Chamber and committees

Item 4 is consideration of another draft statutory instrument. I welcome Michael Matheson, the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport, to the meeting. I also welcome his officials: Mariana Cover, who is senior policy adviser for carbon markets and the emissions trading system, and Lucy Geoghegan—I hope that I have got the pronunciation right; I practised beforehand to make sure that I did—who is head of carbon pricing and the ETS unit.

The instrument is 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 at the next item to consider a motion to approve the instrument.?I remind everyone that the officials can speak under this item but not in the debate that follows.

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

?

Do you believe that private sector ferry operators will play a role in the future provision of ferry services in Scotland? Obviously, you would not be here if you did not believe that, but could the provision be expanded? What are your views on the future?

I will bring in Gordon Ross and give Helen Inkster a rest, as she answered the previous question first.

Thank you, Jackie. I put on the record the fact that I took part of your question, for which I apologise profusely. I will try to improve at the next meeting.

Thank you, Monica. I hope that our disagreements will be limited and short in duration.

I go back to some of the points on design. This question is to Gordon Ross. When you identify the requirement for a new boat, as you did, what is the process for that? Do you work out what the passenger needs are and then get a simple spec? How does that work in your company? I ask Helen Inkster the same question.

Sorry, minister, can I push slightly on that? Are you thinking that, if there need to be hearings, those will be done locally by councils? I am just thinking about the Highland Council area. The council could, for example, put in an exemption order to cover the whole thing, which covers Wick to Skye to Inverness to Aviemore.

Gordon, you talked about having unrestricted tickets and laying on additional ferries for ambulances. How do you cover that financially? Is that just a beneficial service that you provide?

I am just interested in the fact that you are saying that there are some responsibilities about being part of the community. I welcome your comments on that.

As there are no other questions, we have come to the end of this part of the meeting. I thank both of you for coming and sharing your views and expertise. The committee will continue its look at ferries over the next few months.

I will suspend the meeting briefly to allow the witnesses to leave.

The committee will report on the outcome of the instrument in due course. I invite the committee to delegate authority to me, as convener, to approve the draft of the report for publication. Is that agreed?

Members indicated agreement.

Thank you, cabinet secretary, for attending what has probably been your shortest meeting at a committee for a long time, with as few questions as you could probably hope for.

I have just remembered what Monica Lennon wanted to ask you, so I will defer my question so as not to tread on her toes, until I see whether she has asked it.