Minutes: 21 March 2023

1. Decision on taking business in private:

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

2. Scotland’s electricity infrastructure: inhibitor or enabler of our energy ambitions?:

The Committee took evidence from—

Stuart Haszeldine OBE, Professor of Carbon Capture and Storage, University of Edinburgh;

Clare Lavelle, Director, Energy and Advisory Leader North, Arup;

Tom Quinn, Head of Analysis and Insights, Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult;

Emily Rice, Scotland Policy Analyst, Solar Energy UK;

and then from—

Mark Hull, Chief Technical Officer, Community Energy Scotland;

Scott Mathieson, Network Planning and Regulation Director, ScottishPower Energy Networks;

Aileen McLeod, Director of Business Planning and Commercial, SSEN Transmission;

Morag Watson, Director of Policy, Scottish Renewables.

Edward Mountain declared an interest as a Partner in Delfur Farms Farming Partnership, which receives income from power lines across his land, and that he is in negotiations as to another proposed power line, which could generate further income.

3. UK subordinate legislation:

The Committee considered a proposal by the Scottish Government to consent to the UK Government legislating using the powers under the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 in relation to the following UK statutory instrument proposals—

The REACH (Amendment) Regulations 2023

The Committee agreed to write to request further information about the proposed extension to registration dates and its impact in Scotland from relevant regulatory bodies and the UK Government, and agreed to invite the Minister for Environment and Land Reform to give evidence at its next meeting on 28 March 2023.

4. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee considered the following negative instrument—

Water and Sewerage Services to Dwellings (Collection of Unmetered Charges by Local Authority) (Scotland) Order 2023 (SSI 2023/052)

The Committee agreed to make no recommendations in relation to the instrument.

The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government to request information regarding the collection of charges.

5. Scotland’s electricity infrastructure: inhibitor or enabler of our energy ambitions? (in private):

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

6. Appointments to the Board of Environmental Standards Scotland (in private):

The Committee considered correspondence from the Scottish Government.

The Committee agreed to recommend to the Scottish Parliament approval of the following two candidates for appointment to the Board of Environmental Standards Scotland—

• Morag Sheppard;
• Professor Christopher Spray.