Seòmar agus comataidhean

Perhaps I can bring in Katie Reid here. Who should lead on this work? It has come from an amendment to climate change legislation and has been commissioned by the Government, but does this sort of thing have to start that way? Could it be driven by schools or councils, or should it be driven by, say, public service operators themselves? Where is the starting point?

I wonder whether Jocelyn Richard has any reflections on Katie Reid’s comments about the involvement of young people and the exchange—indeed, cross-fertilisation—of ideas between generations.

That is regulation, but it is not just transition, is it? Just transition is not only about the boardroom; it is about workers and communities and planning that transition. Are you working in that space of just transition, or are you still applying the regulatory limits and enforcing them where appropriate?

I will ask all three witnesses about their organisations’ changing remits. Nick Halfhide talked about the need to scale up to tackle the nature emergency, and I think that he said that NatureScot is taking over from Marine Scotland the responsibility for marine protected area designation.

I am interested in understanding how the witnesses expect their bodies to develop. What changes do you hope to make to your remits? How will you develop more partnership working?

[Inaudible.]—does that look like? Is it increased regional land use partnerships? What actions will be needed on the ground to drive that?

Yes, particularly in terms of regional land use partnerships.

I ask Terry A’Hearn about changing remits, as well. The committee heard evidence from the just transition commission several weeks ago and it is clear that high energy users will need to produce just transition plans. What will SEPA’s remit be in relation to that? Are you already working on that in terms of your sustainable growth agreements?

I was struck by a what Liam Fowley said about how to get a public voice into public services. We are rolling out free bus travel for the under-22s, but young people still have concerns about safety and the quality of services. Is the deliberative democratic process valuable in bringing people’s voices into how public services are managed? If so, what does that process look like? Is it an assembly? Does it look like a citizens jury? I am interested in your perspective. That seems to have been a successful process and I am delighted that it has produced a substantial report with much for Government to consider. How do we more deeply embed that deliberative democracy as we tackle the climate emergency and reform public services?

I will ask you about something specific on how we change the places where we live. There has been a big discussion during the Covid crisis about changing road space: perhaps losing some car-parking spaces, extending footpaths and changing the urban environment. Did that come up during your conversations? What was the thinking about the need for that change? Was it supported, or was that issue ducked in the conversations?

Good morning. How do we build towards a successful launch on 31 January? Up until now, the message has been not to use public transport during the pandemic. Through the introduction of the amended concessionary travel scheme, there will be a relaunch of bus travel in Scotland. How are you preparing for that and for getting the message out there that, on 31 January, buses will be open for business, with young people able to travel for free and to enjoy the opportunities that that will bring?