Present:
|
Brian Adam |
Mr Richard Baker |
|
Chris Ballance |
Susan Deacon |
|
Murdo Fraser |
Christine May |
|
Mr Jamie Stone |
Alasdair Morgan (Convener) |
|
Mike Watson (Deputy Convener) |
|
Also present: Sarah Boyack
The meeting opened at 2.02 pm
1. Renewable Energy in Scotland: the Committee
took evidence from:
Panel 1
William Gillett, Deputy Head of Unit for New and Renewable
Energy Sources, Directorate-General Energy and Transport, European
Commission;
Panel 2
Lewis Macdonald MSP, Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong
Learning, Scottish Executive;
Robin Naysmith, Head of Energy and Telecommunications Division,
Department of Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning, Scottish
Executive;
Neil Stewart, Head of Energy Policy Unit, Department of Enterprise,
Transport and Lifelong Learning, Scottish Executive;
on its inquiry entitled Renewable Energy in Scotland.
The European Commission undertook to provide the Committee
with:
• information on EU competition rules and their potential
impact on the procurement of biomass heating systems with locally-sourced
fuels for construction projects;
• a list of the targets for electricity production from
renewable sources agreed between the European Commission and
the 10 accession States to the European Union.
The Scottish Executive undertook to report back to the Committee
on the potential for the use of EU structural funding for the
development and extension of the national grid in rural Scotland.
2. Broadband in Scotland: the Committee took
evidence from Mr Alan Kennedy of the Machars Broadband Action
Group (Public Petition 694) on its inquiry into Broadband in
Scotland.
3. Procedures Committee inquiry: the Committee
considered a letter from the Convener of the Procedures Committee
on its inquiry on Timescales and Stages of Bills. The Committee
delegated authority to the Convener to write to the Convener
of the Procedures Committee with their views.
The meeting closed at 4.35 pm
Judith Evans
Clerk to the Committee (Acting)
