Minutes: 26 April 2022

1. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take items 5 and 6 in private.

2. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee took evidence on the Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies (Scotland) Order 2022 [draft] from—

Patrick Harvie, Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants’ Rights and Paul Gilbert, Senior Policy Advisor, Scottish Government.

3. Subordinate legislation:

Patrick Harvie (Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants' Rights) moved—S6M-03605—That the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee recommends that the Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies (Scotland) Order 2022 [draft] be approved.

The motion was agreed to.

The Committee agreed to delegate authority to the Convener to approve a draft report on the instrument for publication.

4. Energy price rises:

The Committee took evidence from—

Chris Birt, Associate Director for Scotland, Joseph Rowntree Foundation;

Frazer Scott, Chief Executive Officer, Energy Action Scotland;

Alastair Wilcox, Senior Policy Officer, Citizens Advice Scotland;

and then from—

Dan Alchin, Director of Regulation, Energy UK;

Ross Dornan, Market Intelligence Manager, Offshore Energies UK (OEUK);

Keith Anderson, Chief Executive Officer, ScottishPower.

5. Energy price rises (in private):

The consideration of evidence for this item was deferred to a later meeting.

6. Work programme (in private):

The Committee agreed to seek approval for the appointment of advisers: one on climate change and one on environmental regulation.