ABSTRACT
The planning system in Scotland essentially leaves central government to provide advice and guidance to local authorities with the Secretary of State having specific powers of approval of structure plans and acting as a final arbiter in disputes over planning applications. The White Paper on proposals to establish a Scottish Parliament provided few surprises in planning terms, as it closely followed the principles set out in the Constitutional Convention's scheme. Sustainable development stands out as the main priority for the Parliament to grapple with. Information systems could also be developed to support the work of the Parliament. Ideas generated by the John Wheatley Centre on Telematics for the Scottish Parliament suggest a radically different way of operating. There will also be challenges arising from the nature of the Parliament itself. One of the major issues identified in the 1997 referendum campaign was the equal representation of women in the new Parliament.
