Committee
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee 10 September 2025
10 Sep 2025 · S6 · Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Item of business
Continued Petitions
Pump Storage Hydro Schemes (Impact on Salmon) (PE2109)
In the light of the evidence, I wonder whether the committee would consider writing to SEPA and NatureScot to ask what information they hold on the impact of pumped storage hydro on wild Atlantic salmon and how that is considered when they provide comment on planning applications in their role as statutory consultees.
I also wonder whether the committee would consider writing to the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy to note the committee’s disappointment with the Scottish Government’s recent response, as it fails to address the committee’s concerns about how the cumulative impact of pumped storage hydro is monitored and assessed, and to ask for further information on that point.
In the same item of business
The Convener
Con
We will now revert to the original order. PE2109, which has been lodged by Brian Shaw on behalf of the Ness District Salmon Fishery Board, calls on the Scott...
David Torrance
SNP
In the light of the evidence, I wonder whether the committee would consider writing to SEPA and NatureScot to ask what information they hold on the impact of...
The Convener
Con
Thank you, Mr Torrance. That was very helpful. Do members have any other comments?
Davy Russell
Lab
This is not new. Pumped storage schemes have been going for 70 years now, especially in the Highlands, Norway and other such countries, so there must be enou...
Fergus Ewing
Ind
Mr Russell makes a fair point—these things are certainly not new. What is perhaps a bit different about the situation facing those with an interest in Loch N...
The Convener
Con
How would we accommodate that along with Mr Torrance’s recommendation?
Fergus Ewing
Ind
We could perhaps just add it to the letter to the minister.
The Convener
Con
Are members content with that? Members indicated agreement. Wild Wrasse (Protection of Stocks) (PE2110)
The Convener
Con
PE2110, which was lodged by Charles Millar, calls on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to develop and introduce a statutory fisheries m...
David Torrance
SNP
In the light of the evidence and the Government’s response, can we consider closing the petition under rule 15.7 of standing orders, because the Scottish Gov...
Fergus Ewing
Ind
I agree with the proposal. Perhaps unusually, the Scottish Government’s responses have been pretty thorough and well argued. The marine directorate has provi...
The Convener
Con
Are colleagues content to close the petition? Members indicated agreement.
The Convener
Con
We thank the petitioners for their work. We close the petition, but the on-going situation can be monitored and returned to in the seventh parliamentary sess...
The Convener
Con
PE2120, which was lodged by Tam Wilson on behalf of the Scottish Trades Union Congress, calls on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to p...
The Convener
Con
We congratulate those who have been associated with the petition’s aims and note its achievement.