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Seòmar agus comataidhean

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 15 August 2025
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Displaying 774 contributions

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Economy and Fair Work Committee

Just Transition (North-east and Moray)

Meeting date: 15 November 2023

Brian Whittle

Convener, do I have time to bring in Mr Boland?

Economy and Fair Work Committee

Just Transition (North-east and Moray)

Meeting date: 15 November 2023

Brian Whittle

We talk about offshore wind and floating wind platforms, and we have heard about the potential of green hydrogen for the Scottish economy. I am a big supporter of that, but we are very much behind the curve on it. Developing a green hydrogen economy takes significant investment. From your perspective, where do we need to go with that to get green hydrogen economy technologies, for example, and catch up with where we are with wind?

Economy and Fair Work Committee

Just Transition (North-east and Moray)

Meeting date: 15 November 2023

Brian Whittle

A good friend of mine came out with the phrase that the only competitive advantage we have is in learning faster than our competitors.

Economy and Fair Work Committee

Just Transition (North-east and Moray)

Meeting date: 15 November 2023

Brian Whittle

Where I agree with you for sure is the need to develop the marketplace. If you do that, business will innovate to supply it. For me, that is where we are behind.

In the short time that I have, I want to ask Gordon McGuinness about the long-term strategy and planning for workforce delivery. Indeed, I asked this question earlier. I think that one of the major untapped workforces is women coming into STEM. We have been talking for ever about that and that huge potential, but I am not sure that I quite got an answer to that particular question.

There are a couple of issues to highlight. How do we move that dial, given that we require that workforce? I am also interested in the need to invest in education. The suggestion that I heard in that respect was about opening colleges at night, which would be a great innovation, but will cost money. Do you agree with me that, to deliver on our targets, we need to invest more in that part of the education system to allow that transition to happen?

Those are just some easy questions for you.

Economy and Fair Work Committee

Just Transition (North-east and Moray)

Meeting date: 15 November 2023

Brian Whittle

With that in mind, Suzanne Sosna, in terms of what SE is doing just now, how do we maintain that advantage? We are charging ahead, as far as I can see, in offshore wind and onshore wind. As I said this morning, I am a massive green hydrogen fan and I think that we are behind the curve with that. We are probably behind the curve in carbon capture and, potentially, in heat. How do we bring all that into the just transition at pace?

Economy and Fair Work Committee

Just Transition (North-east and Moray)

Meeting date: 15 November 2023

Brian Whittle

Good morning. My question has changed several times over the past five minutes, while I have been listening to what you have been saying. We understand the opportunities that renewables technologies bring—not just to the north-east but to Scotland.

I am also aware that so much innovation and blue-sky thinking is going on. It is very exciting to watch that innovation. Are the UK and Scottish Governments doing enough to support and develop innovation in order to make sure that we are at the forefront and that we have the commercial success that will, as per my colleague Colin Smyth’s questioning, lead to the increase in jobs? I would rather be looking for people to come into jobs than have too many people. That is for you first, Professor de Leeuw.

Economy and Fair Work Committee

Just Transition (North-east and Moray)

Meeting date: 15 November 2023

Brian Whittle

I should say that I have an interest in green hydrogen. The talk just now is about the idea of building a pipeline across to Germany, which is obviously hugely exciting, but surely that does not have to be the first step. We have the capability of the deep-water ports at Hunterston, and last week we were up in Aberdeen, seeing what was being done up there. Why are we not focusing on those things as a step towards delivering the marketplace that you have been talking about, before we get to building a pipeline? Surely that would be a much quicker option.

Economy and Fair Work Committee

Just Transition (North-east and Moray)

Meeting date: 6 November 2023

Brian Whittle

If you agree with that, Jim, what would be your asks for each Government?

Economy and Fair Work Committee

Just Transition (North-east and Moray)

Meeting date: 6 November 2023

Brian Whittle

Good afternoon. I appreciate your being here.

I am interested in how planning has come up in discussions this morning. It was mentioned that communities feel removed from decision making and are actually disengaging. The words “onshore wind” and “solar” came up.

Do you consider that the current planning regulations are fit for purpose, especially when it comes to spatial planning and the presumption in favour of planning permission? I am a South Scotland MSP, and my mailbag is full of letters from people saying, “We said no, but the Scottish Government said yes, so why did you bother asking us?” Alison Stuart, is that part of the problem?

Economy and Fair Work Committee

Just Transition (North-east and Moray)

Meeting date: 6 November 2023

Brian Whittle

I would like to build on that with Alasdair Ross. I will play devil’s advocate. You would suggest that many communities would say, “Yes, we think that it’s really important for the transition that we have onshore wind and solar, but we don’t want it over here.” How do we cross that boundary and bring communities with us to make sure that they are properly recompensed for any development that takes place around them?