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Energy policy is reserved, but the Scottish Executive has responsibility for renewable energy policy and has in effect already created a de facto Scottish energy policy through the introduction of the renewables obligation (Scotland) scheme.There is a Tory motion before us.
That is exactly what is happening now—it is privatisation by the back door.Duncan McNeil, Des McNulty and all the other Labour members stand there and say, "People don't care how they get their treatment as long as they get it quickly."
Otherwise, the alternative and less helpful route will involve amendments at stage 2.I want to make passing reference to Colin Fox. His leadership speech was a tour de force; no one here could doubt his commitment to the fire service.
I am reminded of the words of a gentleman called Barnett Cocks, who said:"A committee is a cul-de-sac down which ideas are lured, then quietly strangled."
In association with the police, we have held courses for all staff on de-escalation techniques and basic self-defence.I probably take a slightly different view on an issue that was raised earlier.
I do not want to be dragged down the cul-de-sac that Phil Gallie wishes me to go down, but we must use the powers that the Parliament has to best effect for the benefit of future generations.
I will move on from that characteristically irrelevant contribution from Des McNulty.In its evidence, the new-Labour-led Convention of Scottish Local Authorities defended the first-past-the-post system and said that it was opposed to voting reform.
I am not sure how further study would assist us in assessing an impact that is, de facto, nil. That more or less corroborates what SNH has said to us: it would be nice for us to have the assessment, but not necessary.The point that SNH raises about Atlantic salmon is more important, concerning why the environmental statement did not recognise Atlantic salmo...
Frankly, it is not a robust enough stance for the committee simply to accept that something is de facto in breach of the ECHR. Anyone will tell you that if one person thinks that something is in breach of the ECHR, another person will dispute that.