Chamber and committees

Item 3 is an evidence session that forms part of our scrutiny of the outcomes of the 15th UN biodiversity conference of the parties, otherwise known as COP15. Members have received papers on the subject.

Last week, the committee heard from a panel of experts in biodiversity policy. This week we will hear from the Scottish Government on its views on the outcomes of COP15 and about how the targets that were agreed at the summit will be embedded in the new Scottish biodiversity strategy.

I welcome Lorna Slater, the Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity. Thank you for attending today. I also welcome Matthew Bird, who is biodiversity team leader, and Lisa McCann, who is head of biodiversity, from the Scottish Government. I believe that you wish to make a brief opening statement, minister.

Jackie, back to you.

I am happy to meet with you to discuss that, minister, if you wish.

Minister, I understand your reticence about committing to doing that, but I believe that it would be helpful for the committee to receive correspondence from you that clarifies what you can share.

The issue has not been discussed.

I will push the issue a little bit more. We have seen large tracts of Scotland change hands, at very high prices, to allow firms to attach their carbon output to that land by getting a carbon credit. That has caused some concern. Does it cause you concern, minister?

Just for the record, I am surprised and concerned that the Government does not have a policy on carbon credits and its land, or on whether that should be the right way of generating capital. I am not expressing a view on that either way; I am just concerned that there is not a policy on that.

I think that Mercedes Villalba wishes to ask a question.

A lot of members would like to ask supplementary questions. I will bring in Liam Kerr first.

Liam Kerr has a supplementary question, and I will ask a quick question at the end.