Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 22 March 2011
22 Mar 2011 · S3 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
First Minister’s Question Time
Renewable Energy (Planning Guidelines)
As Murdo Fraser should well know, planning guidelines have been substantially clarified over the past four years in terms of that objective. Murdo Fraser also knows well that major renewables developments come to the Government for consent. I am delighted to say that, today, the Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism has approved the 41st major renewables project under this Administration. That is twice the number of the previous Administration.
All that I say to Murdo Fraser is that we believe and expect that, as part of a green economy of over 100,000 jobs that will be created between now and 2020, at least 40,000 to 50,000 will be generated by offshore wind developments and, indeed, the facilities that have been put in place to allow Scotland’s renewables to reach the marketplace.
I am sure that most people—maybe everyone in the chamber—wants to see such jobs. I say as gently as possible to Murdo Fraser that we cannot have the jobs unless we are prepared to approve the developments. If he takes a position against major investments in this industry then, by definition, he takes a position against Scotland having tens of thousands of jobs in the industry.
All that I say to Murdo Fraser is that we believe and expect that, as part of a green economy of over 100,000 jobs that will be created between now and 2020, at least 40,000 to 50,000 will be generated by offshore wind developments and, indeed, the facilities that have been put in place to allow Scotland’s renewables to reach the marketplace.
I am sure that most people—maybe everyone in the chamber—wants to see such jobs. I say as gently as possible to Murdo Fraser that we cannot have the jobs unless we are prepared to approve the developments. If he takes a position against major investments in this industry then, by definition, he takes a position against Scotland having tens of thousands of jobs in the industry.
In the same item of business
Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
6. To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government considers that planning guidelines for renewable energy projects strike a balance between the in...
The First Minister (Alex Salmond)
SNP
The Scottish Government works with planners and communities to ensure that the correct balance is struck between the interests of developers and local commun...
Murdo Fraser
Con
Notwithstanding the First Minister’s response, he should be aware that, in the absence of clear locational planning guidance, communities up and down Scotlan...
The First Minister
SNP
As Murdo Fraser should well know, planning guidelines have been substantially clarified over the past four years in terms of that objective. Murdo Fraser als...
Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab)
Lab
Does the First Minister accept that the decision to remove the right of communities to automatic notification when plans are outwith a development plan, at t...
The First Minister
SNP
No. I think that the planning guidelines are a substantial improvement on what went before. As Karen Gillon represents communities in which there have been a...
Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD)
LD
On a point of order, Presiding Officer.
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Before I come to Liam McArthur’s point of order, I will deal with the point of order that Jeremy Purvis made earlier, when the Deputy Presiding Officer was i...
Liam McArthur
LD
As the session comes to a close, can you advise on what opportunity exists to rectify the false impression that was created, perhaps inadvertently, by an ans...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
I have made it abundantly clear over the past four years that the matter of veracity is not a point of order for me; it is a matter for those who speak on th...