Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
33rd Meeting, 2024
Kevin Stewart was invited to declare any relevant interests. Kevin Stewart indicated that he had no interests to declare.
The Committee agreed to take items 7 and 8 in private.
The Committee took evidence on the Scotland Act 1998 (Transfer of Functions to the Scottish Ministers etc.) Order 2025 from—
Kate Forbes, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic, Michael McLeod, Head of Marine Nature Enhancement Programme and Joint Environmental Accelerator Programme and Stewart Cunningham, Lawyer, Scottish Government.
Kate Forbes MSP (Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic) moved—S6M-15261—That the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee recommends that the Scotland Act 1998 (Transfer of Functions to the Scottish Ministers etc.) Order 2025 be approved.
The motion was agreed to.
The Committee considered the following negative instruments—
Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (West Dunbartonshire Council) Designation Order 2024
Parking Attendants (Wearing of Uniforms) (West Dunbartonshire Council) Regulations 2024
The Committee agreed to make no recommendations in relation to the instruments.
The Committee took evidence from—
Dr Lucy Beattie, Scottish Land Commissioner nominee;
Dr Calum MacLeod, Scottish Land Commissioner nominee;
Robert Black, Tenant Farming Commissioner nominee.
Edward Mountain declared he is a Partner in Delfur Farms Farming Partnership, of Moray and has an old style tenancy for some land and a non-agricultural tenancy for other land. He also indicated that he has been a surveyor for 12 years working in agricultural land letting.
The Committee considered the evidence heard earlier in the meeting.
The Committee agreed to recommend that the Scottish Parliament approve the three candidates.
The proposal was agreed to by division: For 6 (Bob Doris, Monica Lennon, Michael Matheson, Edward Mountain, Mark Ruskell, Kevin Stewart), Against 0, Abstentions 1 (Douglas Lumsden).
The Committee considered its work programme.
The Committee agreed witnesses for future evidence sessions on the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill at Stage 1. In relation to this discussion, Edward Mountain indicated that he used to work for Bidwells.
The Committee agreed to take evidence on the 2025-26 draft budget and to consider more detailed proposals for scrutiny following publication of the draft 2025-26 budget.
The Committee agreed to a series of internal briefings on the sectors within the Climate Change Plan and associated research on those areas.
The Committee agreed to publish a letter received from the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy on a proposal to reappoint board members to Environmental Standards Scotland.
The Committee agreed to take evidence on sewage pollution and to consider more detailed proposals at a future meeting.
The Committee also agreed to consider a further draft work programme at a future meeting.