Seòmar agus comataidhean

Mark, because the cabinet secretary nodded and that cannot be put in the Official Report, will you ask her how much you were actually asking for, or what you were asking for, and which she was agreeing to?

I ask Mark Ruskell to speak to amendment 19 and other amendments in the group.

It looks as though that will be discussed later, Mr Harvie.

I invite Mark Ruskell to speak to amendment 18 and other amendments in the group.

The question is, that amendment 51 be agreed. Are we agreed?

Members: No.

That ends stage 2 consideration of the bill.

The stage 3 debate will be held next week, and amendments for stage 3 must be lodged by Friday 1 November at noon.

I thank all the committee members for taking on the exceptional extra work required to get us to where we are today at fairly short notice, on a short-notice bill. I also thank those who gave evidence to the committee to help us with our deliberation and those members of the Parliament who engaged and submitted amendments at stage 2.

Next week, we will continue to take evidence on the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill. We have outside visits this Thursday night and Friday night as part of that work.

That concludes our meeting.

The question is, that amendment 27 be agreed to. Are we agreed?

Members: No.

We are in the position that Mark Ruskell seeks to withdraw amendment 62.

Amendment 62, by agreement, withdrawn.

Section 3—Next climate change plan to follow setting of budgets

As you are finished, cabinet secretary, I ask Mark Ruskell to wind up and to press or withdraw amendment 62.

When Mr Harvie was a minister, one of his policies was that local housing would reach energy performance certificate band C standard by 2032. That would be built into the heat in buildings strategy, which would have implications on the budget that was given to councils. Highland Council has indicated that the cost of that would be £360 million, which is quite a big proportion of its annual budget—roughly half. When carbon budgets and policies are set, how can the Parliament follow that money to see whether it is being made available to local government, and how will local government have confidence in that? Surely the amendment goes some way to follow that through, but perhaps I have got the wrong end of what Mr Harvie is trying to achieve.

Sorry, cabinet secretary, are you looking at me because you have answered my question and have now finished?