This week in the Scottish Parliament.
This week in the Scottish Parliament, Peter Peacock MSP representing the Highlands & Islands grilled Jim Mather the Energy Secretary on the detail of the Gordonbush windfarm application. Interesting to note that the Minister declined to seek guidance from the European Commisssion on the EC Habitats Directive. There's no point in asking a question when you don't want to hear the answer!
Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the planning consents it has approved for wind farms adjacent to Special Protection Areas. (S3W-11893)
Jim Mather: The Gordonbush application is the first wind farm within 1km of a Special Protection Area consented by Scottish ministers under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989.
Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the advice it received from Scottish Natural Heritage on the Gordonbush wind farm application. (S3W-11894)
Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has published the advice received from Scottish Natural Heritage about the Gordonbush wind farm application on the Energy Consents website at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry/Energy/Energy-Consents.
Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether an appropriate assessment was carried out in respect of the Gordonbush wind farm application and, if so, whether it was qualitative. (S3W-11895)
Jim Mather: Under Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 Scottish ministers, as the competent authority, are required to carry out an appropriate assessment of any plan or project which they consider may have a likely significant effect on a European site. In carrying out the appropriate assessments for the Gordonbush wind farm application, Scottish ministers have had regard to information supplied by Scottish Natural Heritage, the developer and the views of the Chief Ecological Advisor for the Scottish Government. The information used in both assessments is qualitative and quantitative. The decision letter, consent and assessments are publicly available on the Energy Consents website at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry/Energy/Energy-Consents.
Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the European Commission s opinion was sought in respect of the Gordonbush wind farm application and, if so, what that opinion was. (S3W-11896)
Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has not sought guidance from the European Commission on the Gordonbush wind farm application, since the European Commission has published several guidance documents relating to the implementation of the EC Habitats Directive.
These are available at the following web address: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/management/guidance_en.htm.
Published on Friday 2 May 2008 by David Mason