Chamber and committees

Ms Laing has said that it is an area of discussion. The Government recognises the issue and is still thinking through the solution.

Fiona Hyslop has a question.

You said that the recommendations from the first report have been accepted. Has information been published on how much progress has been made on delivering those recommendations?

Thank you. Do you have time to take an additional question from Jamie Halcro Johnston?

Good morning, and welcome to the 29th meeting in 2022 of the Economy and Fair Work Committee. I have received apologies from Colin Smyth.

Our first item of business is a decision on whether to take item 3 in private. Are members content to do so?

Members indicated agreement.

I think you said that the energy plan is due soon. That plan has been delayed. It may not be your responsibility to answer on this, but there have been concerns that, so far, plans have been quite high-level and strategic when we need to see more detailed delivery plans. Do you know when the energy plan is due and the extent to which it will deal with delivery?

You talked about publishing plans in the spring that will go through a co-production phase. How long do you anticipate that phase lasting? The committee is looking at a 2045 target date. We understand the importance of strategies and plans, but we need to see action plans that will lead to delivery and create significant progress. What is the energy plan likely to look like and, once we get to next spring, how long will the co-design phase take before we can see delivery on the ground?

Before I bring in Michelle Thomson with questions on finance, I will go back to Fiona Hyslop’s question about your role in the Government. As part of the conversations that you have with other cabinet secretaries and ministers, do you set expectations with regard to where you expect to see progress or do you have an idea of areas that should be prioritised? Is it your role to set some of those parameters and to encourage that kind of activity?

In terms of finance, we have Scottish Enterprise, which is our main enterprise agency, and the Scottish National Investment Bank, which was set up with a focus on renewables. Can you say a bit about what those agencies are doing in terms of drawing in finance to Scotland? Has there been a re-profiling of priorities? To what extent is the issue a priority for Scottish Enterprise?

It is helpful that the commission will give advice. Do you also anticipate it having a scrutiny role?

Minister, we had indicated that it would be an 11 o’clock finish. Are you happy to stay and answer a couple of other questions?

I have a final question, which you might feel has already been covered. In relation to the ScotWind auction, considerable pledges have been made to the Scottish supply chain. We recently heard from the engineering sector, and everybody described a situation in which the order books are full but there are challenges in delivering on the orders. We have discussed skills and people, but do you want to say anything additional about making sure that the pipeline of work is clear for people and that they have the capacity to deliver?