Minutes: 07 November 2023

1. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take items 6, 7 and 8 in private.

2. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee took evidence on the Heat Networks (Supply Targets) (Scotland) Regulations 2023 [draft] from—

Patrick Harvie, Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants’ Rights, James Hemphill, Head of Heat Networks Policy Unit and Suzanne Le Miere, Head of Heat Networks Policy Team, Scottish Government.

3. Subordinate legislation:

Patrick Harvie (Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants' Rights) moved—S6M-10778—That the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee recommends that the Heat Networks (Supply Targets) (Scotland) Regulations 2023 [draft] be approved.

The motion was agreed to (by division: For 5, Against 0, Abstentions 2).

4. Water industry in Scotland:

The Committee took evidence from—

Emma Ash, Water Policy Manager and Fraser Stewart, Research Manager, Consumer Scotland;

Alan Sutherland, Chief Executive, Water Industry Commission for Scotland.

5. Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill:

The Committee took evidence on the Bill at Stage 1 from—

Tracey Reilly, Head of Policy and Markets and Fraser Stewart, Research Manager, Consumer Scotland.

6. Water industry in Scotland (in private):

The Committee considered the evidence it heard earlier under agenda item 4.

The Committee agreed to write to Environmental Standards Scotland about the monitoring of sewage pollution.

7. Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill (in private):

The Committee considered the evidence it heard earlier under agenda item 5.

8. Pre-budget scrutiny 2024-25 (in private):

The Committee considered a draft letter to the Scottish Government.

Various amendments were agreed to, and the Committee delegated to the Convener responsibility for finalising the draft letter for publication.