Hansard

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 ...