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 553 contributions
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 5 November 2024
Michael Matheson
Yes, I have just a couple of things.
The Land Commission recommended a figure of 1,000 hectares. Do you think that the Land Commission got it right?
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 5 November 2024
Michael Matheson
So you think that the Land Commission got it wrong.
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 5 November 2024
Michael Matheson
Jon, is that your view?
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 5 November 2024
Michael Matheson
I would be interested in seeing that. I take from what you are saying that it is important to have the principles of enforcement in statute, but the practical application is probably best dealt with in guidance.
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 29 October 2024
Michael Matheson
However, that legislative change would not happen before the end of 2026.
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 29 October 2024
Michael Matheson
Therefore, your answer to that question is no.
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 29 October 2024
Michael Matheson
I am questioning that because of what Get Glasgow Moving said about what would happen if the panel issue was not resolved. To be fair to it, I am paraphrasing what it said and it might want to challenge this, but it said that, if the requirement for a panel cannot be removed within that timeframe, the SSI should be passed as an interim measure only, with a view to doing something more appropriate in the future. With regard to the timeline that SPT has set out, is it likely that primary legislation will be brought forward between now and the end of 2026—or at least later in 2026—to remove the requirement for a panel to consider any franchising proposal?
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 29 October 2024
Michael Matheson
You also cannot bind any post-2026 Government anyway. I am conscious that, even after an election, legislation tends to get pushed back as committees are established and priorities are set. That is helpful, thank you.
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 29 October 2024
Michael Matheson
I am conscious that that matter is not necessarily entirely within your portfolio responsibilities. However, like any good Government, you would always want to learn lessons from experience and build on those. I have no doubt that, if the Government felt that there was a more appropriate mechanism in the future, it would want to introduce that.
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 29 October 2024
Michael Matheson
Therefore, if SPT took something forward later in 2026 and the SSI had been annulled, we would be in the situation that ministers have set out, namely that the traffic commissioner would have established a panel but that we would have no control over how the panel operated because of the existing arrangements in primary legislation. Is that correct?