Chamber and committees

Are you making “root and branch” changes? “Root and branch” suggests a massive change.

Jim, I understand why you want to disassociate CMAL from 801 and 802—

Liam Kerr wants to come in.

When we have what I would call an urgent operational requirement to get more ferries serving the islands as soon as possible, we need to shorten the chain of decision making so that who operates the asset controls what the asset is. It has been my experience in life—as I am sure that it has been yours, minister—that, if you tell someone what they are going to use but that is not what they want, that will never be satisfactory or competent to complete the job.

My final question is: are you still open to CMAL being absorbed into CalMac, as the REC Committee suggested, so that there is a seamless process for requirement, design and supervision of the build?

Before they do, I note that, yesterday, I read a figure in the press that suggested that the young persons scheme will cost £300 million. Perhaps you could comment on whether that is ridiculous or reasonable. I have no view.

My slight concern about what you have just said is that those companies that are doing everything correctly are picking up the tab for those people who have defaulted. I am just trying to get my brain around whether that is right. Are you comfortable that it is right that those companies that abide by the scheme and do everything that they should do pick up the can for those that do not?

Under agenda item 2, the committee will consider a draft statutory instrument. I welcome the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport, Michael Matheson. Thank you for joining us today. I also welcome, from the Scottish Government, Aedan MacRae, energy policy officer, and Robert Martin, team leader, electricity security.

The instrument has been laid under the affirmative procedure, which means that the Parliament must approve it? before? it? comes into force. Following this evidence session, the committee will be invited, under the next agenda item, to consider a motion to approve the instrument. I remind everyone that the officials can speak under this agenda item 2, but not under the next agenda item.

I invite the cabinet secretary to make a short opening statement.?

Thinking about what you have just said, I am told that the yard that is building 801 and 802 has questioned whether it was sensible to commission liquefied natural gas vessels. It has been instructed to provide such vessels, because that was the commitment. Was LNG a mistake? Is it a fuel that we should be using in future for our ferries, given that it is difficult to get, comes in a lorry from Kent, I think, and needs special storage? Is it going to be a fuel of the past rather than a fuel of the future?

That was quite spooky, but I am now back on track.

Okay. Mark Ruskell has some follow-up questions on that.