Scotsman letters
Conflict of interest
Alasdair HM Adam (Letters, 20 May) hits the nail on the head when he says the decision by a Scottish Government Reporter to award planning permission in principle to the new Flamingo Land will be perceived as a gross conflict of interest as the land is owned by the Scottish Government’s commercial wing, Scottish Enterprise.
The same scenario applies to planning applications for Section 36 wind farms on publicly owned land which are granted consent by Scottish Ministers. The Scottish Government stands to benefit from approximately £14 million in rental income and millions more a year in business rates payments which flow into the Scottish economy. This includes income through Forestry and Land Scotland, and the Scottish Ministers’ Crofting Estates.
It’s an obvious incentive to grant permission to everything that comes their way.
Aileen Jackson, Scotland Against Spin, Uplawmoor, East Renfrewshire
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