Chamber and committees

Are members happy with that?

Members indicated agreement.

Good morning, and welcome to the 25th meeting in 2022 of the Criminal Justice Committee. There are no apologies.

Our first item of business is a decision on whether to take item 3 in private. Do members agree to take item 3 in private?

Members indicated agreement.

That is a good point. In the letter that we received from the minister, there was reference to information on the offence being included in the Scottish Government’s annual fireworks campaign. I do not know what the starting date for that is, but we could perhaps go back to the Government for clarification.

The second letter is from the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans and is on charging fees for access to court transcripts. Again, I will open up to members for any comments.

I do not disagree with that point. However, I come back to the letter that the minister sent the committee. One section in it relates to information on the proxy purchase and supply offence

“being included in the Government’s annual fireworks campaigns.”

Further on in the letter, the minister refers to the fact that her officials are

“developing a bespoke programme of communications with partners, in addition to the annual fireworks season campaigns, to support commencement of the proxy purchase and supply offence and emergency workers aggravation and publicise these coming into force.”

Nonetheless, the point that has been raised is fair. As I said, I am happy for us to go back to the minister and her officials to raise the particular issue of timescales, given that we are discussing it on 5 October and the date that has been set out for the new offence coming into force is in five days’ time. If members are in agreement with that, we will write back to the minister.

Members indicated agreement.

I noticed that Tess White asked a question today on the growing challenge of policing mental health and challenged the Scottish Government to do more. Does the member agree that housing security is a key wellbeing indicator and that the Tories’ opposition to the provisions in the bill that seek to provide such housing security is hypocritical?

To ask the Scottish Government how the national planning framework 4 will be equipped to attract investment to north-east Scotland. (S6O-01389)

Research by Scottish Renewables shows that the average planning decision for renewable energy projects can take around 772 days from submission, which is not compatible with meeting net zero by 2045. Renewable energy is key to tackling the climate emergency, securing Scotland’s energy supply and dealing with the cost of living crisis. Will the minister outline how all that will be delivered, given the timescales that I have referred to?

The retail sector is facing substantial pressures as a result of the cost of living, not to mention Brexit. Can the minister provide any further information on the Scottish Government’s latest engagement with the sector regarding meeting current challenges and building resilience for the future?

As the minister knows, the renewables opportunities in the north-east will require a workforce with a wide spectrum of skills and qualifications, including science, technology, engineering and mathematics—or STEM—skills, and I welcome the forthcoming review’s focus on sectoral and regional skills planning. Historically, however, girls and women have been underrepresented in STEM courses and careers, so what consideration will the review give to the issue and to ensuring that the STEM and energy sectors are diverse and prosperous?