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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 21 December 2024
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Displaying 1816 contributions

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Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee

Budget Scrutiny 2022-23

Meeting date: 20 January 2022

Mark Ruskell

Excellent. Thank you.

Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee

Budget Scrutiny 2022-23

Meeting date: 20 January 2022

Mark Ruskell

I think that the event will have a massive impact. The improvement in facilities, which will probably also benefit areas such as the Tweed valley and Fort William, will be incredible. However, in terms of cycling governance, it might still be seen as a Great Britain event. If that is the case, has there been any commitment from the UK Government to support the world championships in 2023?

Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee

Budget Scrutiny 2022-23

Meeting date: 20 January 2022

Mark Ruskell

This year’s budget remains pretty challenging for local government, and we know the reasons why that is the case. It is difficult to see how councils will not be considering how to make savings in areas of discretionary spend. I hope that those savings do not fall in the culture sector, but there is a risk that they will. To what extent have you discussed that with Shona Robison and Ben Macpherson?

The flip side of the budget—the good news—is that it will result in increased funding for local government, particularly in areas such as health, social care and education. Do you see any immediate opportunities in the next year to use that increased budget to mainstream some of the excellent work that cultural organisations do to support health, mental health and wellbeing, for example, or will the increase in the budget be allocated to other priorities and not be immediately available for cultural organisations that do important work on wellbeing?

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Role of Local Government in Delivering Net Zero

Meeting date: 18 January 2022

Mark Ruskell

I will ask my final question, and then maybe George can come in on that and the other aspects.

At last week’s meeting, the leader of Glasgow City Council, Susan Aitken, made an interesting point about the capacity in councils. She was talking about the capacity in her council, which is the largest in Scotland, but that is clearly an issue across multiple councils. For smaller councils, it will be an even bigger issue. How can councils work together? How can there be a sharing of capacity across the public sector? SSN is obviously one route to do that, but how do we create vehicles that enable councils and public bodies to work together to create more investable propositions, whether that is on heat, transport, procurement or any of the other issues that we have spoken about? Is there enough collaboration?

11:15  

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Role of Local Government in Delivering Net Zero

Meeting date: 18 January 2022

Mark Ruskell

Access to resources has been a bit of a theme this morning. I want to go back to Ailsa Raeburn and Mark McRitchie on access to land. It seems that, as we are tackling the climate emergency by developing renewables and putting in place nature recovery measures, carbon sequestration and so on, communities could have a role in that regard. However, access to land is a concern, and issues have been raised around green lairds and private sector investment in land. What do you see as the most important next steps in land reform, if communities are to become more involved in climate adaptation and mitigation? Perhaps Ailsa Raeburn can start.

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Role of Local Government in Delivering Net Zero

Meeting date: 18 January 2022

Mark Ruskell

Thanks. That is useful.

Philip Revell mentioned that the climate challenge fund is coming to a close at the end of March. The Government has shifted into a new programme of climate action hubs, and there has been some limited investment in climate action towns. Will you reflect on whether the model of climate action hubs is, in effect, taking the CCF to a more mainstream roll-out of solutions? Have there been issues with that? What has been the reaction of your network’s members?

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Role of Local Government in Delivering Net Zero

Meeting date: 18 January 2022

Mark Ruskell

That is useful, Lorna. I have had a few conversations with public sector bodies in the past few months, and I know that a number of them are questioning whether they need large office spaces. We talk a lot about the cost of carbon reduction, and I wonder whether there are savings to be made there or whether there is a particular trend of working out the assets that organisations have and perhaps thinking about their service delivery in a different way.

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Meeting date: 18 January 2022

Mark Ruskell

Yes, but what about someone who is involved in a regional land use partnership? Can all those land managers and stakeholders use it right now? Could it help to inform decisions about what farmers are doing in riparian habitat management or nitrogen application on a catchment scale?

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Role of Local Government in Delivering Net Zero

Meeting date: 18 January 2022

Mark Ruskell

George Tarvit and Mark Williams want to come in, and I see that John Wincott has something to say.

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Role of Local Government in Delivering Net Zero

Meeting date: 18 January 2022

Mark Ruskell

Thanks for that comprehensive answer. Does Mark McRitchie have anything to add to that?