The Scottish Parliament

Question reference: S6W-44457

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 March 2026
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 18 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how it is monitoring the effectiveness of the pavement parking ban in (a) South Lanarkshire and (b) Glasgow since its implementation.

The Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 places a duty upon all local authorities to enforce the new parking prohibitions. It is for each local authority to determine how best to monitor the effectiveness of enforcement in their area. However, Transport Scotland does collate figures on annual income/expenditure and Penalty Charge Notices issued, which now includes pavement parking. Scottish Ministers publish an annual report and the most of which, covering 2024-25, was published in January 2026 and can be found at the following link: Decriminalised Parking Enforcement (DPE) Report 2024-2025 | Transport Scotland

Question reference: S6W-44487

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 March 2026
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 18 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will introduce new fire safety standards specifically for retail premises that store high volumes of lithium-ion batteries and flammable lighters and lighter fluid, and what assessment it has made of the risk that these products can pose to historic, timber-framed buildings and critical infrastructure, such as Glasgow Central Station.

Under existing legislation, Dutyholders (the employer, as well as any other person who may have control to any extent of any part of the premises) are already responsible for complying with the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 and the associated Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006 to ensure the safety of others from fire. As part of this, all relevant non-domestic premises must have an active fire risk assessment in place, carried out by a competent person. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) also work with dutyholders in relevant premises to achieve compliance in fire safety through partnership working, providing advice and support when requested.

The use of premises as a shop, including for vape sales, falls within Class 1A of the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) (Scotland) Order 1997. Decisions on planning applications and other local planning matters are, in the first instance, the responsibility of the planning authority, in this case Glasgow City Council. This applies both to full planning applications and to associated listed building consent applications. It is for the authority to interpret and apply the development plan and any other material considerations as they consider appropriate in the circumstances of each case.

Question reference: S6W-44455

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 March 2026
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 17 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on how many third-party liability claims for vehicle damage caused by potholes were submitted to each local authority in 2025-26; what percentage of these claims were successful, and what steps are being taken to ensure that the "negligence" threshold used by claims handlers does not unfairly penalise any motorists who suffer damage on roads that the council has failed to inspect according to its own statutory schedule.

Local authorities have a duty under the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 to manage and maintain local roads in their area and duties under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to secure the expeditious, convenient and safe movement of traffic.

The Scottish Government does not hold any information on third-party liability claims for vehicle damage caused by potholes that were submitted to local authorities.

Question reference: S6W-44131

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 March 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 17 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported calls for a moratorium on hyperscale data centres until their climate impacts have been rigorously assessed.

The Scottish Government has no plans to introduce a moratorium on data centres.

The environmental implications of all developments which require planning permission are considered through the planning process, and all proposed developments are considered on their own merits. In cases where a proposal is likely to have a significant environmental effect, these powers are further supplemented by the procedures set out in environmental impact assessment legislation. National Planning Framework 4 makes clear that significant weight will be given to the global climate and nature crises when considering all development proposals. We continue to review emerging evidence on energy use, resource implications and good practice in the operation of data centres.

Question reference: S6W-44097

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 March 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 17 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what evidence it has published clarifying the reasons for public email objections being removed from its Energy Consents Unit process, including any reasons for developers having their email access retained.

The Scottish Government previously received an information request under the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004, for the following:

“All documents, records, assessments, briefings, reports, emails, and meeting notes created, held or considered by the Scottish Government in relation to the decision to remove email as a method for members of the public to submit representations on energy consent applications, and to require use of the Energy Consents public portal for public submissions.”

Our response has been published and can be found at the following address:

https://www.gov.scot/publications/foi-202600502867/

It is also important to distinguish between the different roles and relationships in the Section 36/37 consenting process.

Developers, or applicants, have an ongoing working relationship with the Energy Consents Unit throughout the application process. They are required to pay fees, provide additional information, respond to queries, submit technical reports, and engage in iterative dialogue about their applications. This necessitates direct communication channels.

Statutory consultees are public bodies and agencies with specific statutory duties to provide expert advice on applications. Their consultation responses are part of an ongoing professional dialogue and often require discussion and exchange, which again necessitates direct communication channels. It should also be noted that whilst not statutory consultees by definition, we engage Community Councils during this period and through this mechanism.

Members of the public making representations are exercising a right to submit views on applications during a defined consultation period. This is a different type of engagement from the ongoing professional relationships described above. The portal and postal routes are designed specifically for this purpose: to capture representations during the public consultation period in a standardised, accessible, and compliant manner.

Ultimately, these are different functions with different needs. The distinction is based on the nature of the engagement, not on favouring one category over another. Members of the public retain the same right to participate in the decision-making process, it is only the submission method that has changed.

Question reference: S6W-44098

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 March 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 17 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what evidence it has published in relation to its Energy Consents Unit's new representations portal system having been driven by public complaints about the email process.

The Scottish Government previously received an information request under the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004, for the following:

“All documents, records, assessments, briefings, reports, emails, and meeting notes created, held or considered by the Scottish Government in relation to the decision to remove email as a method for members of the public to submit representations on energy consent applications, and to require use of the Energy Consents public portal for public submissions.”

Our response has been published and can be found at the following address:

https://www.gov.scot/publications/foi-202600502867/

The decision to transition from email-based submission to a structured digital portal was taken to address operational, legal, and service improvement objectives. This included responding to longstanding public feedback about delays in the publication of submitted representations.

Question reference: S6W-44095

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 March 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 17 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether any complaints from developers such as SSEN about the number of public objections being filed was considered when discussing removing email as a public submission route as part of changes to the Energy Consents process.

Question reference: S6W-44096

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 March 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 17 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions have taken place to consider reinstating email as a valid method for public objection submission since its Energy Consents Unit introduced its portal on 16 January 2026.

Question reference: S6W-44461

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 March 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 25 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its most recent assessment is of the number of hospitality businesses in South Lanarkshire that will recieve support as a result of the 40% non-domestic rates relief for licensed premises introduced in its Budget 2026-27, and what steps it is taking to ensure that the £110,000 per-business cap does not unfairly disadvantage any local independent groups that operate multiple sites across Lanarkshire’s high streets.

Question reference: S6W-44444

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 March 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 25 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how its school roll forecasting guidance accounts for the cumulative impact of multiple windfall developments (sites not originally in the Local Development Plan) on a single school catchment area, and what measures are in place to prevent local schools from reaching working capacity before any promised infrastructure improvements are delivered.

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Question reference: S6W-44457

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