Chamber and committees

Good morning. My second question follows on from your response to Jenni Minto and your remarks about ensuring that there is not a one-size-fits-all approach and recognising that some local authorities have progressed more than others with food-related policies, but my first question is on resources. How will the Government ensure that all local authorities will be able to achieve what the bill will require them to do, given the variations that exist at the moment?

Yes.

I am interested in the right to food. I have a couple of questions that I will roll into one. I would like to hear the panel’s views on whether the right to food should be incorporated through the bill. If you feel it should be, how could that be achieved? Secondly, if there was a statutory right to food, what implications would that have for the work of public authorities and their good food nation plans?

I will ask about aquaculture planning. We know that the Griggs report is coming out shortly. What assessment has been given for planning authorities’ needs for additional skills and training when considering aquaculture planning applications and how can the national shortage of planners be addressed?

My question was also about the contribution to the just transition and net zero.

I will change the subject slightly and ask about fuel poverty. I agree with the points that have been made about not considering rural, remote and island areas as one homogenous entity, but I will now do just that. Fuel poverty and extreme fuel poverty are disproportionately impacting rural, remote and island communities. Should NPF4 give more prominence to fuel poverty in those areas to show the Government’s commitment to taking the issue seriously? Should it be a national development?

The framework confirms that the islands will be at the forefront of efforts to reach net zero, but RSPB Scotland has voiced concerns about opening up island areas for large-scale development as part of the islands net zero hub. I challenge those concerns by saying that the Sullom Voe terminal has been in operation for nearly 50 years, and the Shetland Oil Terminal Environmental Advisory Group was set up to look after the interests of the environment around the terminal and the port, so it seems that environmentally responsible industrial activity has been possible.

My question is about the contradiction relating to having the islands at the centre of the work towards net zero. Those ambitious plans will obviously feed into the rest of Scotland. What is the Government’s view on that, in relation to the framework?

Transport is a big factor in relation to Shetland’s carbon emissions from interisland ferries, for example. How does this all link together with transport?

The Scottish statutory instrument states that grants and loans can be given in relation to Scotland or the Scottish zone. As the cabinet secretary knows, I have raised with her on several occasions concerns about the practice of non-UK gillnet fishing around Shetland. Does the SSI leave open the possibility that any boat operating in Scottish waters or the Scottish zone would be eligible for financial assistance?

The bill provides for public authorities to be designated as specified public authorities that would be required to produce the good food nation plans. Beyond local authorities and health boards, which public bodies should be given that designation?

The framework puts the islands at the forefront, but, on the other hand, there are concerns about having the islands at the forefront of the hydrogen energy hub.