Chamber and committees

Forgive me, minister, but the type 1 notification says that there has been no formal consultation.

I think that I understand what you are saying. You are saying that the opportunity is there, but the actual engagement and consultation have not, in fact, been carried out, as has been notified to the committee through the type 1 notification. Is that correct?

I am grateful.

Good morning, panel. The cabinet secretary talked about resources to councils and Ben Macpherson talked about ring fencing. We heard from COSLA last week that 70 per cent, I think, of funding that goes to local authorities is ring fenced. It suggested to the committee that

“fewer, but larger and more flexible funding streams”

would better facilitate the just transition to net zero. On that specific point, first, is there a way in which the Scottish Government can provide more flexibility within the current funding arrangements? Secondly, is it your view that fewer but more flexible and larger funding streams would be a better mechanism? In any event, do you foresee any risks of fewer but more flexible arrangements?

I will be very brief. The three new ScotWind developments in Shetland that were announced last month will reportedly raise £56 million in option fees. As you will know, ScotWind money is key to just transition and the skills transfer that you have mentioned, but in the public sector pay and emergency budget review, the Deputy First Minister specifically said that he would take £56 million generated by ScotWind to plug holes in budgets elsewhere. What impact do you envisage taking that £56 million will have on just transition and developing the pathway and skills that you have just talked to the deputy convener about?

I am grateful. Cabinet secretary, you mentioned highly protected marine areas in your answer. Last year’s programme for government said that it would establish

“a world-leading suite of Highly Protected Marine Areas”,

which would eventually cover 10 per cent of Scotland’s seas. I believe that, to date, none has been established. Why is that, and what progress can we expect imminently?

I will be very brief.

In your opening remarks, cabinet secretary, you said that the hydrogen plan was coming out in the next couple of months. Can you be any more precise than that?

Thank you.

I am grateful. The Scottish Government is making decisions on management of Scotland’s fisheries, but it has yet to provide a response to the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee inquiry’s report from December 2020 on exactly that issue. Cabinet secretary, why has that response not been published when Scotland’s fishing industry needs confidence that livelihoods are being managed? When will it be published?

I am grateful. I have no further questions.

Jackie Dunbar asked a question on flooding. I expect that you will have seen The Courier yesterday. It has a good report on coastal erosion and flooding. For years, I have raised that issue. I have also raised the issue of the impact of the policy of managed retreat, especially around Montrose, and some possible solutions that the local community proposes, such as having a sand engine.

Cabinet secretary, you talked about taking a holistic approach in your response to Jackie Dunbar. Is the intention to create a one-size-fits-all approach towards coastal erosion, or can we expect a bespoke approach to be taken for places that need urgent attention such as Montrose?