Chamber and committees

I am sorry, but we are short of time so I am very happy for Ian Storrie, via your office, to send the committee your breakdown of what you consider to be ring-fenced funds. I am not sure, however, that I have had a specific answer from you. Will ring fencing will be important for the Government to be able to achieve the national targets that are being set, minister?

I will push. Mark Ruskell will ask the next question and I may follow up on that. Do you want to ask your question on this subject and I will follow up on that, if I may?

Good morning. Welcome to the 25th meeting in 2022 of the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee. Agenda item 1 is consideration of whether to take items 4, 5 and 6 in private. Item 4 is consideration of a letter to the Scottish Government on the committee’s conclusions on the draft biodiversity strategy. Item 5 is consideration of evidence on the local government inquiry heard today and at previous meetings. Item 6 is consideration of the evidence on the programme for government that we will hear today. Are members happy to take those items in private?

Members indicated agreement.

Thanks, cabinet secretary. I have a couple of quick questions on forestry. I remind the committee that I own part of a family farming partnership, farming barley and cattle, but very few trees.

The Scottish Government set planting targets in 2016 up to the current day and they are increasing. We failed to plant 10,000 hectares in the period 2016 to 2022. In fact, we were nearly 3,000 hectares below the target for 2021-22. Is there not a real need for a new forestry grant scheme to make up the deficit and to make sure that we do not fall further behind the targets, which are increasing year on year from last year, cabinet secretary?

I will leave that there because there are lots of questions, but ring fencing or not ring fencing funds is obviously a knotty problem. The deputy convener has some questions.

Thanks, cabinet secretary. I have a quick question on that. I have declared that I have interests on the Spey. If we look across the Highlands, we have rivers such as the Farrar, which is used for generation. All the burns at the top end of it are drained off into Loch Monar. However, there is no water; those are dried up. The Brora takes water from other rivers. Some 40 per cent of the Spey’s water flow above Aviemore goes to the Tay and down to Lochaber. Those are almost intercatchment transfers of water.

It has been feast or famine this summer. Should SEPA look at catchment transfers of water, and at whether those are denuding the catchments from where the water is taken?

Have you finished, Mark?

You may have one quick follow-up. A quick follow-up with a quick answer is always appreciated, cabinet secretary, so that I can get on to other members’ questions.

I call Liam Kerr.

In fairness, Monica Lennon and I could talk about planning all day, but there are quite niche areas within it. It would be useful to get some feedback on planning and how the welfare of communities is considered as part of net zero and how we reuse buildings rather than just remove them. I think that that is what Monica is driving at. It would be helpful to have some feedback. I am sure, cabinet secretary, that you can get us that.

Although I could, as I say, talk about planning all day, I will move on to Mark Ruskell.