Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting Minutes
2nd Meeting, 2024
- Date: Tuesday, January 16, 2024
- Session: 6
- Location: T4.40-CR2 The Fairfax Somerville Room
- Meeting opened at: 09:17
- Meeting closed at: 12:26
- Published: Wednesday, January 17, 2024 11:49am
In Attendance
Prof. Colin Reid (adviser)
1 Declaration of interests:
The Convener welcomed Sarah Boyack, attending as a substitute for Monica Lennon, and invited her to declare any relevant interests.
Sarah Boyack declared that she is a member of a number of organisations, which she said are recorded in her register of interests. Sarah Boyack also indicated that she is a former Minister for Transport.
2 Decision on taking business in private:
The Committee agreed to take item 7 in private.
3 Subordinate legislation:
The Committee took evidence on the Bus Services Improvement Partnerships (Objections) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 [draft] from—
Fiona Hyslop, Minister for Transport, Scottish Government;
Bettina Sizeland, Director of Bus, Accessibility and Active Travel, Transport Scotland.
4 Subordinate legislation:
Fiona Hyslop (Minister for Transport) moved—S6M-11609—That the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee recommends that the Bus Services Improvement Partnerships (Objections) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 [draft] be approved.
The motion was agreed to. The Committee delegated to the Convener responsibility for finalising the draft report for publication.
Douglas Lumsden declared an interest as a former Councillor on Aberdeen City Council.
5 Environmental governance in Scotland:
The Committee took evidence from—
Lloyd Austin, Convener, Governance Group, Scottish Environment LINK;
Dr Shivali Fifield, Chief Officer, Environmental Rights Centre for Scotland;
Professor Sarah Hendry, Dundee Law School, University of Dundee;
Bridget Marshall, Chief Officer, Scottish Environment Protection Agency;
Professor Simon Parsons, Director of Environment, Planning and Assurance, Scottish Water;
Jamie Whittle, Convener, Environmental Law Sub-committee, Law Society of Scotland.
Ben Macpherson declared an interest as a Solicitor on the roll of Scottish Solicitors, and indicated that he is a former practising and non-practising member of the Law Society of Scotland.
6 Subordinate legislation:
The Committee considered the following negative instrument—
The Committee agreed to make no recommendations in relation to the instrument.
7 Environmental governance in Scotland (in private):
The Committee considered the evidence it heard earlier under agenda item 5.