Mr Wheelhouse now turns to underground coal gasification. (UCG)

The minister says no planning or environmental consents have been granted for UCG in Scotland and there has been a specific moratorium on UCG, seperate from that on fracking. 

The Scottish government imposed a moratorium on underground coal gasification (UCG) in October 2015.

Cluff Natural Resources had been planning to use the technique to extract gas from under the Firth of Forth near Kincardine.

The company halted work on the project in August until the political debate on the issue was resolved.

Campaigners had been calling for UCG to be added to the existing moratorium on onshore unconventional oil and gas.

Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse says the government is taking a cautious approach on UCG and fracking.

Mr Wheelhouse says he will first address unconventional oil and gas, including fracking.

He says there is a moratorium on fracking and other unconventional oil and gas.

The minister says the reviews of unconventional oil and gas are nearing completion.

He says they will be published in full after recess.

The UCG process has been around since the 19th Century, but is only now becoming commercially viable thanks largely to technological developments and the rising price of gas.

Its supporters argue it is a new and cleaner way of extracting the estimated 85% of the world's coal reserves that are too deep to mine using traditional techniques.

• The process involves pumping oxygen and steam through a small borehole into the coal seam to produce a small and controlled combustion.
• Unlike coal-bed methane, therefore, the actual coal is converted from a solid state into gas.
• The hydrogen, methane, carbon monoxide and CO2 are then siphoned off through a second borehole.

Image source, UCG Association

According to Dr Harry Bradbury, founder and chief executive of UK clean energy company Five Quarters, this process results in 20% of the CO2 produced from traditional coal mining.

But environmental campaigners have claimed that UCG is a risky and experimental technique, with a "very chequered history" around the world.

Read more about UCG

Prof Campbell Gemmell, the former chief executive of environmental agency Sepa, was appointed to lead an independent examination of the issues and evidence surrounding UCG.

Ministers informed the Scottish Parliament that the government would carry out a "thorough and wide-ranging research process" into the potential impacts of such onshore techniques.

Image source, Alamy

They also published a planned research and public consultation timetable, and confirmed that the public consultation would begin once the research process has been finalised and the results published.

The then Energy Minister Fergus Ewing said: "We should never close our minds to the potential opportunities for Scotland from new energy technologies - but we must also ensure that community, environmental and health concerns are all fully taken account of."

In October 2015 the Scottish government imposed a moratorium on underground coal gasification (UCG).

Cluff Natural Resources had been planning to use the technique to extract gas from under the Firth of Forth near Kincardine.

The company halted work on the project in August 2015 until the political debate on the issue was resolved.

Image source, Alamy

Campaigners had been calling for UCG to be added to the existing moratorium on onshore unconventional oil and gas.

The Scottish government said it was treating UCG as a separate technology to onshore unconventional oil and gas, which includes hydraulic fracking.

It said it was adopting a "cautious, evidence-based approach" to both techniques, with a separate moratorium on UCG allowing the necessary time for "full and careful consideration of the potential impacts of this new technology".

Scotland's energy minister will now make a statement on the future of underground coal gasification (UCG) in the country.

Environmental groups have said they hope Paul Wheelhouse will announce a ban on the controversial method of converting underground coal into gas.

Image source, bbc

The Scottish government imposed a moratorium on UCG last year while its potential impact was examined.

A wider moratorium on unconventional oil and gas extraction, including fracking, also remains in place.

Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse will give a statement on underground coal gasification.

Image source, bbc

MSPs will then debate the draft BBC charter for the rest of the afternoon.   

Image source, bbc

Mental Health Minister Maureen Watt says the needs of the islands communities have been made a priority of the Scottish government.

Ms Watt points to the forthcoming Islands Bill as evidence of that.

She points to the Scottish government efforts to that regard.

• The creation of a dedicated Islands Ministerial post
• Consultation on Provisions for a Future Islands Bill
• Discussions on a proposed ‘Islands Deal’

Scottish Lib Dem MSP Tavish Scott says he hopes the minister will confirm that if proposals in this area are brought forward it will be done via primary legislation.

The MSP for the Shetland Islands says he accepts merging health and social care is difficult. 

Mr Scott says the expertise of those who work in local areas is key. 

He says something which doesn't help recruit for these areas is yet more structural change. 

The Scottish government is to be asked for its views on setting up an independent scrutiny panel to examine a planned redesign of hospital services on Skye.

Holyrood's petitions committee is to make the request following concerns raised at its meeting on Thursday by Highlands and Islands MSP Rhoda Grant.

Image source, RICHARD DORRELL/GEOGRAPH

The committee previously criticised NHS Highlands' consultation on the plans.

The health board has said it handled the redesign process appropriately.

Scottish Greens MSP John Finnie says "one size does not fit all", as the motion makes clear.

Mr Finnie says he has written to the minister of health previously about local training.

He says integration of health and social care has been a factor. 

Mr Finnie says the IT infrastructure is very important. 

SNP MSP Maree Todd says the Highlands and Islands is covered by six different health boards.

Ms Todd says she can't agree the potential amalgamation of NHS health boards will be detrimental.

She says the focus must be on patient outcomes rather than quality of care.

The SNP MSP says she understands people in the Northern Isles may fear losing their voice.

NHS Highland plans to make changes to the provision of out-of-hours cover in the north and west Highlands.

The health board said its plans involved enlarging geographical areas covered by doctors.

Image source, Science Photo Library

It said the number of evenings and weekend calls from some of the affected places were "very small".

But John Maclean, of Glenelg and Arnisdale Community Council, said communities in his area were "extremely perturbed" by the plans.

The proposals were considered by NHS Highland's board at a meeting last week.

Scottish Conservative MSP Donald Cameron says the needs of people in rural areas are vastly different to those living in densely populated areas.

The MSP for Highlands and Islands says everyone is aware of the problems that have arose from centralisation of the police to a single force.

Mr Cameron says recent history serves as a warning about what can happen as a result of "top-down centralisation". 

He says his party is very concerned about "super health board proposals". 

Mr Cameron asks for clarity on the proposals. 

Image source, bbc

Scottish Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur says more needs to be done to develop a workforce and provide appropriate training.

Mr McArthur says there is no escaping the fact that financial incentive will have a big impact on attracting staff. 

He makes a plea to the health minister to protect island health boards. 

Mr McArthur says preserving NHS Orkney's identity is important and there is anxiety in the islands about what will be lost through centralisation. 

The Lib Dem MSP says island health boards already work collaboratively with health boards on the mainland.

He says the government must take account of the impact on all patients.

Mr McArthur says he wants to see services increase on the islands. 

Image source, bbc

Scottish Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur says he is surprised not one SNP MSP supported his motion because it is not particularly controversial.

Mr McArthur says he believes the island health boards require support and he and the health secretary do share some common ground on this. 

Scottish Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur leads this afternoon's member's debate.

Here is his motion:

Image source, Scottish Parliament