The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.
The Official Report search offers lots of different ways to find the information you’re looking for. The search is used as a professional tool by researchers and third-party organisations. It is also used by members of the public who may have less parliamentary awareness. This means it needs to provide the ability to run complex searches, and the ability to browse reports or perform a simple keyword search.
The web version of the Official Report has three different views:
Depending on the kind of search you want to do, one of these views will be the best option. The default view is to show the report for each meeting of Parliament or a committee. For a simple keyword search, the results will be shown by item of business.
When you choose to search by a particular MSP, the results returned will show each spoken contribution in Parliament or a committee, ordered by date with the most recent contributions first. This will usually return a lot of results, but you can refine your search by keyword, date and/or by meeting (committee or Chamber business).
We’ve chosen to display the entirety of each MSP’s contribution in the search results. This is intended to reduce the number of times that users need to click into an actual report to get the information that they’re looking for, but in some cases it can lead to very short contributions (“Yes.”) or very long ones (Ministerial statements, for example.) We’ll keep this under review and get feedback from users on whether this approach best meets their needs.
There are two types of keyword search:
If you select an MSP’s name from the dropdown menu, and add a phrase in quotation marks to the keyword field, then the search will return only examples of when the MSP said those exact words. You can further refine this search by adding a date range or selecting a particular committee or Meeting of the Parliament.
It’s also possible to run basic Boolean searches. For example:
There are two ways of searching by date.
You can either use the Start date and End date options to run a search across a particular date range. For example, you may know that a particular subject was discussed at some point in the last few weeks and choose a date range to reflect that.
Alternatively, you can use one of the pre-defined date ranges under “Select a time period”. These are:
If you search by an individual session, the list of MSPs and committees will automatically update to show only the MSPs and committees which were current during that session. For example, if you select Session 1 you will be show a list of MSPs and committees from Session 1.
If you add a custom date range which crosses more than one session of Parliament, the lists of MSPs and committees will update to show the information that was current at that time.
All Official Reports of meetings in the Debating Chamber of the Scottish Parliament.
All Official Reports of public meetings of committees.
Displaying 5973 contributions
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: 7 February 2023
Edward Mountain
I seem to remember that there was a friends-and-family discount scheme on NorthLink, in which islanders were limited to naming five friends. It slightly concerned me that I would not be classed as a friend on one of the islanders’ lists, but perhaps that is a different thing. I think that that scheme was run, and that it was stopped.
Liam Kerr wants to ask a question specifically on the Corran ferry and he then has a wider question.
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: 7 February 2023
Edward Mountain
I thank all the witnesses for their evidence, which has been really interesting. Questions of reliability, punctuality, cost effectiveness and a connected service with local input have all been at the forefront of everyone’s contributions. It has been very helpful to us, and I thank you for taking part.
I was going to suspend the meeting, but I am conscious of time, so I would be grateful if the witnesses could leave quietly, as we push on with our agenda.
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: 7 February 2023
Edward Mountain
That concludes the public part of our meeting.
12:18 Meeting continued in private until 12:47.Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: 7 February 2023
Edward Mountain
I missed the critical figure that you gave—the one that you did on the back of your bit of paper—for the cost of the fixed link. I think that the feed cut out, or else I just did not hear it. What was the estimated figure for the cost of the fixed link?
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: 7 February 2023
Edward Mountain
Good morning, everyone. Welcome to the fifth meeting in 2023 of the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee. The first item on the agenda is a decision on whether to take items 6 and 7 in private. Item 6 is consideration of the evidence that we will hear today as part of our inquiry into a modern and sustainable ferry service for Scotland. Item 7 is consideration of our work programme. Do members agree to take those items in private?
Members indicated agreement.
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: 7 February 2023
Edward Mountain
There is a huge amount of supposition about SEPA generating funds to fund the organisation. What you have said is that SEPA has to do that because it is the one that needs to do it, but what I have said to you is that it does not have the resources and the capability to do its current job. You can say one thing, but the fact of the matter is another. Can you clarify that for me, please?
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: 7 February 2023
Edward Mountain
Okay. That is helpful. Thank you.
We will move to agenda item 3, which is the formal consideration of motion S6M-07583, calling for the committee to recommend approval of the Environmental Regulation (Enforcement Measures) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2023.
I invite the minister to move the motion.
Motion moved,
That the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee recommends that the Environmental Regulation (Enforcement Measures) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2023 be approved.—[Lorna Slater]
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: 7 February 2023
Edward Mountain
We are not agreed. There will be a division.
For
Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP)
Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP)
Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Regan, Ash (Edinburgh Eastern) (SNP)
Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green)
Against
Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con)
Abstentions
Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Motion agreed to.
That the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee recommends that the Environmental Regulation (Enforcement Measures) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2023 be approved.
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: 7 February 2023
Edward Mountain
Thank you very much, Moraig. “Regular” and “reliable” are words that we like to hear.
We have managed to re-establish the connection with David Hibbert. Dangerous Shetland got in first on the fact that it needs the ability to have more people come to Shetland. I will ask the question that sparked that. Are you happy with the NorthLink service to Orkney, and is it doing all that your island communities need?
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: 7 February 2023
Edward Mountain
Thank you. I am sorry to have come in on that, Jackie. It is back to you for your questions.