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I refer the member to the answer to question S6O-05505 on 12 February 2026. All answers to Oral Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at Meeting of the Parliament: 12/02/2026 | Scottish Parliament Website

I refer the member to the answer to question S6O-05505 on 12 February 2026. All answers to Oral Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at Meeting of the Parliament: 12/02/2026 | Scottish Parliament Website

I refer the member to the answer to question S6O-05505 on 12 February 2026. All answers to Oral Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at Meeting of the Parliament: 12/02/2026 | Scottish Parliament Website

I refer the member to the answer to question S6O-05505 on 12 February 2026. All answers to Oral Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at Meeting of the Parliament: 12/02/2026 | Scottish Parliament Website

Data on the number of solar PV installations is available from the “Energy Trends” publication, produced by the UK Government Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, as reported in the tables on the number of renewable electricity generating sites by region and technology.

According to the latest data, the total number of solar PV installations in Scotland has increased from 89,639 at the end of 2020 to 187,580 at the end of 2024. This is equivalent to a total of 97,941 installations across this period, and an average number of installations of 24,485 per year.

Data for 2025 will be made available in September 2026.

I refer the member to answer to questions S6W-43676 and S6W-43744 on 24 February 2026. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

Assessments of respiratory prevalence and emergency hospital admissions are produced and published by Public Health Scotland. These official statistics include data for every NHS Board area, as well as national level figures. The Scottish Government draws on these official statistics rather than undertaking separate board-level assessments.

Public Health Scotland data shows that respiratory conditions are a major contributor to unplanned hospital demand. Emergency inpatient activity accounts for almost half of all hospital admissions nationally, reflecting sustained pressure on acute services. Longer term projections indicate that unplanned acute inpatient admissions for respiratory conditions are expected to rise by around 23% between 2024 and 2034, confirming the growing burden of respiratory illness across Scotland. A link to PHS data can be found at: Projecting future demand for health and care services in Scotland (2024-2034) - Long term service demand projections in Scotland - Publications - Public Health Scotland.

The Scottish Government recognises these pressures and is taking action. We recently published the Foreword - NHS Scotland operational improvement plan - gov.scot, the Scotland's Population Health Framework - gov.scot and the Health and Social Care Service Renewal Framework - gov.scot in which we outline our shared, long-term vision for reforming and renewing health and social care services to ensure they are more sustainable, preventative, and equitable.

Our Respiratory care - action plan: 2021 to 2026 - gov.scot has supported national work to strengthen prevention, diagnosis, care and support for people living with respiratory conditions. Through the Centre for Sustainable Delivery, national pathways are being developed for severe asthma, COPD, sleep apnoea and interstitial lung disease. Work is also underway to improve access to pulmonary rehabilitation, a key intervention for people with chronic respiratory conditions.

This work supports resilience across the health system throughout the year, including during periods of increased pressure. Prioritising prevention, early detection and supporting effective long term self-management helps reduce avoidable exacerbations which often drive urgent and unscheduled demand during winter.

The Scottish Government will continue to monitor the number of Public Local Inquiries as part of our on going administration of the applications for energy consent process.

Information on energy consent applications and Public Local Inquiries will continue to be publicly accessible through the portals of the Energy Consents Unit and the Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA) respectively, ensuring continued transparency.

Feedback from clinicians and third sector organisations is clear that children and young people have distinct needs, which require specific focus and consideration. It would not be appropriate to include them in this work.

Changes to the automatic Public Local Inquiry trigger for energy consent applications were consulted on by the UK Government in October and November 2024 as part of preparations for the then Planning and Infrastructure Bill. Details of the consultation outcome can be viewed at: Electricity infrastructure consenting in Scotland - GOV.UK.

This included engagement with planning authorities and opportunities for input from local communities through formal public consultation processes.

The Scottish Government intends to consult later this year on additional measures enabled by the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 which are intended to further improve the efficiency of application processing.

Bringing the 2027 Tour de France Grand Départ to Edinburgh is a once in a generation opportunity. We are delighted that Scotland is co-hosting the biggest free spectator event in the world alongside our partners in England and Wales. We have the honour of hosting the opening stage, which will start in Edinburgh on Friday 2 July 2027, before heading south through Midlothian, the Scottish Borders and Dumfries and Galloway, finishing in Carlisle.

At the heart of the 2027 Grand Départ is Joy, a social impact programme that aims to tackle inactivity and improve mental wellbeing, support communities to thrive, and to make us more productive and prosperous.

With that long-term impact in mind, the Scottish Government has chosen to allocate £1 million of its overall £9.25 million of investment in the event to boost the social impact programme in Scotland. Scottish Cycling, Scotland’s national governing body for the sport of cycling, has been appointed to lead the delivery of the social impact programme in Scotland. Scottish Cycling will work closely with the Scottish Government, local authorities, national agencies, community-based organisations and national cycling partners to co-design and deliver activity that delivers lasting change across Scotland.