Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 12 June 2013
12 Jun 2013 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
National Planning Framework 3 and Scottish Planning Policy
I thank Margaret Mitchell for giving me the opportunity to begin by commending the Government for not allowing the suggestion that there will be a reduction in wind turbines in Scotland. That would be a terrible situation to face were it to come about.
I welcome the debate and the draft documents that we have in front of us. The topic is vital. When I served in session 2 on the Communities Committee, which considered the Planning etc (Scotland) Bill, it became clearer and clearer with every piece of evidence that we heard that the planning system is one of the most important—if one of the less sexy—areas of Government policy. It is crucial to our country’s future, regardless of the various views that exist about what that future should be.
I find the Government’s motion a wee bit curious. It uses the term “balanced growth”, not even the Government’s favourite contradiction, “sustainable economic growth”. I had a wee look, but I could not find anywhere on the Scottish Government’s website any document or ministerial speech in which the term “balanced growth” is used—not, that is, since Jim Mather was in office. I suspect that he used every bit of economic jargon ever invented in the history of the discipline.
As far as I am aware, there are at least two established meanings of the term “balanced growth” in the magic circles of economics, but it is completely unclear to me which one the Government intends to use and when that radical change in economic policy was adopted. It was certainly not announced in any of the economic documents that the Government published recently on the future of an independent Scotland, for example. Perhaps it is just a cobbled-together phrase that is in the motion without really meaning anything. The Government needs to be clear about what it really means when it uses such phrases.
I welcome the debate and the draft documents that we have in front of us. The topic is vital. When I served in session 2 on the Communities Committee, which considered the Planning etc (Scotland) Bill, it became clearer and clearer with every piece of evidence that we heard that the planning system is one of the most important—if one of the less sexy—areas of Government policy. It is crucial to our country’s future, regardless of the various views that exist about what that future should be.
I find the Government’s motion a wee bit curious. It uses the term “balanced growth”, not even the Government’s favourite contradiction, “sustainable economic growth”. I had a wee look, but I could not find anywhere on the Scottish Government’s website any document or ministerial speech in which the term “balanced growth” is used—not, that is, since Jim Mather was in office. I suspect that he used every bit of economic jargon ever invented in the history of the discipline.
As far as I am aware, there are at least two established meanings of the term “balanced growth” in the magic circles of economics, but it is completely unclear to me which one the Government intends to use and when that radical change in economic policy was adopted. It was certainly not announced in any of the economic documents that the Government published recently on the future of an independent Scotland, for example. Perhaps it is just a cobbled-together phrase that is in the motion without really meaning anything. The Government needs to be clear about what it really means when it uses such phrases.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (John Scott)
Con
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-06933, in the name of Derek Mackay, on progress towards national planning framework 3 and the Scottish pl...
The Minister for Local Government and Planning (Derek Mackay)
SNP
This debate is about the Scottish Government’s two key planning policy documents: the national planning framework, which is our long-term spatial plan for th...
Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green)
Green
It is very clear what the minister wants: he wants growth to be the central purpose of the planning system. However, does the legislation that was passed in ...
Derek Mackay
SNP
I am sure that Mr Harvie will be relieved to hear that we have greater protection of the environment at our core at the same time as encouraging sustainable ...
Patrick Harvie
Green
I am grateful to the minister for giving way a second time. He said that there will be no wind farms in national parks or scenic landscape. Will he say preci...
Derek Mackay
SNP
We are working on the definition of “wind farm”, but any reasonable person would understand that it means a number of wind turbines in a particular area. The...
Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
Will the minister clarify what the status of the Peterhead proposal would be should his party’s policy of independence be successful?
Derek Mackay
SNP
I am sure that Scotland’s excellent record on energy and on ambitious climate change targets will continue with independence. In fact, I am sure that it will...
Claudia Beamish (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
Twenty years ago, I helped to set up Loudon pond community nature reserve in Clydesdale. That was the result of site regeneration, and it is now regarded as ...
Derek Mackay
SNP
That is an excellent point, with which I agree. I have been very impressed by work by, for example, the Scottish Wildlife Trust, which I visited in Cumbernau...
Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
I thank the many organisations that have sent us briefings today. I realise that they had a very short time to pull together their key observations, and thei...
Derek Mackay
SNP
I have said repeatedly that section 75 benefits should relate to the application and mitigation of a development, and not to the added extras that we know th...
Sarah Boyack
Lab
That could mean roads, public transport infrastructure, schools or energy, and we need to be much more specific. For example, because of the lack of investme...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith)
Lab
I must ask you to close.
Sarah Boyack
Lab
The SPP is about the how and the NPF is about the where, as the RTPI says. I have focused on the purpose of planning and what should be in the purpose as set...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
I should say at the outset that we are quite tight for time in the debate.15:06
Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
I welcome today’s debate on the publication of the main issues report for the third national planning framework and the consultation draft of the Scottish pl...
Mike MacKenzie (Highlands and Islands) (SNP)
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Margaret Mitchell
Con
I am pressed for time. I will perhaps give way later.I turn to some major aspects of the NPF3 main issues report. As an MSP for Central Scotland, I am hearte...
Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green)
Green
I thank Margaret Mitchell for giving me the opportunity to begin by commending the Government for not allowing the suggestion that there will be a reduction ...
Mike MacKenzie
SNP
Having listened very carefully to Patrick Harvie’s speech, I am completely unclear about what he means.
Patrick Harvie
Green
Well, I am not in government. Mike MacKenzie might be grateful for that, but I hope that one day I will have the chance to disappoint him.Whether the Governm...
Derek Mackay
SNP
Surely any reasonable person who reads the priorities in NPF3 will come to the clear conclusion that the transition to a low-carbon economy is a central driv...
Patrick Harvie
Green
Climate change is indeed mentioned, but I wonder whether a national planning framework and SPP that focus on sustainable development would have at their hear...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
We move to the open debate. As we are quite tight for time, I must ask for six-minute speeches.15:19
Mike MacKenzie (Highlands and Islands) (SNP)
SNP
I am delighted that we have received many briefings for the debate from many interested organisations. After all, one of the problems that the planning syste...
Claudia Beamish
Lab
Will the member take an intervention?
Mike MacKenzie
SNP
I am sorry; the Presiding Officer has told us that we are short of time, so I think that I should move on.The planning system should be the midwife of that w...
Patrick Harvie
Green
Can Mr MacKenzie do what no Scottish Government minister has ever done and give a clear, unambiguous definition of what the hell sustainable economic growth ...
Mike MacKenzie
SNP
I think that you are deliberately misunderstanding that. It is difficult to say in a few words precisely what the meaning is but, nevertheless, I think that ...