Chamber and committees

We know that rent service Scotland and the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland housing and property chamber will consider comparable open-market data before making decisions on the rent increases that can be made. How reliable is that data in allowing rent officers and the tribunal to make those informed decisions?

I am grateful to Stephen Kerr for securing this debate on the future of Grangemouth oil refinery. I agree with him that Grangemouth is a jewel in Scotland’s crown. Since its establishment in 1924, the refinery has been a steadfast pillar in Scotland’s energy landscape. It has been the main supplier of fuel to Scottish airports and Scottish petrol stations and, importantly, has provided a foundation to the generations of families from the Falkirk area and beyond who have worked there since its establishment.

However, today we are here to debate a new reality. The potential closure of the oil refinery is a decision that is driven by economic realities, such as growing international competition and environmental considerations, which carry weighty implications.

I want to say a little about learning from the past. The impact of Margaret Thatcher’s deindustrialisation in my Uddingston and Bellshill constituency remains profound. Once thriving with coal mines and steelworks, Lanarkshire underwent a tragic transformation, with mass unemployment plunging communities into persistent poverty, which still impacts them today. Communities were stripped of their identities and of hope, with scars that generations will never forget or forgive.

As we have heard, in Grangemouth—a town that is already burdened with high levels of social deprivation—the potential closure threatens to exacerbate existing struggles. Simply put, we cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of the past. Grangemouth needs and deserves a just transition. Although Petroineos’s decision was driven by commercial factors, we must not overlook the profound concerns regarding the workforce and the regional economy. The Fraser of Allander Institute has projected a GDP reduction of approximately 0.25 to 0.3 per cent for the Scottish economy—an announcement that is significant and worrying.

Furthermore, any jobs that are lost are not mere numbers. They represent families’ livelihoods and, as we have heard, there will undoubtedly be ripple effects across the wider community.

We know that solar energy is a crucial contributor to achieving an affordable energy mix and a just transition. While the Scottish Government’s commitment to enhance solar energy generation by 2030 is incredibly welcome, there is a notable constraint while the current cap on energy generation is set at 50kW. Can the minister provide reassurance that the Government is working towards removing such output restrictions, so that people can reap the benefits?

I would certainly agree with that.

With any decision that impacts the livelihood of communities, it is imperative that the Scottish Government steps up and facilitates a just transition at pace. That means the provision of high-quality jobs, enhancing the community’s prosperity and safeguarding the community’s wellbeing being rightfully placed at the forefront.

A just transition also brings the opportunity to chart a new course towards a fairer and greener future for all. Given its history as an industrial hub, Grangemouth is uniquely positioned to emerge as a centre for green innovation.

Absolutely. I agree with my colleague Michelle Thomson—we all would, to be fair.

I was actually going to address that point. It is really good to see the Scottish Government’s commitment to collaborating with operators throughout the Grangemouth cluster to spearhead new low-carbon initiatives including carbon capture utilisation and storage, hydrogen production and biorefining. Everything possible must be done to create the right circumstances for Grangemouth to evolve into a flagship for sustainable energy production and one that bolsters Scotland’s ambition to achieve net zero emissions by 2045.

However, if we are to ensure that such future low-carbon opportunities are realised with equity and fairness at their heart for the people who live and work there, continued collaboration will be paramount. The Scottish Government must continue to work with industry, workers and communities on shared economic, social and environmental objectives.

Like others, I urge the UK Government to continue to collaborate on a truly optimal future and meaningful prospects for Grangemouth. Although the establishment of the Grangemouth future industry board marks a promising start, the UK Government must, as we have heard, focus on lifting the UK-wide barriers to sustainable aviation fuel.

We must secure Grangemouth’s future from a financial, environmental and social perspective. Through a just transition that embraces innovation, sustainability and compassion, we can shape a positive trajectory in which Grangemouth is recognised as a valuable asset that can propel the Scottish economy forward towards a cleaner and more resilient tomorrow. In that respect, listening, collaborating and meaningfully engaging with affected communities, workers and industry will be key.

When do you expect to have a firmer idea about tolerable risk?

Yes, please. Mr Griffin has just picked up on the question that I was going to ask, but I have a follow-up question.

Minister, are you considering making provision for a profit threshold for SMEs? Has that been ruled out or is it not really on the radar?

My colleague Mr Briggs has made some powerful points. The Grenfell tragedy involved a devastating loss of life that none of us will ever forget. The public were, rightly, horrified by it. However, last week, I found it reassuring that our witness Jim McGonigal said that the fire statistics for Scotland indicated that we do not have such a big problem here, in that only 1 per cent of fires spread. That is largely because of the really good work that has been done through coverage of the Scottish standards on fire alarms and other matters that have been brought in over the years. I absolutely do not mean to minimise either the need for the bill or the serious risks involving cladding, but are residents aware of, and do they understand, the existing protective measures? Are they reassured by them?

It would be great to hear further feedback on that. You have spoken about raised awareness among residents. However, sometimes there is a vocal group of them and perhaps another more removed group that is not quite as involved and perhaps does not have a full understanding. After we went out to visit flats in Edinburgh, I felt that, had I had news that there was similar cladding on my flat, I would have been quite panicked at the thought of it. It would be good to know a bit more about that.

Great. I look forward to that. Thank you for allowing me back in, convener.