Kane: I will pick up on a theme that I started with, because it came up a number of times in the debate: reflecting not only on the previous five years of this Parliament but on the 10 years since the pledge on the attainment gap was made and on the 20 years of the SNP in power. A number of members commented on that and on what has and has not happened during that period. Karen Adam spoke passionately about the importance of ASN provision and support and the work that still requires to be done. I am very familiar with that, as someone who worked in the learning disability sector for many years before being elected to Parliament.”
“Children are suffering in East Lothian because of that specific issue. I am also asking East Lothian Council to urgently rethink its approach and put children’s needs at the centre of decision making. No progress would be possible without the dedication of those in our classrooms, nurseries and communities, which we see day in and day out. Scotland’s teachers and pupil support staff go above and beyond. Parents and carers give tirelessly of their time and energy. Our pupils do, too—the young people turn up ready to learn to their full potential. They are the reason that we are all here. I want to place on record our deepest gratitude to every one of them. Their hard work and commitment are what make Scottish education the success story that it is becoming. The Deputy Presiding Officer: We come to closing speeches.”
“That directly affects families in East Lothian, where many children rely on specialist input to communicate, learn and thrive. Parents and professionals across East Lothian have been clear in speaking to me. When independent therapists are refused access, there is often no suitable alternative in place. Children are left waiting, falling behind and missing out on interventions that could make a life‑changing difference. All qualified therapists meet the same regulatory standards. What matters is that children receive the help when they need it. I am working with the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists in that regard. It would be helpful if the cabinet secretary could refer to that in her summing up. I raised the topic in committee last week, and Tom Arthur said that he would take the point forward.”
“Another important point that has not been touched on in the debate is the second cross-party summit on neural developmental support, which brings together health, educational, academia and local government. Those in the next session of Parliament will have a vital role in ensuring that children and parents have the support that they need to maximise their child’s potential. I commend the work that Stronger Together for Autism and Neurodivergence undertake in East Lothian in supporting children and parents. I want to focus on one local issue. It is incredibly worrying to see some autistic children in East Lothian being denied essential support because of the Labour council’s decision to block private therapists from working in local schools.”
“The constructive work with colleagues and the budget deal with the Scottish Greens last year rolled out free school meals in secondary schools. Every extra meal served is another barrier removed and another child is given the best possible start to their school day. I, too, welcome the continuation of extra funding for pupils with additional support needs. The demands for our ASN services are significant and sustained investment is essential. I look forward to the publication early next month of the cross-party ASN review that this Parliament commissioned. I am confident that the review, combined with resources and the budget, will help us to deliver the support that our young people deserve.”
“The achievement of curriculum for excellence levels data that was published in December 2025 showed that there are record levels of literacy and numeracy in our primary schools. Just last month, in February 2026, we learned that the proportion of school leavers who move on to positive destinations—college, university, training or employment—reached the second-highest level on record. Those are not abstract statistics; they are the direct result of the hard work of teachers, pupil support staff, parents and carers across Scotland. The budget builds on that success. It will expand free breakfast clubs and free school meals even further, helping to ensure that no child arrives at school too hungry to learn.”
“I thank the Lib Dems for securing this debate. I am delighted to speak just as we have agreed to the 2026-27 budget, as the cabinet secretary referred to. That was secured through constructive agreement with our Lib Dem colleagues. The budget delivers tangible investment in the future of every child and young person. It contains more than £4.8 billion for education, including £200 million specifically targeted at closing the poverty-related attainment gap. That is record investment, which the Parliament can be proud of. It is not just about the funds, as has been said; it is about achievement. I come to the debate with evidence of progress and achievement, which is the important thing. We can all stand in the Parliament to make speeches, trade statistics and trade our records of manifesto promises.”
“Public inquiries must deliver truth without bankrupting trust in our institutions. By adopting the proposed reforms, we can balance accountability with prudence and ensure that every single pound that is spent serves the people of Scotland. I urge members to support the motion and drive this change forward. 15:14”
“We could amend the Inquiries (Scotland) Rules 2007 to make the proposals mandatory, with any extensions having to be justified before Parliament. Alternatively, we could collaborate with the UK Government in the longer term to embed the proposals in the 2005 act. It is about boosting transparency in decision making, supporting inquiry teams better and strengthening oversight, perhaps through the Finance and Public Administration Committee. The Deputy First Minister has engaged with the committee and she mentioned coming back before to the Parliament on the matter before dissolution. It is about emphasising fiscal sustainability alongside justice. Alternatives such as non- statutory reviews can be quicker and cheaper for suitable cases, but where statutory powers are needed, let us make them efficient.”
“One of the key points for me is that effectiveness is hard to measure. Recommendations are only as good as their implementation, yet there is no standard monitoring. There is a risk of sermonising without taking action. Trust in actions is key, and that is why the committee’s recommendations are so important. They call on the Scottish ministers to set defined timescales and fixed budgets for every inquiry from the outset. The Deputy First Minister talked about that as well. However, there will have to be some flexibility on that, because every inquiry is slightly different, so we cannot force timescales. Some inquiries will take as long as they take. There are a couple of options that we can look at.”
“Martin Whitfield: Does Paul McLennan agree that the Deputy First Minister was right to point to certain elements of the costs that are sensitive? Does he also agree that the costs of advocates who represent groups and individuals cannot fall into that category and that the public have a right to know what the advocacy costs are? Paul McLennan: I agree with Martin Whitfield on that. I note that the committee raises that point, too. The figures are not abstract; they are equivalent to the annual budget of a small local authority or to the cost of the regional growth deals for a year. At a time of tight finances, we owe it to Scots to ask whether we are getting value for money. The Inquiries Act 2005 urges chairs “to avoid any unnecessary cost” but, without mandated budgets or timescales, overruns are inevitable.”
“The cost of the four major current inquiries—the Scottish child abuse inquiry, the hospitals inquiry, the Sheku Bayoh inquiry and the Covid-19 inquiry—has already reached £200 million, with more costs to come. As Michelle Thomson said, legal fees often dominate, sometimes accounting for more than a third of the costs, while indirect costs to public bodies such as Police Scotland add millions more. That can sometimes mean funds being diverted from front-line services, which is why the points that Michelle Thomson and the Deputy First Minister made about the publication of costs are incredibly important. That is not to say that companies are overemphasising the costs, but it is important that they are transparent.”
“When we consider our political discourse and the extent to which people trust politicians more generally, we can see that the role of public inquiries is incredibly important. They can also promote reconciliation and drive real change. Without them, we would risk repeating history’s mistakes. However, we must be honest that public inquiries come at a staggering cost. Since 2007, Scotland has spent about £230 million on public inquiries, adjusted to today’s prices. The Edinburgh tram inquiry alone cost £13.1 million and took nine years. I know people who were involved in that inquiry and they were incredibly frustrated about how long it took.”
“I affirm the vital role of public inquiries, which are not luxuries but essential tools for uncovering the truth, delivering justice to victims and preventing future tragedies. I note the issue of trust in public inquiries and what they deliver, which Liz Smith mentioned. The Penrose inquiry into contaminated blood exposed systemic failures and brought closure to affected families. The on-going Scottish child abuse inquiry is giving voice to survivors after decades of silence. The Sheku Bayoh inquiry is seeking answers for a grieving family and communities. As the Deputy First Minister said, the Scottish Covid-19 inquiry is helping us to learn lessons from a pandemic that touched every life in Scotland. Such inquiries can restore public confidence, and we should not underestimate the importance of that.”
“I am grateful for the opportunity to speak in this important debate on the cost-effectiveness of Scottish public inquiries. I thank the Finance and Public Administration Committee for its report. The speeches that we have heard so far have been valuable and a credit to the Parliament. I am glad to contribute to this debate, which builds on the groundbreaking report that the committee published last year. I think that this is the first time that Holyrood has delved deeply into the issue, but it is appropriate that we have done so to ensure that justice and accountability do not come at an unsustainable cost to the Scottish taxpayer. There is obviously a balance to be struck in securing justice, and that is the key thing for me.”
“Labour’s tax on Scotland’s energy is wrecking jobs, undermining energy security and jeopardising our transition to a clean energy future.”
“Unions including Unite have rightly condemned ExxonMobil’s betrayal and the UK Government’s inaction. The early closure has heightened the urgency. Communities are reeling and will continue to reel. Delays in funding will only exacerbate the pain, so I urge the UK Government to heed the Deputy First Minister’s call and commit to providing matching funds immediately. As I said, I commend the actions that the DFM outlined today. Keir Starmer promised that Scotland would be at the heart of the Labour Government, but he has done little to support our key industries. People in Scotland will be quite right to ask why the workforces in Mossmorran and Grangemouth did not see the same intervention from the UK Government as it made in Scunthorpe.”
“Going back to the Scottish Government’s amendment, the UK Government must match the Scottish Government’s commitment. I heard what Daniel Johnson said, but the UK Government needs to back up its words with finance in order to provide the comprehensive support that is required. Anything less is a dereliction of duty to Scottish workers. Let me be clear: targeted funding means developing retraining programmes that are tailored to the skills of those highly qualified engineers and technicians and redirecting them towards renewables such as offshore wind and hydrogen production. It means investing—that is the key word—in local communities in order to diversify the economy and prevent the decline that we have seen in other industrial heartlands.”
“Where is the UK Government’s response? It has been silent and has failed to step up when Scottish workers need it most. That is why a just transition is not optional but essential. Scotland is committed to reaching net zero by 2045, and we must ensure that no one is left behind as we shift to a green economy. The Scottish Government has already acted decisively—I am encouraged by what the DFM said about the Government bringing forward some of the £9 million that it is to allocate over the next couple of years. That includes funding for PACE and the task force to aid redundant workers, and the Government continues to invest in the just transition fund. I will touch on that a little bit later, but it is only part of the picture.”
“Mossmorran has produced over 25 million tonnes of ethylene and has contributed significantly to Scotland’s economy, but ExxonMobil’s claims of £1 million weekly losses, high supply costs and a challenging market mean that the plant will be decommissioned by early 2028. However, we cannot ignore the broader context. ExxonMobil is a multibillion-pound- corporation that posted £25 billion in profits last year—its third best performance on record—and I am encouraged by the discussions that the Deputy First Minister is having with the company about the plant’s future. ExxonMobil’s decision reflects not only market pressures but a UK policy environment that has accelerated the exit of vital industries. As the company stated, the closure highlights challenges in a policy framework that undermines domestic manufacturing and high-value jobs.”
“I thank the Green Party for lodging the motion. The SNP amendment states that the UK Government “must match” the funding that has been provided by the Scottish Government. The early closure of the plant at Mossmorran will have a profound impact on the people of Fife and beyond. It has been a cornerstone of Scotland’s industrial landscape for 40 years. It ceased production on 2 February, and it leaves 180 ExxonMobil employees and nearly 250 contractors facing an uncertain future. The issue is not only jobs; it is about families, livelihoods and entire communities that are built around the site. As members have mentioned, we have been here before.”
“To ask the Scottish Government how the recently announced legal aid reforms will ensure the accessibility of justice. (S6O-05526)”
“Can the minister provide figures for how many freedom of information requests have been made to the Scottish Government and the annual cost? Is he aware of whether that shows an increasing trend? Graeme Dey: There has been a consistent rise in the number of FOI requests that the Government receives. The figures were roughly 4,200 in 2021 and 5,100 in 2023, and the number rose to 6,700 in 2025. That is an increase of about 60 per cent in four years. Work is on-going to review the indicative processing costs to the Scottish Government that are associated with FOI. It is too early to share those results, but the early sampling shows that there is a significant range of processing costs, which go from approximately £100 up to £3,000, depending on the complexity of the question. Exams (Assistive Technologies) 2.”
“The Scottish Government will continue working with NESO and partners to ensure that the SSEP not only aligns with devolved powers and planning mechanisms, but delivers benefit for Scotland’s people and communities, and supports the just transition.”
“It is vital that we continue to balance the need to deliver net zero with the need to protect our natural environment, tourism and rural communities. Can the cabinet secretary say any more about the need to strike that balance, and how that will inform the strategic spatial energy plan? Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government jointly commissioned the National Energy System Operator to produce the first SSEP for Great Britain. NESO is engaging with a wide range of groups on the development of the next plan, and the preferred pathway option will be consulted on in the next year. I am keen to hear directly from Scotland’s communities about how those plans might affect them and how we can learn from their experiences to ensure that future plans build in effective engagement from the earliest possible stage.”
“The principle of allowing local authorities to raise more of their income, combined with joint national accountability, needs to be progressed. That will require brave, pragmatic politicians. That is what our electorates deserve. That is a challenge to us all. 16:37”