The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.
All Official Reports of meetings in the Debating Chamber of the Scottish Parliament.
All Official Reports of public meetings of committees.
Displaying 1319 contributions
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: 9 January 2024
Douglas Lumsden
Would anyone else like to add anything?
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: 9 January 2024
Douglas Lumsden
My last question is on mainstreaming, which has been mentioned already. “The People’s Plan for Nature” calls for more mainstreaming of nature into decision making, more leadership and more Government accountability. Does the draft delivery plan provide for more mainstreaming of biodiversity, and what would successful mainstreaming look like? Do you want to pick that up, Bruce?
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: 9 January 2024
Douglas Lumsden
I am sure that the first question always takes the longest, convener.
When we heard from the marine stakeholders, there were mixed views, including that many of the targets and actions are not SMART—specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time bound—and that the plan lacks significant new commitments in the light of the Government’s commitment to a step change. Are there significant new commitments in the plan relating to terrestrial biodiversity and does it set out SMART targets?
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: 12 December 2023
Douglas Lumsden
I want to drill down a bit deeper into the delivery plan. Elspeth Macdonald and Tavish Scott talked about the lack of engagement with the plan. Phil Taylor seemed to suggest that there was quite a lot of engagement, so I will go back to Tavish and Elspeth. Was there not a forum that you could contribute to? Why do you feel that there was a lack of engagement while other people feel that there was enough?
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: 12 December 2023
Douglas Lumsden
You mentioned baselines. Do other panel members feel that the proper baselining has been done so that we can measure things?
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: 12 December 2023
Douglas Lumsden
I have just one more question. Elspeth Macdonald, I think that you said that five years is not long enough for the plan. What are the everyone else’s views on that? Is five years not ambitious enough? Should we look at a longer period?
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: 12 December 2023
Douglas Lumsden
Okay. Can you really do the socioeconomic study afterwards? If you have not read it, some of the things that could be implemented might harm the social and economic condition of a community.
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: 12 December 2023
Douglas Lumsden
You said that that is currently in progress. Does that not highlight the fact that the baseline data is not there and that that work needs to be done first?
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: 12 December 2023
Douglas Lumsden
Yes, I do. I have one final point on the socioeconomic study that has been mentioned by a couple of people. Dr Cavers, Calum Duncan and Phil Taylor, what are your views on that? We have heard from Elspeth Macdonald and Tavish Scott.
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: 5 December 2023
Douglas Lumsden
Minister, companies such as Amazon already have distribution south of the border. What is there to stop them closing centres in Scotland and moving everything south of the border so that they can distribute from there?