Seòmar agus comataidhean

The Scottish Government publish their annual marketing spend on https://www.gov.scot/collections/marketing-spend/ which is broken down by portfolio, specific campaign and campaign media and available for public to view.

There are 38.25 miles of street lighting over 150.1 miles of the A90 trunk road and the junctions of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route. There are currently no plans to extend this coverage.

In reaching their decision, Scottish Ministers will determine applications in accordance with legislative requirements and relevant policy. Our National Planning Framework 4 ensures the potential impacts of energy infrastructure projects on communities, nature, and cultural heritage, including the cumulative effects of developments, are important considerations in the decision-making process.

National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) was published following extensive consultation and engagement, including with rural communities, and was adopted by the Scottish Ministers in February 2023. While Scottish Ministers can decide to amend the NPF or review it in full at any time, having an established and consistent policy framework enables confidence in the planning system and so we expect to exercise this power sparingly. We have no current plans to amend NPF4.

The Scottish planning system is plan-led, with a focus on involving all interests as early and effectively as possible. There are a range of opportunities for individuals and communities to get involved during both the plan-making and planning application stages of the planning and development process.

Potential impacts on communities, nature, and cultural heritage, including the cumulative effects of developments, are important considerations in the decision-making process. When an application is received, a full public consultation is carried out, and Scottish Ministers invite representations from members of the public and consult the appropriate community councils, alongside other public bodies. The decision whether to grant consent is taken only after careful consideration of environmental information, consultee responses and public representations.

In reaching their decision, Scottish Ministers will determine applications in accordance with legislative requirements and relevant policy. Our Just Transition Plan is just one of many policy documents which is considered as appropriate in the decision-making process.

No new junctions or connections have been added on the A90 trunk road or within the Aberdeen Western Periphery / Balmedie to Tipperty boundary in the last five years.

The Energy Consents Unit processes applications in accordance with the relevant legislation and regulatory framework. Community and environmental considerations are integrated into the decision-making process and are essential factors when considering applications.

In reaching their decision, Scottish Ministers will determine applications in accordance with legislative requirements and relevant policy. No steps are necessary to ensure alignment, as National Planning Framework 4 is a policy document to be considered as appropriate in the decision-making process.

Transport Scotland’s Approach to Climate Change and Resilience (ACCAR) was published in August 2023 setting out a strategic framework to secure a well-adapted future for Scotland’s transport system. It includes an ambitious Vision for “A transport system which is well adapted and prepared for current and future impacts of climate change, is safe for all users, reliable for everyday journeys, and resilient to weather related disruption.” It can be found here: Transport Scotland’s Approach to Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience

The ACCAR provides our current approach to adaptation and Strategic Outcomes for Road, Rail, Aviation and Maritime transport networks, to address the key climate risks affecting Scotland’s transport system. A key deliverable of this work is the development of a Trunk Road Adaptation Plan, which is intended to be published in the first quarter of 2025. The Trunk Road Adaptation Plan is based on a climate vulnerability and risk assessment using the latest UK climate projections. This will compliment work of our Vulnerable Locations Group, who have been providing a number of improvements across Scotland’s trunk road network in response to extreme weather-related disruption.