Seòmar agus comataidhean

Thank you, convener. I understand why Paul White has lodged the petition. It is a matter of frustration to him and to many constituents that wildfires continue to be a problem. The issue was probably highlighted more than it has been by anything else by the wildfire at Dava, which burned thousands of acres. However, the petition comes on the back of other fires, on the Isle of Arran and in Glen Finglas, where wildfires have happened because of the use of disposable barbecues. I accept the Scottish Government’s comments about the 2020 act. I also accept SPICe’s comments about the Environmental Protection Act 1990, which might provide some scope for a ban to happen That is not something that the petitioner would reasonably expect to be achieved in this session of the Parliament.

When you come to consider closing the petition, which I am sure that you will do, convener, and, probably rightly so, given the time that the committee has left in the parliamentary session, a way forward would be to seek clearer guidance from the Government on when disposable barbecues could be used. It should be automatic that people are told not to use disposable barbecues when the fire risk goes up from moderate to high. There could also be a way of the Scottish Government making announcements so that people are asked to abide by a voluntary ban.

As a result of its slow action in relation to the Cairngorms byelaw, the Scottish Government has slightly provoked this petition. The Cairngorms national park submitted a byelaw for approval to the Government, and it has taken it a huge amount of time to consider it. Even as we speak, I am not sure that the byelaw has been passed by the Scottish Government. I tried to find out, but I have been unable to do so. Therefore, if I might be so bold, I suggest that it might be worth writing to the Scottish Government to say that the committee is closing the petition and that you hope that it would be more proactive in saying when disposable barbecues should not be used and that there would be a speedier response to requests from local authorities for byelaws to ban the use of disposable barbecues. I hope that that is helpful.

Doug McKiernan mentioned Grangemouth. We have been considering the effect that project willow would have and whether Grangemouth is perfectly positioned for SAF production. Do you want to build on what you said in relation to that?

The threat is the lack of co-ordinated investment.

Ralph Lavery, do you want to come back on that? I would be interested to hear your views on the price restrictions that are placed on SAF. We have heard that the cost of hydrogen is preventing its use by many people. Do you think that it is up to regulation to say that more has to be used, which would drive the price down? How do you stimulate price reductions?

That is interesting; price seems to have been dropped as a priority.

Perfect. That is understood.

Sarah Boyack, you can have a very brief question at the end, unless you think that it has already been answered.

Welcome back to the meeting. The third item on our agenda is the consideration of two draft statutory instruments.

The instruments confer responsibilities on Zero Waste Scotland in relation to the public sector equality duty in the Equality Act 2010. Following Zero Waste Scotland’s reclassification as a non-departmental public body in October 2024, the instruments aim to align its legal responsibilities with that status. The Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee has raised no points in relation to either instrument.?

I welcome Gillian Martin, Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy, who is joined by supporting Scottish Government officials Andrew Mackie, who is head of environment and forestry sponsorship hub; Carolyn Boyd, who is a lawyer; and Russell Bain, the deputy director for international futures and brand Scotland policy.

The instruments are laid under the affirmative procedure, which means that they cannot come into force unless the Parliament approves them. ??Following the evidence session, the committee will be invited to consider two motions recommending that the instruments be approved. I remind everyone that Scottish Government officials can speak under this item but not in the debates that follow.

I invite the cabinet secretary to make a short opening statement.

The committee will report on the outcome of the instrument in due course. I invite the committee to delegate authority to me as convener to approve the draft of the report for publication. Are you happy to do so?

Members indicated agreement.

Sarah, do you want to come in on that? Then I will go to Douglas Lumsden, and then I will come back to you for your other questions.

Thank you, Douglas. I was going to say that it might be time to let somebody else in.

I will bring in Kevin Stewart now—Simon McNamara, you strayed into an area that he would like to ask you questions about.