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Official Report: search what was said in Parliament

The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.  

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Dates of parliamentary sessions
  1. Session 1: 12 May 1999 to 31 March 2003
  2. Session 2: 7 May 2003 to 2 April 2007
  3. Session 3: 9 May 2007 to 22 March 2011
  4. Session 4: 11 May 2011 to 23 March 2016
  5. Session 5: 12 May 2016 to 5 May 2021
  6. Current session: 12 May 2021 to 26 April 2025
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Displaying 2643 contributions

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Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Scottish Government Priorities

Meeting date: 12 September 2023

Mark Ruskell

We are not alone; countries around the world are considering how to ensure that there is a just transition away from oil and gas and how to do that in a responsible way that meets current and future energy needs. A lot of the conversations in that space have involved the Beyond Oil & Gas Alliance. I think that the previous First Minister indicated that the Scottish Government would seek to join that conversation at some point and to be part of that alliance, which includes countries such as Wales, Ireland, Denmark, France and New Zealand. Where are things at in that regard? Do you know, through your role as cabinet secretary, where those international conversations are at? Will we be looking to join BOGA at an appropriate level in the months to come?

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Scottish Government Priorities

Meeting date: 12 September 2023

Mark Ruskell

My final question is about other sectors that are perhaps not highlighted in the draft energy strategy as much as some people would like, such as the solar, tidal and wave energy and battery sectors. What is your sense of whether we have the right balance of targets and market signals for each of those sectors? I will not say that they are all identical to onshore wind; they are at different stages of development and closeness to market. What is your sense of the drivers and targets that are needed? Could we start with solar and then go on to the tidal, wave and battery sectors?

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Scottish Government Priorities

Meeting date: 12 September 2023

Mark Ruskell

On streamlining the consenting process for offshore wind, are there changes that could and should be made to make things simpler?

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Scottish Government Priorities

Meeting date: 12 September 2023

Mark Ruskell

—which would require CCUS.

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Scottish Government Priorities

Meeting date: 12 September 2023

Mark Ruskell

It would be useful if we could get specific feedback on the Beyond Oil & Gas Alliance and on whether—

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Scottish Government Priorities

Meeting date: 12 September 2023

Mark Ruskell

I want to ask a bit more about the aspiration to halve the determination time for electricity generating stations. Is there anything more to say on that at this point, or will the detail of that—you mentioned guidance for local authorities—all be published as part of the onshore wind sector deal?

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Scottish Government Priorities

Meeting date: 12 September 2023

Mark Ruskell

Is there a trade-off among technologies? Is there a view in Government that, if we invest too much in the grid infrastructure that is required for solar, or even allow batteries to connect to the grid, it will hoover up the available transmission infrastructure for onshore wind and other technologies? Is there a point at which our transmission infrastructure is limited and we have to prioritise certain technologies over others?

Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee

Office for the Internal Market (Annual Report)

Meeting date: 7 September 2023

Mark Ruskell

Is that advice fed into the common frameworks process? If particular issues come up relating to single-use plastics or anything else, would you offer advice? Have you been asked for advice?

Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee

Office for the Internal Market (Annual Report)

Meeting date: 7 September 2023

Mark Ruskell

You work with businesses, so are there particular scales or types of businesses that are more integrated in the European market and have more experience of working within different regulatory set-ups? In your report, you mention deposit return schemes. Different deposit return schemes operate across the member states in Europe. Some companies will supply to only one scheme, but some will work across the continent and will engage with different models. I am interested in which business sectors are particularly adept at working within that larger internal market and which have concerns about divergence if they are working in one particular market but not in others.

Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee

Office for the Internal Market (Annual Report)

Meeting date: 7 September 2023

Mark Ruskell

I wonder to what extent you still have an eye on the European Union. Arguably, the EU is the world’s most successful single market, which manages a degree of regulatory divergence between member states in that market. Do you still look across to Europe to see how good practice is developed and how businesses are managing regulatory divergence in their sectors? What can we learn from that?