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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 9 March 2025
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Displaying 4623 contributions

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Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Scottish Water (Annual Report and Accounts 2021-22)

Meeting date: 22 November 2022

Edward Mountain

From 19 per cent.

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Scottish Water (Annual Report and Accounts 2021-22)

Meeting date: 22 November 2022

Edward Mountain

Jackie Baillie has been sitting very quietly in the corner. I am sure that she has some questions that she would like to put now.

11:00  

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Scottish Water (Annual Report and Accounts 2021-22)

Meeting date: 22 November 2022

Edward Mountain

Do you want to respond, Susan or Douglas?

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Scottish Water (Annual Report and Accounts 2021-22)

Meeting date: 22 November 2022

Edward Mountain

I have given you a fair crack of the whip, Ms Baillie, but the fact is that a balance has to be achieved here. I do not need to stick up for Scottish Water; I know that the regulator and the minister will take an interest in that.

Ms Baillie, you have also made your point about the difficulty of price rises—we all understand what they are. We have heard from Scottish Water that it is trying to grapple with the question of what it needs to raise in order to invest in and run its business while taking customers into account. You have had, if I may be so bold, a fair crack at this.

I thank everyone and apologise profusely to Susan Rice for not inviting her to give her opening statement. I am in her debt for forgiving me. I thank everyone for their efforts and contributions, and I suspend the meeting to allow us to set up for the next item.

11:14 Meeting suspended.  

11:19 On resuming—  

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Meeting date: 22 November 2022

Edward Mountain

That concludes the public part of the meeting. We now move into private session.

11:22 Meeting continued in private until 12:05.  

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Scottish Water (Annual Report and Accounts 2021-22)

Meeting date: 22 November 2022

Edward Mountain

I am sorry to interrupt, Ms Baillie. I am finding this questioning very interesting, but as I understand it—and correct me if I am wrong; I am just looking for clarity—the situation is that, as you are trying to point out, Scottish Water will not be able to meet its objectives unless it puts the prices up to the level that you have suggested. There is a balance between investment and non-investment. Surely, then, it is for Scottish Water to explain what projects it will be unable to achieve if the price does not go up. Have I got that completely wrong?

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Scottish Water (Annual Report and Accounts 2021-22)

Meeting date: 22 November 2022

Edward Mountain

Perfect. I might see one of those appearing in my constituency office, then.

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Scottish Water (Annual Report and Accounts 2021-22)

Meeting date: 22 November 2022

Edward Mountain

I am happy for you to refer to all the elements in writing rather than answering that now.

I am also concerned about taxation going from £7.9 million to £158 million. I understand that there was some tax differentiation due to corporation tax, but that is a massive difference. Again, you can write to the committee with an answer on that, if you like.

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Scottish Water (Annual Report and Accounts 2021-22)

Meeting date: 22 November 2022

Edward Mountain

I will bring Mark Ruskell in if he will be very quick—unless his question has been answered.

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Decision on Taking Business in Private

Meeting date: 22 November 2022

Edward Mountain

Good morning, and welcome to the 31st meeting in 2022 of the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee.

Agenda item 1 is a decision on whether to take items 4 and 5 in private. Item 4 is consideration of evidence that we will hear today under agenda item 2. Item 5 is consideration of our approach to a committee report on our inquiry into the role of local government in delivering net zero targets. Are we all happy to take those items in private?

Members indicated agreement.