Chamber and committees

I have no further questions at this stage.

I am very grateful for that response.

We have not looked at heat in buildings at all this morning, although the committee has rehearsed it a lot. One question arises from that. Currently, owner occupiers and those not in fuel poverty are expected to be proactive in seeking decarbonisation information, advice and support, which, given the current cost of living challenges, might not be at the forefront of their minds. What can the Scottish Government do to ensure that consistent energy efficiency guidance and advice is given to all, whether by the Scottish Government or at the local authority level?

I want to ask a few questions about fisheries and marine issues. Fishing industry representatives such as the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation have expressed concern about spatial squeeze in Scotland’s waters due to expanding marine renewables and conservation measures. The current national marine plan has not been updated since 2015. Although the programme for government says that a new one will be developed, we do not yet know what its status is. Given the climate emergency, new developments such ScotWind and general competition for marine space, when will the plan be updated?

I am grateful for that. Gail Macgregor, do you have any thoughts?

Further to Gail Macgregor’s comments, I want Silke Isbrand to comment on this issue because of something that she said earlier. COSLA has argued in favour of

“fewer, but larger and more flexible funding streams”

to support place-based net zero initiatives. What precisely does COSLA mean by that in practice? What aspects need to change? Is it ring fencing? Is it the non-domestic rate setting? Does there need to be more freedom on council tax? What is it?

Good morning, panel. My question is for Louise Marix Evans in the first instance, and then I will put it to Andrew Burns.

Louise, it is clear from your submission and from what we have heard from the panel that local authorities are working in a difficult financial environment due to what you call “short term funding settlements”, which you suggest lead to financial teams not focusing on the “whole life costs” of a project. How well are local authorities linking their strategic carbon reduction plans and delivery route maps to their budget setting, and what more could they do to align projects and investments to their net zero ambitions?

Is there anything that local authorities can do about it, given the funding constraints?

I would be very grateful if you could do that.

I would be grateful if you could do that.