Parliament Workbench
Data: Official Report to 12 Nov 2026

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Current Petitions

Wind Farm Construction (Public Inquiry) (PE800)

Wednesday 25 May 2005 Public Petitions Committee Petitions 9 contributions · 4 speakers

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The record

9 contributions
Michael McMahon Lab The Convener · Hamilton North and Bellshill
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Our next petition is PE800 by William Robert Graham calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Executive to conduct a public inquiry into wind farm construction and, in the meantime, to introduce an immediate moratorium on further wind farm developments. At its meeting on 19 January 2005, the committee agreed to seek an update from the Scottish Executive. That update has been received and sent to members.

Mike Watson Ind Glasgow Cathcart
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I do not support the petition because I do not believe that a moratorium is appropriate. The Enterprise and Culture Committee, of which I am a member, held an inquiry into renewable energy, which concluded that wind farms will be an important factor in achieving the Executive's targets on renewables. They will not be the only factor, but they will be important, so there should not be a moratorium.I notice that, in the response from the Executive, Debbie Sheldon—I am not sure whether she is the minister's private secretary or a civil servant's private secretary—says:"Forum members have been asked to provide views on the issues that they believe need to be addressed. We are currently considering their responses."I would be interested to know what issues the members of the forum to which she refers believe need to be addressed. Perhaps we could ask for that information to be made available to committee members.

John Scott Con Ayr
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To be fair to the petitioner, we should at least give him the opportunity to respond to the responses that we have received before we consider closing the petition, whatever our views on the merits or otherwise of a moratorium.There is a typo in the covering note. At the top of the note, we should also add today's date to the dates on which the petition was considered.

Michael McMahon Lab The Convener · Hamilton North and Bellshill
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Are members happy to do that?

Michael McMahon Lab The Convener · Hamilton North and Bellshill
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We need to keep it open to get a response to Mike Watson's request for specific information and because of John Scott's point. We need to get more information before we can close it. Are we agreed?Members indicated agreement.

Michael McMahon Lab The Convener · Hamilton North and Bellshill
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That is our last petition. I thank members for attending.

Meeting closed at 11:47.

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