Chamber
Plenary, 21 Jun 2007
21 Jun 2007 · S3 · Plenary
Item of business
Climate Change
I thank the cabinet secretary for advance sight of his statement and I welcome its contents.
The climate change bill in Scotland will have to be different from the bill in the south; Conservatives accept the need for a separate Scottish bill. However, I am concerned when I hear the cabinet secretary talk about the targets that the Scottish bill will contain. Although I fully accept that Scotland operates from different baselines and has different levels of potential to achieve results, it is essential that Scotland's businesses and local authorities are not placed under a disproportionate burden. Will the cabinet secretary be flexible in setting targets to ensure that Scotland's businesses and local authorities are not put under a disproportionate burden simply in an effort to make Scotland stand out as the world leader in dealing with the problems? We need a level playing field.
Where Scotland's potential to achieve results is greater than that of the rest of the UK, will the cabinet secretary undertake to work within a UK-wide structure to ensure that compensatory fiscal mechanisms are put in place? If Scotland outperforms the rest of the UK, it must not do so simply to make a rod for its own back.
Will the cabinet secretary accept that my questions, and others that will be asked during this question-and-answer session, clearly highlight the point that, although it will be necessary for Scotland to have a separate bill, there will be more need with this bill than with virtually any other piece of legislation to ensure that Scotland's legislation dovetails neatly with UK legislation?
The climate change bill in Scotland will have to be different from the bill in the south; Conservatives accept the need for a separate Scottish bill. However, I am concerned when I hear the cabinet secretary talk about the targets that the Scottish bill will contain. Although I fully accept that Scotland operates from different baselines and has different levels of potential to achieve results, it is essential that Scotland's businesses and local authorities are not placed under a disproportionate burden. Will the cabinet secretary be flexible in setting targets to ensure that Scotland's businesses and local authorities are not put under a disproportionate burden simply in an effort to make Scotland stand out as the world leader in dealing with the problems? We need a level playing field.
Where Scotland's potential to achieve results is greater than that of the rest of the UK, will the cabinet secretary undertake to work within a UK-wide structure to ensure that compensatory fiscal mechanisms are put in place? If Scotland outperforms the rest of the UK, it must not do so simply to make a rod for its own back.
Will the cabinet secretary accept that my questions, and others that will be asked during this question-and-answer session, clearly highlight the point that, although it will be necessary for Scotland to have a separate bill, there will be more need with this bill than with virtually any other piece of legislation to ensure that Scotland's legislation dovetails neatly with UK legislation?
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Trish Godman):
Lab
The next item of business is a statement by John Swinney on climate change. As the minister will take questions at the end of his statement, there should be ...
The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth (John Swinney):
SNP
Unchecked climate change is one of the most serious threats that we face. It is not simply an environmental challenge; it threatens people, our economies, ou...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
Lab
The minister will take statements—Laughter. Sorry. The minister will take questions on the issues that have been raised in his statement. I will allow about ...
Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab):
Lab
I thank John Swinney for the advance copy of his statement.Labour believes that there is a scientific consensus that the planet is getting warmer and that th...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
Lab
Mr Swinney?
John Swinney:
SNP
Well—that was a rather curious end to the contribution.I say first that I welcome the endorsement that Rhona Brankin has given our approach. I reiterate what...
Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con):
Con
I thank the cabinet secretary for advance sight of his statement and I welcome its contents.The climate change bill in Scotland will have to be different fro...
John Swinney:
SNP
On setting flexible targets for businesses and local authorities, I refer Mr Johnstone to my answer to Rhona Brankin. It is important that every element of o...
Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD):
LD
I, too, thank Mr Swinney for an advance copy of his statement. Does he accept that two of the most important reports that have been produced on climate chang...
John Swinney:
SNP
Yes—the Government's thinking has been influenced by the Stern report and the IPCC report to which Mr Scott referred.Tavish Scott made an unanswerable point ...
Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green):
Green
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John Swinney:
SNP
I explained in my response to Mr Tavish Scott about the strategic target of 80 per cent being converted into annual targets. We will report annually and we w...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
Lab
Before I call Roseanna Cunningham, I should say that a considerable number of back benchers would like to be called and I have a little leeway for spokespers...
Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP):
SNP
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John Swinney:
SNP
I assure Roseanna Cunningham that Mr Russell will attend to the publication of the consultation on sustainable flood management. We expect to publish it in d...
Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab):
Lab
I draw members' attention to my entry in the register of members' interests.I welcome the overall thrust of the minister's statement. I recognise much of it ...
John Swinney:
SNP
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Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD):
LD
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John Swinney:
SNP
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Mike Rumbles:
LD
Onshore wind farms?
John Swinney:
SNP
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Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con):
Con
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John Swinney:
SNP
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Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP):
SNP
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John Swinney:
SNP
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Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab):
Lab
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John Swinney:
SNP
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Stefan Tymkewycz (Lothians) (SNP):
SNP
I welcome the emissions reduction targets set by the cabinet secretary and the Government's commitment to tackle climate change. Does he agree that long-term...
John Swinney:
SNP
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Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab):
Lab
Like others, I very much welcome the spirit of what John Swinney has said and the progress indicated by the forthcoming bill. How the world community tackles...