Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting Minutes
28th Meeting, 2023
- Date: Tuesday, October 3, 2023
- Session: 6
- Location: T4.40-CR2 The Fairfax Somerville Room
- Meeting opened at: 09:19
- Meeting closed at: 12:47
- Published: Wednesday, October 4, 2023 12:25pm
In Attendance
Prof. Colin Reid (adviser)
1 Decision on taking business in private:
The Committee agreed to take items 8 and 9 in private.
2 Subordinate legislation:
The Committee took evidence on the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 Amendment Regulations 2023 [draft] from—
Fiona Hyslop, Minister for Transport and Kevin Gibson, Solicitor, Scottish Government.
3 Subordinate legislation:
Fiona Hyslop (Minister for Transport) moved—S6M-10469—That the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee recommends that the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 Amendment Regulations 2023 [draft] be approved.
The motion was agreed to. The Committee delegated to the Convener responsibility for finalising the draft report for publication.
4 Environmental regulation:
The Committee took evidence on NatureScot and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency's annual reports and accounts and current priorities from—
Nick Halfhide, Director of Nature and Climate Change, NatureScot;
David Harley, Chief Officer, Circular Economy, Scottish Environment Protection Agency.
Edward Mountain declared an interest as a Partner in Delfur Farms Farming Partnership, of Moray, adding that the business is in regular interaction with NatureScot and SEPA, and that SEPA is a tenant of a small part of the farm where they have a gauging station and a monitoring station to monitor water quality.
5 Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill:
The Committee took evidence on the Bill at Stage 1 from—
Iain Gulland, Chief Executive Officer, Zero Waste Scotland;
Nick Halfhide, Director of Nature and Climate Change, NatureScot;
David Harley, Chief Officer, Circular Economy, Scottish Environment Protection Agency.
Jackie Dunbar declared an interest as a former Councillor on Aberdeen City Council.
6 UK subordinate legislation:
The Committee considered a proposal by the Scottish Government to consent to the UK Government legislating using the powers under the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2023 in relation to The Persistent Organic Pollutants (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2023 (UK statutory instrument proposals).
The Committee agreed that the provision set out in the notification should be included in the UK statutory instrument. The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government regarding its decision.
The Committee considered a proposal by the Scottish Government to consent to the UK Government legislating using the powers under the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 in relation to The Public Service Obligations in Transport Regulations 2023 (UK statutory instrument proposals).
The Committee agreed that the provision set out in the notification should be included in the UK statutory instrument. The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government regarding its decision.
7 Subordinate legislation:
The Committee considered the following negative instruments—
Parking Attendants (Wearing of Uniforms) (North Ayrshire Council) Regulations 2023 (2023/248)
The Committee agreed to make no recommendations in relation to the instruments.
8 Environmental regulation (in private):
The consideration of evidence for this item was deferred to a future meeting.
9 Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill (in private):
The committee discussed the evidence taken on the Bill and agreed to defer further consideration of evidence taken at the meeting to a future meeting.