Hansard

Thank you, Presiding Officer. I hope that I will not need that long.

I thank members for their contributions. I return to the purpose of the amendment. At present, there are projects that are blocked in the planning and consenting process due to concerns relating to their impacts on the array. Through the adoption of a new policy approach to managing onshore wind development in the area, those projects can now progress through the planning system in the normal way.

I am heartened by the comments that Sarah Boyack and the convener of the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee made about the importance of this Parliament’s role in scrutinising all the legislation that we have to agree on and all legislative consent motions. Those points were well made. It is important that we speak with one voice, that devolution is respected and that time is given so that we can all scrutinise the issues that come before us that require decisions.

The amendment represents the first step in the change of policy on managing onshore wind development in the Eskdalemuir area. The Scottish Government will now work collaboratively with the UK Government to finalise a consultation on policy proposals and to draft the necessary regulations to enforce Ministry of Defence policy changes. In committing to doing that work with the UK Government, I reiterate that I have written to UK Government ministers to make it clear that the amendment does not represent a precedent for other parts of the Scottish planning system, which remain wholly devolved and within the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament.

The amendment is restricted in scope and it has the sole ambition of unblocking onshore wind potential in the Eskdalemuir area. I ask Parliament to agree to the legislative consent motion.