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Official Report: search what was said in Parliament

The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.  

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Dates of parliamentary sessions
  1. Session 1: 12 May 1999 to 31 March 2003
  2. Session 2: 7 May 2003 to 2 April 2007
  3. Session 3: 9 May 2007 to 22 March 2011
  4. Session 4: 11 May 2011 to 23 March 2016
  5. Session 5: 12 May 2016 to 5 May 2021
  6. Current session: 12 May 2021 to 7 August 2025
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Displaying 1524 contributions

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Economy and Fair Work Committee

Budget Scrutiny 2022-23

Meeting date: 19 January 2022

Fiona Hyslop

It is okay, as I would like to move on. If you are thinking about figures of £25 million for resource and £24 million for capital for phase 2, that is almost equivalent to the whole of the tourism budget. It is not an insubstantial amount to be missing from the budget, although I think that people will take comfort from the comments that you made, especially those on the tourism sector.

If we look at the budget before us, we can see that the resource budget for VisitScotland is flatlined. The capital expenditure has reduced, but we know that, by and large, VisitScotland’s refurbishments have been completed. Can you give an assurance that the rural tourism infrastructure fund—in which, as you know, I have a keen interest—will not be reduced as a result of the capital reduction?

That leaves the “Tourism special projects” line as the line in the tourism budget that will experience a major reduction. That relates to recovery, as you have explained. Can you provide reassurance on the capital for impact for communities and reassure us that the rural tourism infrastructure fund will be protected? Can you also comment on the fact that phase 2 of the tourism recovery plan might double the tourism budget as it is currently set out in the budget if and when you can get the resources for it?

Economy and Fair Work Committee

Subsidy Control Bill

Meeting date: 19 January 2022

Fiona Hyslop

Good morning, minister. I want to cover agriculture. In its submission on the Subsidy Control Bill, NFU Scotland has said:

“It is critical that devolved governments can continue to develop agricultural policies that suit the unique domestic needs and policy ambitions that are essential for rural businesses and the communities and the economies they underpin. The inclusion of agriculture in the Subsidy Control Bill could severely constrain this.

Safeguards are already in place to secure the integrity of the UK internal market through existing international commitments (WTO Agreement on Agriculture) and the UK controls”.

It also says:

“Agricultural policy is devolved and must not be re-nationalised via the back door by UK-wide subsidy control measures.”

Given that even the agricultural leadership of NFU Scotland is saying that, in terms of your discussions, why is the UK Government including agriculture when it is not normally put together with other subsidies and subsidy control measures? Why is that happening?

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Role of Local Government in Delivering Net Zero

Meeting date: 18 January 2022

Fiona Hyslop

Thank you for joining us. I am interested in the positives and what community organisations want to do in the net zero space. If there are no local authority funding streams as yet, what support can local authorities give? I am particularly interested in heat in buildings. Does the power of local organisations to influence and deliver on that offer great possibility? As has been mentioned, volunteers are the backbone of community organisations. If central funding is given mostly for capital or projects, will people capacity be an issue? If councils are interested only in what they finance—or, to be brutal, in the short term, as we have heard—what is needed for the people resource to help communities to do their projects?

I would like to hear from all three witnesses on that, if possible. After that, I will be happy to hand back to the convener.

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Meeting date: 18 January 2022

Fiona Hyslop

Thank you. That was a detailed question. I am interested in the context. Can the minister briefly expand on why nitrogen is so important, including perhaps in relation to greenhouse gas emissions generally? I am conscious of time, so a brief answer would be helpful.

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Role of Local Government in Delivering Net Zero

Meeting date: 18 January 2022

Fiona Hyslop

What challenges are there in that regard, and what would better enable that work to happen?

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Role of Local Government in Delivering Net Zero

Meeting date: 18 January 2022

Fiona Hyslop

You have been very direct. That is helpful.

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Role of Local Government in Delivering Net Zero

Meeting date: 18 January 2022

Fiona Hyslop

I want to talk about conservation designations and to ask the panel about the challenges for buildings, particularly in terms of potential restrictions on glazing and insulation options.

I know that Historic Environment Scotland has been active on innovation through work with the City of Edinburgh Council. Can a balance be struck for historic urban environments, with celebration and preservation of them while future-proofing them against climate change? We know that there has been a successful conservation area regeneration scheme across Scotland. Is there anything like a conservation area climate change scheme that would enable us to tackle conservation areas in particular?

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Role of Local Government in Delivering Net Zero

Meeting date: 18 January 2022

Fiona Hyslop

Does anybody else want to comment? I know from my experience as a minister that there is work going on in that area. I suppose that we need to find out from local authorities why the work has not been rolled out as much as it could have been.

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Role of Local Government in Delivering Net Zero

Meeting date: 18 January 2022

Fiona Hyslop

Thank you. Partnership is a theme of the inquiry.

I move on to water and the challenges of working together. You talk in your route map about innovative partnerships with local authorities and public sector agencies. I am particularly interested in your work with Scottish Water. There has been some good work done on flood prevention between local authorities, Scottish Water and Scottish Canals. From the perspective of Scottish Canals, more could be done with West Lothian Council and the City of Edinburgh Council on preventative work. Could you comment on opportunities in that respect?

We are limited by time, so could you also address issues around rivers and Scotland’s waterways? We know from the Environmental Audit Committee in England about concerns about levels of pollution. Scottish Water’s net zero emissions route map might be helpful in that respect. It would be interesting to hear your views on partnership working, particularly in relation to water.

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Role of Local Government in Delivering Net Zero

Meeting date: 18 January 2022

Fiona Hyslop

That is very interesting. Does anyone else want to come in on water before I hand back to the convener?