Holyrood Live
BBC Parliaments

That's all from Holyrood Live on Thursday 10 May 2018.

Holyrood's Finance and Constitution Committee has recommended that the parliament does not consent to the EU Withdrawal Bill unless a political solution can be found.

In its report published earlier today, the committee has called for reciprocal political commitments to ensure parity between the UK and Scottish governments.

The report also calls for the removal of Clause 11 and Schedule 3 of the Bill.

Speaking at Holyrood's Europe Committee shortly after publication, Scottish secretary David Mundell insisted efforts would still be made to attain consent.

The final vote on the consent memorandum for the EU Withdrawal Bill takes place on Tuesday.

The three Scottish Conservative members of the finance committee dissented from its recommendations on reciprocal commitments and Clause 11.

Read the full report here., external

The blue text is the Scottish Conservative's amendment, while red text is Scottish Labour's.

Crucially, this means MSPs have backed a change to the target date - calling instead for all homes reach EPC C rating by 2030 "where feasibly possible".

This is ten years earlier than the Scottish government has proposed.

Image source, bbc

Image source, SP

The government amendment, crucially amended by Labour and the Tories, is agreed to with 65 MSPs voting for it and with 59 against.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

MSPs also agree the Labour amendment, with 64 MSPs agreeing to it and with 60 against.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

MSPs agree the Tory amendment, with 64 MSPs agree to it and 60 vote against.

Image source, bbc

MSPs vote on the motion and amendments from the energy efficiency debate.

Mr Wheelhouse points to some examples of rural projects, including solar panels on Stirling.

The SME loan fund with cashback can incentivise small businesses to invest in energy efficiency measures, he suggests.

The minister insists all fuel poor households will reach EPC band C by 2030 and EPC band B by 2040.

We are working on the basis of an all-Scotland programme but we will target deprived areas, he explains.

Image source, bbc

Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse is heartened there is agreement the government is doing the right thing, although he accepts there is not agreement about the way the government is doing it.

Mr Wheelhouse stresses the route map is not the end but the beginning.

He argues this is not just about public investment, but also private and third sector investment too.

Investing in energy efficiency is a classic form of preventative spending, the minister tells the chamber.

Mr Wheelhouse argues £500m being spent to tackle fuel poverty by 2021 is ambitious.

Tory MSP Donald Cameron says the report lacks in ambition and reiterates his party's call for the EPC C target to be brought forward by ten years to 2030.

This is a pressing issue and deserves swifter action, he argues.

Mr Cameron argues there is a lack of awareness among the public of energy efficient schemes, indicating problems with communication.

The Tory MSP outlines links between fuel poverty and health, adding there are "immeasurable benefits" to improving energy efficiency.

He concludes with a call to diversify the way homes are heated.

Image source, bbc

Labour MSP Lewis Macdonald says today MSPs have been talking about the vision of the Energy Efficient Scotland route map, that by 2040 Scotland's houses will be warmer, greener and more efficient.

The debate has been how much warmer, how much greener, how much more efficient and do we have to wait until 2040, he posits.

He calls for more ambition from the government to end fuel poverty, as reflected in the Labour amendment.

The route map itself must have more ambition.

Green MSP Mark Ruskell calls for SEEP (Scotland's Energy Efficiency Programme) to reflect the lived experiences of fuel poverty for people across Scotland.

We must get the communications right, he adds.

SEEP must also address the needs of rural communities Mr Ruskell argues.

Tackling fuel poverty and reducing emissions are the two key objectives of the Scottish government's energy efficiency plans.

The Energy Efficient Scotland: Route Map, published at the start of this month, sets out an ambition to ensure all homes achieve an Energy Performance Certificate rate of C or above by 2040.

In doing so, the Scottish government hopes this will remove poor energy efficiency as a driver of fuel poverty.

The strategy also aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in residential and service sectors by 23% and 59% respectively between 2015 and 2032.

Read the route map here., external

Image source, Scottish government

Government funding of more than £54m is to go towards tackling fuel poverty in Scotland, the first minister has said.

The money will be used to help meet a target to improve the energy efficiency of all homes by 2040.

The plan is set out in the Route Map to an Energy Efficient Scotland, launched by Nicola Sturgeon at the All Energy conference in Glasgow.

The funding will also support local authorities to expand existing energy efficiency and fuel poverty programmes.

Read more here.