Chamber and committees

The draft energy strategy and just transition plan provides a route map of actions that are central to meeting our climate change targets, and the north-east communities will play a significant part in delivery of the plan. Will the cabinet secretary outline how the Scottish Government will ensure that a balance is struck between the need to deliver a just transition and the need to ensure that communities are not only consulted but empowered to make a valid and positive contribution to local delivery and outcomes?

That was a very comprehensive response, and you covered a lot in it. Following on from that, I refer to the written submission that we received from Claire Wilson, who is the chief social worker at Aberdeen City Council. In answer to a question about whether it would be better to address issues in the system before introducing a new level of management through a care service model, she said:

“What would be beneficial is to pause the Bill in terms of justice to enable a review of the current system, co-design a new one and then a careful transition over to the NCS once the social care part is set up and arrangements in place.”

Bearing in mind that we have the Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Bill coming down the track, as you have alluded to, and the potential increase in workload that that will bring to justice social work, I am interested in your thoughts about the suggestion that Ms Wilson made in her written submission.

Thank you, minister. We move to members’ questions.

The next agenda item is to return to our consideration of the issue of legislative consent for the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill following the evidence that we took from the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans. I refer members to paper 3. Members will see that the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service has also provided us with its correspondence with the Northern Ireland Office.

I will open up the discussion to members. We will then consider what recommendation we want to make to the Parliament on legislative consent.

The issue will now be sent to the chamber for all members to decide, based on our report.

That completes our final business for the year.

I take this opportunity to wish all members, our clerks and other staff all the very best for the festive season. I hope that you all have a happy and peaceful Christmas and new year.

I also thank all the witnesses who have given formal and informal evidence to the committee this year. It is greatly appreciated.

I now move the meeting into private.

We will compile a report and present it to Parliament.

Thank you. I bring in Fulton MacGregor, to be followed by Russell Findlay.

Was that a question or a comment?

I will bring in Pauline McNeill, followed by Collette Stevenson. I remind members that we are coming up to five minutes to the hour. I am happy to extend the session to around 10 past 11, but we have four members to come in, so I ask for questions and answers to be fairly succinct.

That is fine. Your points were all relevant.

We have 20 to 25 minutes left. I will bring in Russell Findlay to be followed by Jamie Greene.