Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
38th Meeting, 2024
The Committee agreed to take items 4, 5 and 6 in private.
The Committee took evidence on the proposed Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2025 from—
Lin Bunten, Chief Operating Officer, Regulation, Business and Environment, Scott Crawford, Senior Manager, Compliance and Beyond, Permitting and Wendy Thornton, Senior Manager, Compliance and Beyond, Environmental Performance, Scottish Environment Protection Agency.
Edward Mountain declared that, in the event of the proposed Regulations becoming law, they would be likely to apply to him in respect of some of his activities as a farmer and a land owner.
The Committee took evidence on the Bill at Stage 1 from—
Hamish Lean, Partner and Head of Rural Property, Shepherd and Wedderburn LLP;
Martin Hall, Senior Director, Davidson & Robertson;
Tom Oates, Director, Oates Rural;
Andrew Wood, Partner, Residential Development, Bidwells.
Edward Mountain declared an interest in a farming partnership in Moray, as set out in the register of interests. Specifically, he declared an interest as owner of approximately 500 acres of farmed land, of which 50 acres is woodland. He also declared that he is a tenant of approximately 500 acres in Moray under a non-agricultural tenancy and that he has another farming tenancy under the Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Act 1991. He also declared that he takes on grass lets occasionally on a short term basis.
The Committee considered the evidence heard earlier in the meeting.
The Committee considered the evidence heard earlier in the meeting.
The Committee considered its work programme.
The Committee agreed to invite the UK Government to give evidence on the Great British Energy Bill LCM.
The Committee agreed witnesses for the future sessions on Stage 1 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill.
The Committee agreed to invite the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy and the Cabinet Secretary for Transport to each give evidence on the Scottish Budget 2025-26.
The Committee agreed to take evidence from stakeholders on natural capital finance at a future meeting.
The Committee agreed to request time in the chamber to debate access to environmental justice.
The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government for an update on various matters concerning biodiversity.
The Committee agreed to formally note the notifications from the Scottish Government on the following two anticipated UK statutory instruments:
The Committee agreed to invite, in due course, the candidate nominated by the Scottish Government to be next Chair of Environmental Standards Scotland to give evidence to the Committee.