Seòmar agus comataidhean

Good morning, and welcome to the 37th meeting in 2024 of the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee. The convener has sent his apologies, and I will convene the meeting in his absence.

Agenda item 1 is a decision on taking business in private. Do members agree to take in private item 4, which is consideration of the evidence heard on environmental governance, and item 5, which is consideration of the evidence heard on the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill?

Members indicated agreement.

I bring in Monica Lennon as she is interested in the issue of scale.

I understand that the UK Government published its report and response last month.

There is nothing wrong with being a bit wary. Gary, do you have a view on this?

One of the provisions is on the creation of land management plans. It sets out some of the objectives of land management plans in helping to support sustainability, the achievement of net zero and so on. It does not expressly state anything about crofting. Is such express provision needed? If so, should that be in the bill or should it be dealt with through regulation?

Cabinet secretary, before I bring in Douglas Lumsden, I note that both you and Monica Lennon mentioned that a natural environment bill is to be introduced. In the consultation on that, an independent monitoring body was suggested. Do you envisage that that body would be Environmental Standards Scotland?

I call Douglas Lumsden.

Agenda item 2 is an evidence-taking session on environmental governance. The committee has previously taken evidence on this matter in relation to the Scottish Government’s environmental governance arrangements report, which was published back in June 2023. The Scottish Government has now consulted on those arrangements, and it submitted a statement to Parliament on 19 November, outlining the consultation process, summarising the responses and presenting ministers’ recommendations. In our evidence session today, we will explore environmental governance further in light of that statement.

I am pleased to welcome to the meeting Gillian Martin, Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy, and, from the Scottish Government, Tim Ellis, deputy director of future environment, and Charles Stewart Roper, head of environment strategy and governance unit. We will move straight to questions from the committee, and I will get us started.

The Government’s statement on environmental governance in November recognises that there are issues with the operation of such governance at present, particularly when it comes to access to justice. However, it appears from the outcome of the review process that little has been given in the way of options to address what seems to be a gap with regard to environmental governance and access to justice. Can you explain to the committee why, now that the issue has been identified, there appears to have been a lack of action in addressing it?

Okay. Douglas Lumsden is next.

That is very helpful.

I thank the cabinet secretary and her officials for attending today, which has been very helpful. The committee will consider the evidence in private later and will consider next steps.

I suspend the meeting to allow for a changeover of witnesses, and intend to restart the meeting at 10.25.

We are slightly ahead of schedule, but that will allow us to ensure that the next group of witnesses is here.