Chamber and committees

I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-6007 on 8 November 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

The Directorate forPlanning and Environmental Appeals (DPEA) has received two valid planning appealsfrom Tesco Stores Ltd against the failure to give decisions on applications forplanning permission by Glasgow City Council for retail development on land to thesouth of Beith Street, Glasgow. The appeals are in the early stage of processing and the public local inquiryis likely to take place in spring 2008. In keeping with the majority of appealsdetermined by DPEA, these appeals will be determined by a reporter from DPEA actingunder powers delegated by Scottish ministers.

The Scottish Governmentplans to issue Scottish Planning Policy 11 (SPP 11) in the near future. The dateof publication is not yet confirmed. Ministers are currently considering the textof the document and have made no final decisions in this regard.

I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-3874 on 13 September 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-3874 on 13 September 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-4058 on 13 September 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Duringthe debate on 14 June 2007 the Scottish Parliament showed clear opposition to the UK Government’s plans to replace Tridentand support for the Scottish Government’s vision of a Scotland without nuclear weapons.

As part of the National Conversation withthe Scottish public on the options for constitutional change and the way we governourselves, we will be holding a summit in October with a range of people and organisationsto discuss what Scotland might look like without nuclear weapons and consider theirimpact on Scotland and the Scottish Government’s devolved responsibilities.

A number of organisationshave been approached informally to ascertain if they would be prepared to attendthe summit if invited to do so. Invitations will be issued shortly.

The government willconsider the response to the national conversation in deciding how to proceed withthe draft bill. However, the level of support for any particular proposals couldbe only properly determined by a vote in a referendum.

The white paper invitespeople to sign up for the national conversation, and indicate how they wish to contribute.The paper also invites people to suggest how the conversation would best be structuredto ensure the greatest possible involvement of the people of Scotland. The exact form of the national conversation will dependon the responses received, but the government is determined to support a conversationthat ensures that all sectors of Scottish society have the opportunity to contribute.

The government iscommitted to building support for a referendum on negotiations for independencein the lifetime of this Parliament, but decisions on this will be made in the lightof the national conversation.