Minutes: 30 November 2021

1. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take items 7 and 8 in private.

2. Fuel poverty strategy:

The Committee took evidence from—

Michael Matheson, Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport and Naeem Bhatti, Head of Fuel Poverty and Housing Standards Unit, Scottish Government.

3. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee took evidence on the Environmental Protection (Single-use Plastic Products) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 from—

Lorna Slater, Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity, Ailsa Heine,Solicitor, Janet McVea,Head of the Zero Waste Unit and Andrew Forsyth,Team Leader Zero Waste Unit, Scottish Government.

4. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee took evidence on the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016 (Register of Persons Holding a Controlled Interest in Land) Amendment Regulations 2021 from—

Màiri McAllan, Minister for Environment and Land Reform, Scottish Government.

5. Subordinate legislation:

Màiri McAllan, Minister for Environment and Land Reform moved—S6M-02176—That the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee recommends that the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016 (Register of Persons Holding a Controlled Interest in Land) Amendment Regulations 2021 [draft] be approved.

The Committee agreed to delegate authority to the convener to approve a draft of the report for publication.

6. Public petitions:

The Committee considered the following petitions—

• [PE01872] Improve the reliability of island ferry services.

The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government and to Caledonian MacBrayne to seek updates in relation to the issues raised in the petition, including on forward planning and resilience work for services next year.

• [PE01815] Translocate protected beavers to reduce licensed killing

The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government and to NatureScot to seek updates in relation to the issues raised in the petition, particularly in relation to the Scottish Government’s recently announced change of policy on the translocation of beavers. The Committee also agreed to write to the Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee at the Scottish Parliament, to notify it of how the petition was being dealt with. 

7. Fuel poverty strategy:

The Committee considered the evidence it heard earlier under agenda item 2.

8. Subordinate legislation (single-use plastic):

The Committee considered the evidence it heard earlier under agenda item 3. 

The Committee agreed to write to the minister in relation to matters raised during the evidence session. The Committee also agreed to invite a panel of stakeholders to discuss the Regulations at its next committee meeting on 7 December.