Minutes: 13 June 2023

1. Declaration of interests:

The Convener welcomed Bob Doris, attending as a substitute for Fiona Hyslop, and invited him to declare any relevant interests.

Bob Doris said he had no relevant interests to declare.

2. Decisions on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take items 6 and 7 in private.

The Committee agreed to consider its work programme in private at its next meeting.

The Committee agreed to consider its draft report on 'Scotland's electricity infrastructure: inhibitor or enabler of our energy ambitions?' in private at future meetings.

3. Scotland's Deposit Return Scheme:

The Committee took evidence on Scotland's Deposit Return Scheme and the Deposit and Return Scheme for Scotland Amendment Regulations 2023 [draft] from—

Lorna Slater, Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity, Ailsa Heine, Solicitor, David McPhee, Deputy Director, Deposit Return Scheme and Euan Page, Head of UK Frameworks, Constitution and UK Relations Division, Scottish Government.

4. Subordinate legislation:

Lorna Slater (Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity) moved—S6M-09033—That the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee recommends that the Deposit and Return Scheme for Scotland Amendment Regulations 2023 [draft] be approved.

The motion was agreed to.

The Committee agreed to delegate to the Convener authority to finalise a draft report for publication.

5. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee considered the following negative instrument—

Packaging Waste (Data Reporting) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2023 (SSI 2023/160)

The Committee agreed to make no recommendations in relation to the instrument.

6. Scotland's Deposit Return Scheme (in private):

The Committee considered the evidence it heard earlier under agenda item 3.

The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government to request further information regarding the March 2023 Gateway Review report.

7. Appointments to the Board of the Scottish Land Commission (in private):

The Committee agreed its approach to consideration of future appointments to the Board of the Scottish Land Commission.

The Committee agreed to seek further information from the Scottish Government on its plans for future appointments and to consider this at a future meeting.