Whether it will consider withholding planning permission for large-scale biomass power stations that cannot demonstrate the sustainability …

Ensuring that biomass supplies are sustainably sourced is a key aim in the development of the Scottish Government''s bioenergy policies. We are taking a number of constructive steps to ensure that biomass for heat and electricity is sustainably produced.
In April 2009, a sustainability reporting requirement for biomass was introduced within the Renewables Obligation (Scotland). This will provide a means to monitor the sustainability of biomass that is used to generate electricity. Future incentives are likely to take into consideration the EU sustainability criteria for biomass for heat and electricity, which are currently being developed.
Both the Scottish Government and Forestry Commission Scotland are engaged at UK and international level to ensure the sustainability of biomass for energy. In conjunction with the UK Government, we are pressing the European Union to consider options for an efficient and effective sustainability scheme for suppliers of solid biomass under the terms of the Renewable Energy Directive.
The Scottish Government is also a member of the Biomass Heat and Electricity Sustainability Working Group, a forum to develop the UK''s position on biomass sustainability and to share best practice.