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Showing 60 of 2,354,908 contributions. Latest 30 days: 0. Coverage: 12 May 1999 — 25 Mar 2026.

The Convener Con Committee

Scottish Offshore Wind Sector Inquiry

Welcome back. Agenda item 3 is our inquiry on BiFab, the offshore wind sector and the Scottish supply chain. Our witnesses join us remotely. I welcome Jim Smith, managing director of SSE Renewables; Nick Sharpe, director of communications and strategy at Scottish Renewables; M...

The Convener Con Committee

Scottish Offshore Wind Sector Inquiry

We continue our inquiry into Burntisland Fabrications, the offshore wind sector and the Scottish supply chain. I welcome our first panel of witnesses, who join us remotely: Jason Fudge, president of DF Barnes; Sean Power, vice-president of DF Barnes; and Hazel Nolan, GMB Scotl...

The Convener Con Committee

Scottish Offshore Wind Sector Inquiry

We move on to item 5, which is our consideration of Burntisland Fabrications, the offshore wind sector, and the Scottish supply chain. We are joined by a second panel of witnesses, whom I thank for their patience in waiting for us to come to this item. The previous item ran o...

The Convener Con Committee

Scottish Offshore Wind Sector Inquiry

Thank you, cabinet secretary. An offshore wind summit was organised by the Scottish Government in January, I think. At that summit, the Scottish Government tasked the Scottish offshore wind energy council with undertaking “a short, focussed, independent review”. Can you upd...

The Convener Con Committee

BiFab, the Offshore Wind Energy Sector and the Scottish Supply Chain

Today, we have a round-table evidence session, which is a format that allows people to come into the discussion on points on which they have something to say. In the interests of hearing as much as possible from our guests today, I ask members to keep their questions fairly br...

The Convener Con Committee

BiFab, the Offshore Wind Energy Sector and the Scottish Supply Chain

Item 2 is BiFab, the offshore wind energy sector and the Scottish supply chain. For this part of the meeting we have before us Derek Mackay, who is the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Economy and Fair Work; David Pratt, who is the head of planning and strategy at Marine Scotlan...

The Convener Con Committee

BiFab, the Offshore Wind Energy Sector and the Scottish Supply Chain

Others might want to come back to that. Can you tell us specifically what options the Scottish Government has been following to ensure more benefit to the Scottish economy and more use of Scottish firms in the offshore wind sector? You mentioned that you discussed specifics a...

The Convener Con Committee

Scottish Offshore Wind Sector Inquiry

All right. You mentioned one or two things that you could share with the committee. It would potentially be helpful if you did that. I wonder whether we can hear from Nick Sharpe now. Have you tried unmuting yourself? Interruption. I think that you have tried that. Sorry. We ...

The Convener Con Committee

Scottish Offshore Wind Sector Inquiry

The Scottish Government has hosted some wind supply chain summits. Have any of you attended them? I see Nick Sharpe nodding to indicate that he has, and I think that Jim Smith has also done so. What have those summits achieved?

The Convener Con Committee

Scottish Offshore Wind Sector Inquiry

Item 2 is our inquiry on Burntisland Fabrications, the offshore wind sector and the Scottish supply chain. I am pleased to welcome Fiona Hyslop, the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and Culture, who joins us in the committee room, and her Scottish Government officials ...

The Convener Con Committee

Scottish Offshore Wind Sector Inquiry

Will David Stevenson or the cabinet secretary give us a bit more detail about the people in Scotland who are involved in the offshore wind supply chain, what firms are involved, what their particular specialisms are and how they will be brought into, or encouraged into, future...

The Convener (Gordon Lindhurst) Con Committee

Scottish Offshore Wind Sector Inquiry

Good morning and welcome to the 40th meeting of the Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee in 2020. Apologies have been received from Richard Lyle and Colin Beattie. The only item on our agenda this morning is consideration of Burntisland Fabrications, the offshore wind sect...

The Convener Con Committee

Scottish Offshore Wind Sector Inquiry

That is helpful; thank you. Minister, I have a few questions as we head towards the end of our session. You mentioned planning implications, and I suppose that delivering offshore wind projects—as well as contractual obligations or statements of intention or enforceability—d...

The Convener Con Committee

Economic Impact of Leaving the European Union

Thank you, we will wind up there because we are at the end of the time available and we would not want to be accused of obsessing about Brexit. Thank you to all our guests. 12:44 Meeting continued in private until 12:58.

The Convener Con Committee

Draft Climate Change Plan and Energy Strategy

Minister, before we move on, Schleswig-Holstein, where much of the German renewable wind energy is from, is not looking for independence from Germany, although it has not always been a part of Germany. Do you agree that a stable political system is also helpful in this area?

The Convener Con Committee

Damages (Investment Returns and Periodical Payments) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

Amendment 13, in the name of Dean Lockhart, has already been debated with amendment 11. I ask Dean Lockhart to wind up and indicate whether he wishes to move the amendment.

The Convener Con Committee

Damages (Investment Returns and Periodical Payments) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

I ask Jackie Baillie to wind up, and to press or seek to withdraw her amendment.

The Convener Con Committee

Damages (Investment Returns and Periodical Payments) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

As no other member wishes to speak, I ask the minister to wind up.

Gordon Lindhurst (Lothian) (Con) Con Chamber

Presiding Officer, “We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organise and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are wi...

The Convener Con Committee

BiFab, the Offshore Wind Energy Sector and the Scottish Supply Chain

Members can introduce themselves as well.

The Convener Con Committee

BiFab, the Offshore Wind Energy Sector and the Scottish Supply Chain

Thank you. I am an MSP for the Lothian region and the convener of the committee. I will start with a couple of questions about BiFab. Perhaps Bill Elkington or Sean Power could answer them in the first instance. How many people are currently employed by BiFab? How many peopl...

The Convener Con Committee

BiFab, the Offshore Wind Energy Sector and the Scottish Supply Chain

You say 85 people. Are they all permanent staff or are there some agency workers?

The Convener Con Committee

BiFab, the Offshore Wind Energy Sector and the Scottish Supply Chain

Do you know how many people were employed there at its peak?

The Convener Con Committee

BiFab, the Offshore Wind Energy Sector and the Scottish Supply Chain

Do you think that you will get back up to those numbers?

The Convener Con Committee

BiFab, the Offshore Wind Energy Sector and the Scottish Supply Chain

In 2017, was the company possibly looking at going into administration?

The Convener Con Committee

BiFab, the Offshore Wind Energy Sector and the Scottish Supply Chain

If you look at things in the longer term, can you say why that was?

The Convener Con Committee

BiFab, the Offshore Wind Energy Sector and the Scottish Supply Chain

What has been done to secure the future of the company to ensure that that sort of situation does not arise again?

The Convener Con Committee

BiFab, the Offshore Wind Energy Sector and the Scottish Supply Chain

Has that support involved looking at securing future work and orders for the company?

The Convener Con Committee

BiFab, the Offshore Wind Energy Sector and the Scottish Supply Chain

Have you been successful? 10:15

The Convener Con Committee

BiFab, the Offshore Wind Energy Sector and the Scottish Supply Chain

If other countries are doing things in a certain way that is within the state aid rules—because they are not allowed to go outwith the rules either—and those countries seem to be succeeding, why are we not doing so? Is that not being looked at, to see whether we can do it, too?

The Convener Con Committee

BiFab, the Offshore Wind Energy Sector and the Scottish Supply Chain

Are you doing that?

The Convener Con Committee

BiFab, the Offshore Wind Energy Sector and the Scottish Supply Chain

If there are further points that witnesses would like to make to the committee, but it is not possible to make them in the time that we have, I ask that they write to the committee after the session. Before we move on to other members’ questions, I invite Audrey MacIver to co...

The Convener Con Committee

BiFab, the Offshore Wind Energy Sector and the Scottish Supply Chain

I think that the question was whether anything can be done quickly to bring about that result.

The Convener Con Committee

BiFab, the Offshore Wind Energy Sector and the Scottish Supply Chain

That would have to be followed up and checked, with enforcement through the courts, if need be.

The Convener Con Committee

BiFab, the Offshore Wind Energy Sector and the Scottish Supply Chain

Andy McDonald and Bill Elkington want to come in, before we move on.

The Convener Con Committee

BiFab, the Offshore Wind Energy Sector and the Scottish Supply Chain

We will hear briefly from Pat Rafferty before going on to questions from John Mason on contracts for difference, which Mr Jamieson has just mentioned. We have limited time to cover everything.

The Convener (Gordon Lindhurst) Con Committee

BiFab, the Offshore Wind Energy Sector and the Scottish Supply Chain

I think that Andy McDonald wants to comment.

The Convener Con Committee

BiFab, the Offshore Wind Energy Sector and the Scottish Supply Chain

Perhaps Peter Welsh would like to respond to that statement.

The Convener Con Committee

BiFab, the Offshore Wind Energy Sector and the Scottish Supply Chain

As there are no further questions from members, we will conclude this evidence session. I thank everyone who has given evidence today. 12:03 Meeting continued in private until 12:43.

The Convener Con Committee

BiFab, the Offshore Wind Energy Sector and the Scottish Supply Chain

Thank you, cabinet secretary. On your last point, I do not think that I or any committee members were at the first meeting, although the committee had requested that opportunity.

The Convener Con Committee

BiFab, the Offshore Wind Energy Sector and the Scottish Supply Chain

It might be helpful to hear that explanation.

The Convener Con Committee

BiFab, the Offshore Wind Energy Sector and the Scottish Supply Chain

Just before we come on to questions from Andy Wightman, I point out that one witness who came to the committee, Bill Elkington, who is the chairman and founder of the JV Driver Group, commented that the Methil yard is not world class and needs improvements. The yard is owned b...

The Convener Con Committee

BiFab, the Offshore Wind Energy Sector and the Scottish Supply Chain

If they could do so, that would be helpful.

The Convener Con Committee

BiFab, the Offshore Wind Energy Sector and the Scottish Supply Chain

Can you give us any indication of how state aid rules affect that?

The Convener Con Committee

BiFab, the Offshore Wind Energy Sector and the Scottish Supply Chain

Is that not a bit circular, if you cannot provide the facilities to allow the company to compete? Is it just that the yard is uncompetitive as a location?

The Convener Con Committee

BiFab, the Offshore Wind Energy Sector and the Scottish Supply Chain

The position that seems to have been adopted is slightly puzzling. I am not sure that other regional Governments in European countries would take the view that it is not of interest to them, if companies within their area are potentially affected by this. It seems to me to be ...

The Convener Con Committee

BiFab, the Offshore Wind Energy Sector and the Scottish Supply Chain

I suppose that the question is: what is the Scottish Government doing about it then?

The Convener Con Committee

BiFab, the Offshore Wind Energy Sector and the Scottish Supply Chain

Another point is that the law on state aid in particular is complex. It is not necessarily clear, so one has to take an active interest in it, its interpretation and how it is applied.

The Convener Con Committee

BiFab, the Offshore Wind Energy Sector and the Scottish Supply Chain

We move on to questions from Jackie Baillie.

The Convener Con Committee

BiFab, the Offshore Wind Energy Sector and the Scottish Supply Chain

There are no further questions from committee members, so I thank the cabinet secretary. I suspend the meeting and we move into private session. 10:51 Meeting continued in private until 11:54.

The Convener Con Committee

Scottish National Investment Bank Bill: Stage 2

I ask Dean Lockhart to wind up and indicate whether he wishes to press or withdraw amendment 25.

The Convener Con Committee

Scottish National Investment Bank Bill: Stage 2

I ask Jackie Baillie to wind up and to press or withdraw amendment 1.

The Convener Con Committee

Scottish National Investment Bank Bill: Stage 2

I call Andy Wightman to wind up, and to press or withdraw amendment 17.

The Convener Con Committee

Scottish National Investment Bank Bill: Stage 2

Thank you. I invite Rhoda Grant to wind up and to press or seek to withdraw amendment 32.

The Convener Con Committee

Scottish National Investment Bank Bill: Stage 2

I call Rhoda Grant to wind up, and to press or seek to withdraw amendment 33.

The Convener Con Committee

Scottish National Investment Bank Bill: Stage 2

Jackie Baillie can now wind up and indicate whether she wishes to press or withdraw amendment 64.

The Convener Con Committee

Scottish National Investment Bank Bill: Stage 2

I call Andy Wightman to wind up and press or withdraw his amendment.

The Convener Con Committee

Scottish National Investment Bank Bill: Stage 2

I invite Andy Wightman to wind up and to press or withdraw amendment 22.

The Convener Con Committee

Scottish National Investment Bank Bill: Stage 2

I ask Jackie Baillie to wind up and press or withdraw amendment 12.

The Convener Con Committee

Scottish National Investment Bank Bill: Stage 2

I call on the deputy convener to wind up and press or withdraw amendment 47.

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Committee

Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee 24 November 2020

24 Nov 2020 · S5 · Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee

Item of business

Scottish Offshore Wind Sector Inquiry

Lindhurst, Gordon Con Lothian Watch on SPTV

Welcome back. Agenda item 3 is our inquiry on BiFab, the offshore wind sector and the Scottish supply chain. Our witnesses join us remotely. I welcome Jim Smith, managing director of SSE Renewables; Nick Sharpe, director of communications and strategy at Scottish Renewables; Matthieu Hue, chief executive officer at EDF Renewables UK; and Allan MacAskill, a director of Kincardine Offshore Windfarm Limited. Some committee members are with me in the room and others join us remotely. I ask witnesses to wait a few seconds before speaking to allow broadcasting colleagues on our sound desk to turn your microphones on. I will start the questions. You do not all have to respond to every question. In the process of their questioning and discussion with you, committee members may interject and ask further questions, so there is no need to wait for me, as convener, to let you back in. Furthermore, following the evidence session, you can submit in writing any further thoughts that you might have or want to develop on what we discuss today. What benefits, economic or otherwise, are offshore wind developments bringing to Scotland? What are the possibilities for the future, bearing in mind the UK Government’s very recent announcements? You can raise your hand or type R in the chat box to indicate that you want to respond. Nick Sharpe is indicating that he wants to speak. I am afraid that we cannot hear Nick. Perhaps the sound desk can do something about that. Jim Smith also wanted to come in, so we will try him while we try to resolve the sound issue for Nick Sharpe.

In the same item of business

The Convener Con

Welcome back. Agenda item 3 is our inquiry on BiFab, the offshore wind sector and the Scottish supply chain. Our witnesses join us remotely. I welcome Jim Sm...

Jim Smith (SSE Renewables)

Can you hear me, convener?

The Convener Con

Yes. Thank you. We can hear you.

I will use Beatrice wind farm as an example. It is currently Scotland’s largest wind farm, although it will soon be overtaken by Moray East wind farm. We est...

The Convener Con

One billion pounds sounds like a big figure, certainly pre-inflation. Can you quickly tell us where that £1 billion to Scotland comes from, a bit more specif...

I might not have all the numbers broken down exactly; I would be happy to submit them in writing to the committee. A significant part comes through the const...

The Convener Con

I suppose that that is one of the things that we want to hear about. If parts are sent offshore for construction, the benefit does not necessarily come to Sc...

The Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult carried out work to consider the potential in the UK—not just in Scotland. I think that it estimated that, currently, ...

The Convener Con

Is it not also about awarding contracts to companies that prefabricate things in Scotland? You said that the current level “could” be 50 per cent, which does...

We estimated that over the life of Beatrice it would probably be around 50 per cent.

The Convener Con

All right. You mentioned one or two things that you could share with the committee. It would potentially be helpful if you did that. I wonder whether we can...

Matthieu Hue (EDF Renewables UK)

I echo what Jim Smith said. Throughout the development phase of our projects, from development to construction and operation, developers seek to work with th...

The Convener Con

I would like to clarify something—it might be my fault for not picking it up. Did Jim Smith talk about 50 or 15 per cent?

Matthieu Hue

He said 50 per cent, unless I am mistaken.

The Convener Con

Jim Smith can correct us both, if you are.

That is right; I said 50 per cent.

The Convener Con

Thank you. I think that Nick Sharpe has logged out and logged back in again. We will try to bring him in.

Nick Sharpe (Scottish Renewables)

Fingers crossed, we will try again. Can you hear me now?

The Convener Con

Yes—excellent. We can hear you loud and clear. Please carry on.

Nick Sharpe

As a representative of the industry body for renewable energy in Scotland, it is my place to set out the overall picture for offshore wind and the economic b...

The Convener Con

The Scottish Government has hosted some wind supply chain summits. Have any of you attended them? I see Nick Sharpe nodding to indicate that he has, and I t...

Nick Sharpe

One of the reasons why the most recent supply chain summit came together in January was to talk about new methods that the Scottish Government wanted to empl...

The Convener Con

Are you saying that what has come out of that summit is an on-going review?

Nick Sharpe

That is my understanding, yes.

The Convener Con

Nick Sharpe

There is also the supply chain development statement, but that is probably a separate issue that we can discuss later.

The Convener Con

Jim Smith, can you comment on what has come out of the summits?

I would reiterate what Nick Sharpe said. Part of the work was around the supply chain development plans that have been talked about in relation to the upcomi...

The Convener Con

That might be part of the discussion, but part of the problem is that, rather than coming to Scottish companies, contracts go overseas, well beyond these sho...

Maurice Golden Con

My question, which I will put to Nick Sharpe first, is on jobs that are linked to the offshore wind supply chain. Alex Salmond promised 28,000 green jobs by ...