Chamber and committees

Thank you very much, minister.

Before I ask my question, I remind committee members and those who are watching of my entry in the register of members’ interests. I own land and I am a tenant farmer on other land, so the issue affects me. However, my question is not about me, minister.

Churches have contacted me—I guess that you were referring to them. They were concerned about the cost, not about the matter being complex. They were concerned about the number of applications that they need to make, as each church and diocese will be different. Have you considered that and whether there is any way of ensuring that the burden on them is kept to an absolute minimum?

I think that we will leave it there, unless members have any further questions.

We move to agenda item 3, which? is formal consideration of?motion?S6M-07603. I invite the minister to speak to and move the motion.

Motion moved,

That the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee recommends that the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016 (Register of Persons Holding a Controlled Interest in Land) Amendment Regulations 2023 [draft] be approved.—[Màiri McAllan]

There will be a vote by roll call.

For

Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP)
Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP)
Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con)
Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Regan, Ash (Edinburgh Eastern) (SNP)
Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green)

Abstentions

Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab)

I thank the minister and her officials for attending the meeting this morning.

I have a follow-up question on that, if you are finished, Monica.

Are you suggesting that, once a contract is agreed, it is set in stone?

That is interesting. On keeping disruption to a minimum, what would you consider to be the average age of ferries within the fleet of the four companies? Is it 10, 15, 20 or 30 years old?

I was impressed when we went over to Mull. We saw the ferry coming back into Ardrossan. It did a handbrake turn to the right, having gone through a very narrow entrance to the harbour in windy conditions, as the next sailing was about to be cancelled. The skill of the crew was not in doubt, and the captain’s choice to do that and cope with those conditions was in no doubt. That is his domain.

If climate conditions are changing, which you have suggested they are, is it a good idea to build a superstructure that is even higher than the current ferry and more liable to wind-push? Should we not be looking at the design of the ferries to ensure that they can cope with those conditions instead of perhaps making things more difficult? Do you think that the captain would find it easy to get vessel 801 into Ardrossan in those conditions? I do not know. What does Robbie Drummond think?

Okay. I hope that there will be no more cancellations because of the wind if they have the power to beat it, although the wind is getting stronger.

The next questions are from Jackie Dunbar.

Before I come back to the minister, I would like to say that I think that the words of the deputy convener are particularly wise. My concern is that I would not want to vote against the motion because I would like the extension to be given. I support the motion, but I do so on the grounds that you will continue to engage with churches and religious organisations to make sure that the spirit of the act is being applied without it being to the detriment of what they are trying to achieve. We are in difficult times as far as costs are concerned and, in my opinion and from my experience as a land agent, going through this process will involve considerable costs.

I seek an understanding that, if I support the motion, you will continue to engage with churches, and that your door will be open to considering whether what you are asking them to do is the right thing and is in the spirit of what we are all trying to achieve, which is openness and transparency on land ownership—which, for the record, I totally support.

Minister, would you like to say anything?