Hansard

The Convener LD

Item 7 is another affirmative order. I invite the minister to introduce his new team and to make opening remarks.

Jim Mather SNP

I am joined by Nicola Shiels, Neal Rafferty and Sue Kearns. Thank you for this chance to make some opening comments. I am well aware that the committee is fa...

The Convener LD

Thank you for your opening remarks. The committee has received a written response from Scottish Renewables on the order. It generally welcomes the order, but...

Jim Mather SNP

Many respondents to our consultation pressed the Government to reconsider its current level of support on tidal power. Specifically, they pressed the Governm...

The Convener LD

There seems to be a difference between the evidence base suggested by Renewables UK and that suggested in the Ernst & Young report. What assessment has the G...

Jim Mather SNP

One lesson that I have learned in politics, particularly in my role as minister, is that the more that we lend ourselves to consultation, the more likely it ...

Gavin Brown Con

I will follow up on the convener’s question. Scottish Renewables has said that ROCs should be the same for tidal stream and wave. What is the Government’s ar...

Jim Mather SNP

That is a function of timing. We are not approaching the issue from a doctrinaire position; we are showing a willingness to engage and a keen desire to do th...

Neal Rafferty (Scottish Government Directorate for Energy and Climate Change)

When we introduced the higher bands in Scotland to begin with, we did so on the basis of a piece of work that suggested that tidal stream costs were lower th...

Gavin Brown Con

That is helpful. Thank you.

David Whitton Lab

What would the impact be if we did not do anything?

Jim Mather SNP

It would be negative. We have been flexing with the reality of the sector and the technologies, which are evolving. That has won us a lot of friends and has ...

David Whitton Lab

I am sure that there will be an interesting debate tonight on whether the targets are achievable. Where did the pressure come from to allow phased developmen...

Jim Mather SNP

It certainly came from the industry, but you will remember that we held a low-carbon finance conference last year, on 28 and 29 September. Another conference...

David Whitton Lab

Did any local authorities express any reservations about whether their planning departments would be able to cope?

Jim Mather SNP

In terms of offshore wind?

David Whitton Lab

Yes.

Jim Mather SNP

That will be more an issue for Marine Scotland than for local authorities per se.

Neal Rafferty

We did not receive any representations from local authorities through the consultation process.

Christopher Harvie SNP

Anything that involves a large amount of civil engineering reminds me instantly of the Office of Fair Trading inquiry at, I think, the end of 2006 into the g...

Jim Mather SNP

The robustness and scrutiny exist. The scrutiny is not only national but global. We have some interesting parties—such as Ronnie Bowie from the Institute and...

The Convener LD

I am not sure whether the Adam Smith quotation was a condemnation of businessmen or a condemnation of the game of golf.

Jim Mather SNP

Perhaps it was a condemnation of some of the things that we taught in our business schools in the past, but they are being remedied here in Scotland as I speak.

The Convener LD

We move on to consideration of motion S3M-7872, on the Renewables Obligation (Scotland) Amendment Order 2011.Motion moved,That the Economy, Energy and Touris...

The Convener LD

This was the minister’s last appearance before this committee—and, possibly, any committee of the Parliament—before his retiral. I wish him the best of healt...

Jim Mather SNP

Thank you very much indeed. That is much appreciated.

The Convener LD

That concludes the final meeting of the Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee 2007 to 2011.

Marilyn Livingstone Lab

Will members join me in giving the convener a vote of thanks on behalf of the committee? Applause. Meeting closed at 12:34.