Chamber and committees

As there are no more questions, we move on to agenda item 3, which is formal consideration of the motion calling for the committee to recommend approval of the regulations. I invite the cabinet secretary to speak to and move the motion.

Monica, I think that we have pushed that as far as we can. The cabinet secretary has given the answer that he is prepared to give, so I will move on to the next question.

What engagement has the Scottish Government had in REMA, which is the snappy title for the review of electricity market arrangements?

Thank you, Monica Lennon. Nice try on that one. The next question is from Fiona Hyslop, followed by Mark Ruskell.

Just for clarity, I note that I worked on the Beauly to Denny line and I never heard the need to use concrete being given as a reason for not undergrounding it. The only reason that I heard for not undergrounding it was the cost to the constructor. Anyway, we will move on. The next set of questions will be from Monica Lennon.

At present, we have one 400kV line running from Beauly to Denny. Are we going to need three more in five years’ time? Who knows? No one seems to know what is coming down the track. Clarity about that would be helpful.

Thank you. The question is, that motion S6M-08482, in the name of Màiri McAllan, be agreed to.

Motion agreed to,

That the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee recommends that the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 (Interim Target) Amendment Regulations 2023 [draft] be approved.

Thank you very much, cabinet secretary. We move to questions from the committee.

Good morning, and welcome to the 16th meeting in 2023 of the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee. Under our first agenda item, we will decide whether to take items 5 and 6 in private. Item 5 is consideration of the evidence that we will hear under item 4, and item 6 is consideration of a draft report on the Scottish Government’s air quality improvement plan. Do we agree to take those items in private?

Members indicated agreement.

I will leave it to you to inform the cabinet secretary’s office and, if you think that it is relevant as a committee issue, to keep the committee informed. If it is more relevant as a constituency issue, you can do that—the balance is for you to decide.

Before we leave hydro, I have a question for the cabinet secretary. There are some great examples of water being used more than once to generate electricity. The Tummel scheme, where water goes through five dams to generate electricity, is a good example. A bad example might be the water going down to Lochaber, which goes through one generation scheme but comes from three different catchments, including the one that I live in, which is the Spey catchment. How will the Scottish Government encourage a more holistic approach and more use of water that is being stored to generate as much electricity as possible?

I look forward to the opportunity to discuss whether it is income or capital for Crown Estate and whether the money should remain within the Crown Estate or come into the Scottish purse, which is a conversation that I had with your predecessor.