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 2361 contributions
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 26 January 2023
Mark Ruskell
I will go back to seasonal workers in Scotland. As a regional MSP, I have had some contact with fruit farms and other employers. I have also had some contact with Ukrainian citizens who are staying in hotels and picking up work at the moment, and who may want to continue with that work. Have you had any particular concerns from seasonal workers around accommodation, their ability to bring their families to the UK, or any other issues around communication or visas?
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 26 January 2023
Mark Ruskell
I will move on to visa schemes and, in particular, the Ukraine extension scheme. Has it worked effectively? More specifically, has it supported Ukrainian people who are seasonal workers in Scotland and the UK?
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 26 January 2023
Mark Ruskell
Does that happen in other countries around Europe?
Meeting of the Parliament
Meeting date: 26 January 2023
Mark Ruskell
I welcome the STPR and the vision behind it, but I want to speak up for Scotland’s strategic road network. One of the biggest and most costly impacts on our road network comes from lorries, and massive climate emissions come from lorries as well. How can STPR support a modal shift from road freight to rail freight?
Meeting of the Parliament
Meeting date: 25 January 2023
Mark Ruskell
There is a growing interest in sustainable kelp cultivation rather than kelp dredging. The sector would benefit from an independent regulatory framework, as was recommended in the aquaculture regulatory process review. What progress has been made on establishing such a framework for a kelp farming industry?
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: 24 January 2023
Mark Ruskell
Good morning to you all.
I will start with a broad question, after which we can perhaps get into the specifics of certain amendments that you are looking for. Does the Energy Bill align with the energy strategy and just transition plan? Will it help to deliver the Scottish Government’s plan, or are there particular areas of divergence?
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: 24 January 2023
Mark Ruskell
Okay. I know that colleagues will come back to that specific point later on.
I turn to an amendment that you have requested, which relates to the need for Ofgem and the secretary of state to consider Scottish emissions targets. What is the underlying concern there?
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: 24 January 2023
Mark Ruskell
I have finished, convener.
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: 24 January 2023
Mark Ruskell
Are there any other areas under part 1 of the bill that relate to the requirement to have cognisance of the Scottish targets? You mentioned carbon capture and storage in your opening statement.
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: 24 January 2023
Mark Ruskell
Yes, and it might well feed into what Ragne Low might want to talk about. I want to probe a little further on the changing nature of environmental assessments. Does the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill and its proposal to move to environmental objectives rather than follow European standards and processes of environmental and habitats regulation assessments form part of the concern here? With a shift in environmental assessments, could the answer to mitigation end up being different according to whether the secretary of state defines particular environmental objectives?