Chamber and committees

Where I agree with you for sure is the need to develop the marketplace. If you do that, business will innovate to supply it. For me, that is where we are behind.

In the short time that I have, I want to ask Gordon McGuinness about the long-term strategy and planning for workforce delivery. Indeed, I asked this question earlier. I think that one of the major untapped workforces is women coming into STEM. We have been talking for ever about that and that huge potential, but I am not sure that I quite got an answer to that particular question.

There are a couple of issues to highlight. How do we move that dial, given that we require that workforce? I am also interested in the need to invest in education. The suggestion that I heard in that respect was about opening colleges at night, which would be a great innovation, but will cost money. Do you agree with me that, to deliver on our targets, we need to invest more in that part of the education system to allow that transition to happen?

Those are just some easy questions for you.

I turn to Jim Grant. From a council perspective, does the planning system frustrate you?

Yes, convener. I will be brief, given the time. I wanted to have a wee look at the relationship between the policies of the UK Government and those of the Scottish Government. You might be aware that they disagree on the odd occasion. Does the UK Government policy provide enough clarity and certainty on the transition to net zero? I put that to Stuart Bews first.

I will leave it there, convener.

If we add in all the layers of government, is there enough policy coherence between them to allow you to develop a strategic plan? Stop hiding, Stuart. [Laughter.]

I would like to build on that with Alasdair Ross. I will play devil’s advocate. You would suggest that many communities would say, “Yes, we think that it’s really important for the transition that we have onshore wind and solar, but we don’t want it over here.” How do we cross that boundary and bring communities with us to make sure that they are properly recompensed for any development that takes place around them?

If you agree with that, Jim, what would be your asks for each Government?

Good afternoon. I appreciate your being here.

I am interested in how planning has come up in discussions this morning. It was mentioned that communities feel removed from decision making and are actually disengaging. The words “onshore wind” and “solar” came up.

Do you consider that the current planning regulations are fit for purpose, especially when it comes to spatial planning and the presumption in favour of planning permission? I am a South Scotland MSP, and my mailbag is full of letters from people saying, “We said no, but the Scottish Government said yes, so why did you bother asking us?” Alison Stuart, is that part of the problem?

I will leave it there, convener.

You raised the issue, as did Alan McIntosh, that the bill will affect a very small number of people. You made the point that some people have capacity issues that are outwith the confines of the bill and you also talked about resourcing. My concern about the way that the bill is drafted is that the whole point of the bill is to help people who are in real need, but we must also ensure that we do not run out of resources. Where are we with that?