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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 14 March 2025
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Displaying 1986 contributions

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Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Climate Change Committee (Annual Progress Report)

Meeting date: 21 December 2021

Mark Ruskell

My last question is about aviation. We are talking about complementary strategies. The Government’s current aviation strategy seems to be about increasing aviation, although there was a recent recognition that aviation development needs to drop in order for us to meet the transport carbon targets. What is your advice on the approach that any new strategy needs to adopt? Where should we focus on to reduce emissions? Of course, there are all the unicorn fuels for aircraft but, given the severity of the situation that you laid out at the beginning, I am not convinced that we are going to get there through that alone.

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Climate Change Committee (Annual Progress Report)

Meeting date: 21 December 2021

Mark Ruskell

Thank you. Back to you, convener.

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Climate Change Committee (Annual Progress Report)

Meeting date: 21 December 2021

Mark Ruskell

I will move on to questions about transport. The Scottish Government has a challenging trajectory on that. It is dependent on a lot of behavioural change. Are the right tools in the box at the moment? Do you have advice on how the Government should approach demand management, for example, as a tool to nail the 20 per cent reduction in vehicle mileage?

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Climate Change Committee (Annual Progress Report)

Meeting date: 21 December 2021

Mark Ruskell

One element of the issue is capital investment in infrastructure. We have the strategic transport projects review coming up in the new year. In the past, the CCC has perhaps been a little reluctant to offer advice to Governments about road building. Where are you on that now? Given the state of the emergency and the challenge that you have laid out in meeting the 2030 targets, how has your thinking evolved over time on capital investment in road infrastructure, induced demand and where we should draw the line on some of that?

Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee

United Kingdom Internal Market

Meeting date: 16 December 2021

Mark Ruskell

Finally, as a member organisation trade body, you have engaged with Europe a lot over the years. What does that engagement look like now? Are there lessons to learn from other regions across Europe? I am thinking in particular about the Nordic regions and how they align their markets effectively, given the complications. Norway is outside the EU and Sweden is in it, so there will be issues around trade in food, livestock and other products. Are there any examples from your international experience about how alignment of market regulation can work between countries that are sitting in very different constitutional arrangements, as we are, in post-Brexit UK?

Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee

Scottish Government’s International Work

Meeting date: 16 December 2021

Mark Ruskell

Thank you. I would love to have another hour on that topic.

Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee

Scottish Government’s International Work

Meeting date: 16 December 2021

Mark Ruskell

It has been a really interesting session. I was struck by what Martin Johnson said about the fit for 55 energy and climate package, and Dr Stein talked about the work on hydrogen, as well. I would like to unpack that a little bit more because it is obviously a big strategic priority and I imagine that it will dominate the work of the Copenhagen office. What do you see as the main work strands to come out of that? Do you see Scotland as being currently aligned with the EU agenda or are there differences in approach? I would like to start with Martin Johnson on that question.

Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee

Scottish Government’s International Work

Meeting date: 16 December 2021

Mark Ruskell

Time is getting on, but I have a further question, which is on the COP presidency. Earlier, Martin Johnson touched on the preparatory work that he was involved in for COP. We still have some time left in the COP presidency before it is handed over next year. I am interested in what that workstream looks like at the moment.

Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee

United Kingdom Internal Market

Meeting date: 16 December 2021

Mark Ruskell

Yes, but if your starting point is about high welfare standards for animals, does it matter on which stretch of water or roads the animals are being transported? This is about the length of journey time.

I understand the geographic case, and you have pointed to the need to increase supply chain development, mobile abattoirs and maybe local branding, including in the islands. There are other ways to crack the issue. I understand the argument that your members put forward. However, in this context, a challenge and different perspective is coming from NFUS. How might you use the internal market act and perhaps the common frameworks to challenge those rules, if that is something that you want to challenge?

Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee

United Kingdom Internal Market

Meeting date: 16 December 2021

Mark Ruskell

You described a triangle in which there is alignment with the EU, alignment with the UK and Scottish regulations, too. I am again being provocative, but do you not have an advantage in that you can argue for alignment in some areas and for divergence in other areas? Does the triangle not enable you to pick and choose?

You make a particular argument about glyphosate. I do not want to get into the details of the pros and cons of that as an option. In a way, you are able to move around the different regulatory frameworks and position yourselves and your members. You can point to where there are high standards and where there is alignment, but you can also point out what aspects you do not agree with. Are there advantages to that, or are you still trying to get used to the landscape that you are in now, which is quite fluid, with the common frameworks not really working properly yet?

09:45