Recommendation 21

While the precise parameters of committee remits will be for the next Parliament to consider, and there is no one "right" answer, our roving brief in relation to net zero and the environment has given us some insight into potentially effective synergies and what a logical and workable division of responsibilities might look like. It could, for instance, be along these lines:
A committee with responsibility for scrutinising energy policy and the just transition. It would lead on the scrutiny of overall governmental performance in driving net zero, and securing economic and social benefit from it, and in holding to account the minister in the next Scottish Government given that cross-cutting responsibility. It could have a roving brief to inquire into decarbonisation and the just transition in specific sectors outside its direct subject remit but only by agreement with the relevant subject committee, if they had no plans to do so, or lacked time. It would lead on coordinating committees' scrutiny of the next draft Climate Change Plan and have the most direct working relationship with the Climate Change Committee;
A Committee charged with considering environmental policy, rural development policy and rural land use as integrated matters: the interventions and trade-offs we need to achieve the twin goals of addressing the climate and nature crisis on our land and in our waters, and aligning these with other ambitions like having thriving, diversified rural and maritime economies;
A Committee on transport. This is too important, and high-spending, a policy area not to have a dedicated committee. This committee would lead on assessing progress in decarbonising the transport sector but also on the more everyday transport matters that the public care about: fares and ticketing; integrated transport; how our publicly-owned trains and ferries are performing; availability of buses; provision for cyclists; safety on public transport; rural transport needs, etc. This committee could also lead on scrutiny of major Scottish Government-supported public works projects.
Decarbonising heat in homes should rest mainly with the committee charged with scrutinising overall housing policy, as has been the case, in practice if not entirely on paper, for most of this session.