Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 01 June 2016
01 Jun 2016 · S5 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Taking Scotland Forward: Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform
No—not at the moment. I want to develop the argument.
The Government needs to make it clear that it will not issue any licences for fracking under the new powers that are coming from Westminster. Labour’s amendment provides members with a very clear choice. The divisions in the chamber are pretty clear, up to a point. Labour, the Greens and the Lib Dems are opposed to fracking and, on the other side, as we have heard, are the Tories. However, things are less clear when we look at the SNP. In the run-up to last year’s general election, some SNP candidates could not shout loudly enough about their opposition to fracking, yet the SNP Government refuses to ban it.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Ken Macintosh)
NPA
The next item of business is a debate on motion S5M-00226, in the name of Roseanna Cunningham, on taking Scotland forward: environment, climate change and la...
The Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform (Roseanna Cunningham)
SNP
Thank you, Presiding Officer, for that grace period of a couple of moments. I expect that the creation of the new post of Cabinet Secretary for Environment,...
Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green)
Green
The cabinet secretary will be aware of the research that is being undertaken into underground coal gasification, which I understand will be reported on in th...
Roseanna Cunningham
SNP
We are undertaking a programme of research, and the Government is commissioning work. The timescale for producing that is unlikely to be as early as this sum...
Elaine Smith (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
If the cabinet secretary’s research says that fracking is safe and she decides to go ahead with it, how will that help with the climate change targets?
Roseanna Cunningham
SNP
I think that I dealt with that in response to Mark Ruskell’s question. I have indicated what the Government’s position is. The member is aware that the energ...
Maurice Golden (West Scotland) (Con)
Con
I want to bring the circular economy to the heart of the debate around this portfolio area. I acknowledge the consensual sentiments from the cabinet secretar...
Alison Johnstone (Lothian) (Green)
Green
Does the member not recognise that fracking is an unwelcome diversion from the potential that we have in renewables in this country? I appreciate that the me...
Maurice Golden
Con
I say respectfully that although I did not refer to fracking in my amendment, I think that it is worth dealing with, given the other amendments that are on t...
The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Connectivity (Fergus Ewing)
SNP
On creating jobs, do the Scottish Conservatives condemn the decision by the UK Government to scrap the carbon capture and storage project at Peterhead?
Maurice Golden
Con
We are on fracking at the moment and I am sure that when my colleague discovers energy, we will move on to that. I will go back to the matter at hand. Interr...
Claudia Beamish (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I congratulate the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform on her new role. I recognise the wealth of her experience. I look forwar...
Joan McAlpine (South Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
Will the member give way?
Claudia Beamish
Lab
No—not at the moment. I want to develop the argument. The Government needs to make it clear that it will not issue any licences for fracking under the new p...
Joan McAlpine
SNP
Will the member give way?
Claudia Beamish
Lab
Not at the moment. Nicola Sturgeon claims to be a fracking sceptic, but she will not go further than a temporary freeze. Today, we will see once and for all...
Stewart Stevenson (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP)
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Murdo Fraser
Con
Will the member give way?
Joan McAlpine
SNP
Will the member give way?
Claudia Beamish
Lab
No—not at the moment. Only a vote for an outright ban would show beyond all doubt that the Parliament rejects fracking in Scotland. SNP members have a choi...
Murdo Fraser
Con
Will the member give way?
Stewart Stevenson
SNP
Will the member give way?
Claudia Beamish
Lab
No—I am not going to take interventions, because I am very short of time. I am sure that the new Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy will highlight ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Christine Grahame)
SNP
I call Andy Wightman to speak to and move amendment S5M-00226.3. 15:05
Andy Wightman (Lothian) (Green)
Green
I congratulate Roseanna Cunningham on her appointment as Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform. It is a great honour and privile...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Exemplary timing, Mr Wightman. On that note, we move to the open debate, for which time is tight. Members have up to six minutes, please. 15:13
Angus MacDonald (Falkirk East) (SNP)
SNP
Thank you, Presiding Officer, and congratulations on your appointment. I also congratulate the cabinet secretary on her new remit. Let me say how pleased I ...
Neil Findlay (Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
Will the member take an intervention?
Angus MacDonald
SNP
No. I am sorry, but I have no time—I have a lot to get in. Let us not forget that, had it not been for successive increases in the baseline since the targ...