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: 3 October 2023
Douglas Lumsden
That is okay. We have heard from businesses that they have concerns about the burden of reporting that they will have to comply with once the legislation comes in. Do you have a view on the amount of reporting that businesses will have to do at that point?
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: 3 October 2023
Douglas Lumsden
I will stick to the budget lines. There has been a decline in the year-on-year funding over the past eight years until this year’s budget, when there was then an increase in funding from the Scottish Government. What impact has that had on your organisations and the work that you are trying to do?
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: 3 October 2023
Douglas Lumsden
That seems strange to me. You spoke about policy development, the Government trying to hit net zero targets and an increase in demand, but at the same time your core funding is being reduced, which does not quite make sense to me.
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: 3 October 2023
Douglas Lumsden
Can you make up that shortfall from licensing, for example, or chargeable things?
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: 3 October 2023
Douglas Lumsden
Over the summer, I talked to wind farm developers and heard that there may be changes to the planning process to try to speed it up. One complaint that I hear is that, probably because of a lack of resource, it takes quite a while for organisations to give approval or make comments on applications. Is that problem due to a lack of resource, and could it be changed by changing the way in which the licensing or the fees work?
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: 3 October 2023
Douglas Lumsden
Could developers pay more to try to increase your capacity so that the process could be quicker?
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: 3 October 2023
Douglas Lumsden
Yes.
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: 3 October 2023
Douglas Lumsden
Do you expect spending to ramp up over the 10-year period?
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: 3 October 2023
Douglas Lumsden
It still sounds as though a lot of work needs to be done before it would ramp up.
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: 3 October 2023
Douglas Lumsden
You cannot spend it on anything else.