s 3AC Information to assist preparation of National Planning Framework
(1) For the purposes of assisting the Scottish Ministers in preparing or revising the National Planning Framework, the Scottish Ministers may direct a planning authority, or two or more planning authorities, to provide information about the matters set out in subsection (2) in relation to an area specified in the direction. (2) The matters are— (a) the principal physical, cultural, economic, social, built heritage and environmental characteristics of the area, (b) the principal purposes for which land in the area is used, (c) the size, composition and distribution of the population of the area, (d) the housing needs of the population of the area, (e) the capacity of education services in the area, (f) the capacity of health services in the area, (g) the health needs of the population of the area, (h) the housing needs of older people and disabled people within the area, (i) the desirability of allocating land for the purposes of resettlement, (j) the infrastructure of the area (including communications, transport and drainage systems and systems for the supply of water and energy), (k) how that infrastructure is used, (l) any change which the planning authority or authorities think may occur in relation to any of the matters mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (k), and (m) such other matters as are prescribed. (3) In subsection (2)(j), references to systems for the supply of energy include in particular land available for the development and use of facilities for renewable sources of energy. (4) Where a direction under this section requires two or more planning authorities to provide information in relation to the same area and the same matter, they are to co-operate with one another.