Question reference: S5W-26335
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 11 November 2019
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Current status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 25 November 2019
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the review of mineral permissions, which includes peat extraction, currently taking place every 15 years, what its position is on whether this should be shortened, given changing attitudes to the importance of peat to the environment and habitats.
Answer
The Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997, as amended, requires a 15 year periodic review of mineral permissions so that improved operating and environmental standards can be secured. There are no powers within this primary legislation that would permit us to alter the statutory review period and there are no current plans to reduce the timeframe specified.