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 1986 contributions
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 17 December 2024
Mark Ruskell
Right. So, basically, my constituent will have to wait until a European directive is considered and concluded in 2026, and then there might be a consultation with the Scottish Government about whether it wants to implement any of those provisions in domestic law. There is no recourse to environmental justice in the short term for somebody living next to a dairy farm or point-source emission of ammonia who has concerns and is suffering real health impacts, because it is not covered by general binding rules, notification, registration or permit.
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 17 December 2024
Mark Ruskell
That is long awaited, I think.
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 17 December 2024
Mark Ruskell
Okay—I think that that is pretty clear from your evidence this morning.
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 17 December 2024
Mark Ruskell
I presume that I could submit a freedom of information request and that you would eventually provide me with the information.
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 17 December 2024
Mark Ruskell
I think we would be interested in that information, because we will be inviting ESS to the committee in the weeks ahead, and the interaction between you, ESS and the Government is an area of interest to the committee, but—
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 17 December 2024
Mark Ruskell
Let us go back to this conversation with the constituent. The constituent phones your helpline, wanting answers and action. What action can you take?
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 17 December 2024
Mark Ruskell
I am not talking about sewage sludge. The fact is that 92 per cent of ammonia comes from agriculture, so I am not talking about human sewage. I am talking about the inappropriate application and management of slurry wastes in a facility, resulting in increased ammonia.
Let us focus the discussion on where 92 per cent of the problem is in relation to ammonia. What actions do you take?
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 17 December 2024
Mark Ruskell
It depends on how you value and monitor it. If there is testing, such as soil testing, and evaluation of biodiversity—
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 17 December 2024
Mark Ruskell
I will come back briefly to Tom Oates.
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 17 December 2024
Mark Ruskell
Has there been any discussion with ESS in relation to the development of the regulations, or have SEPA and ESS been communicating directly with the Government and not with each other?