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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 22 December 2024
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Displaying 1816 contributions

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Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee

United Kingdom Internal Market

Meeting date: 2 December 2021

Mark Ruskell

Do you see political will to remove trade barriers?

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Meeting date: 30 November 2021

Mark Ruskell

I remember those eight sessions fondly, and I do not remember this issue coming up. It is interesting that it was identified through the extensive IT build as an issue of due diligence. It seems to be a logical loophole to close.

What is the timescale for the roll-out of the register, and where are we with building in seamlessness of use for the public and users of the multiple registers, such that they can come to a portal and find out—in a way that makes sense to ordinary people, who do not have the benefit of experience of conveyancing and trust law—who owns a piece of land and who is influencing the ownership and management of that land?

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Meeting date: 30 November 2021

Mark Ruskell

I think that it was Rhodri Morgan who said that devolution is a great laboratory, and there is definitely an opportunity to innovate. Will you comment on the fishing gear issue?

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Fuel Poverty Strategy

Meeting date: 30 November 2021

Mark Ruskell

I want to go a bit deeper into the issue of rural communities. At the moment, there is a big cost differential between installing a low-carbon system and sticking with an oil-based system, but how can that differential be reduced over time?

Another issue that people have raised with me is the wider servicing infrastructure. If people are being asked to make the jump to a low-carbon system and the supply chain is not there, there will be no cost reduction in that respect, but what if there is no maintenance and servicing infrastructure either? That will be a concern for people and a barrier to making that jump. I am interested to hear about the thinking about that in the heat in buildings strategy and how it will merge with the targets that have been set.

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Fuel Poverty Strategy

Meeting date: 30 November 2021

Mark Ruskell

In terms of work on that supply chain, how do you see the energy agency co-ordinating action? What will it do in practice? Will it rely more on local government delivery partners or voluntary sector agencies? I am looking for some clarity around what practical actions the agency will take on the ground to tackle some of these issues and to roll out programmes.

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Fuel Poverty Strategy

Meeting date: 30 November 2021

Mark Ruskell

My final question is about an issue that Fife Council raised with me yesterday. It is now very difficult to get energy companies to become the default provider for council tenants. SSE is not interested in being the default provider for Fife Council. Are you aware of that issue? We are seeing more and more energy companies going to the wall, so fewer energy companies can provide a competitive offering for council tenants. There seems to be a lack of appetite for taking on council tenants, which is worrying.

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Public Petitions

Meeting date: 30 November 2021

Mark Ruskell

First of all, we should congratulate the petitioners on managing to change Government policy. Translocations are now happening, which is great; indeed, I think that one happened yesterday in the Stirling area.

To be fair, I think that some follow-up work is needed on the back of this. Although it would probably be useful to write to the Scottish Government, I think that we should certainly write to NatureScot to ask for more detail on its view of the change in the beaver management framework, particularly with regard to existing licences for lethal control, the funding of translocations and how the process itself can be streamlined. I know that some of that will come through forthcoming guidance, but I would still be reluctant to close the petition. You could look at this and think that pretty much everything that the petitioners have asked for is now happening, but there are some issues for the future with regard to guidance and the management framework that will need to be followed up, to ensure that we get substantial change.

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Public Petitions

Meeting date: 30 November 2021

Mark Ruskell

I agree with all the comments so far. An important part of access is the cost, particularly for those who are vulnerable and cannot afford regular travel. I know that many young people in the islands use a ferry service in the way that people on the mainland might use a bus service. It would be useful to know what consideration the Scottish Government has given to that. The roll-out of concessionary travel for under-22s on the buses is starting in January, but it would be interesting to know whether the Government has done any analysis of the cost of extending that to ferries. I know that the transport minister announced several weeks ago that the fair fares review will look in detail at the structure of ferry prices and how that will impact on people who are struggling.

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Meeting date: 30 November 2021

Mark Ruskell

That would be good, because it is an important issue.

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Meeting date: 30 November 2021

Mark Ruskell

Fishing gear, alongside wet wipes, has been identified as a particular problem. The MCS survey shows that it often washes up on our beaches, and it is a difficult problem to deal with. What are we doing about fishing gear?

My other question is about the resources and waste common framework. You said that you are entering meetings with the other Administrations, and I presume that alignment on DRS will be included in the conversations, along with extended producer responsibility. Do we have a sensible basis on which to move forward on circular economy decisions across the UK? Is that framework operational?