Tuesday I attended a meeting for the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee. Later I went to an event comparing the effects of climate change in Scotland and Norway.
On Wednesday I attended a discussion about Brexit and International Trade and met with Equate Scotland. Later I went to the Scottish Gamekeepers Association parliamentary reception and discussed the future of energy in Scotland at a reception held by Baroness Neville-Rolfe.
I started Thursday off bright and early with a radio appearance on Good Morning Scotland regarding the government’s ban on UCG. Later, I met with John McNally from INEOS. Also, in response to a ministerial statement regarding UCG, I posed the following question:
I would first like to thank the minister for advanced notice of his statement.
I am however, deeply disappointed along with many oil workers trying to find re-employment in the stance the Scottish Government is taking on UCG today.
Their position two weeks before their conference is of no surprise and marks yet another missed SNP opportunity
It is evident that we must switch to a low-carbon economy and UCG is certainly one of the fuels we can use to do this.
It is shocking indictment that their own expert Professor Campbell Gemmel writes that whilst
‘The regulatory framework is potentially adequate but is currently fragmented, insufficiently clear but does not fit well together for the ease of use by the operator for the integrated protection of the environment or for the reassurance of the public’
So would the minister agree that one of the main reasons this can’t go ahead is because the regulatory framework in Scotland isn’t good enough?
Whose fault is that?
That evening I appeared on Scotland 2016 to protest the SNP’s dismissal of UCG potential. To see the interview, follow this link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b07yjmct/scotland-2016-06102016.