Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent)
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On SuperNode, one of the concerns is the effect of just transition on employment. The management of just transition in Scotland has led to great disappointment. People have lost their jobs in more carbon intensive industries and they hoped that transition would be an area of retraining and the creation of a different model. In Ireland the process of onshore may have been done slowly. In Scotland, we are looking quite similarly at the same model but it has greatly disappointed people and there is a real concern that just transition has not been built in. We also know that the principles of the Just Transition Silesia Declaration require we ensure there is just transition wherever possible and it is a key component of the business. I ask the witnesses to outline a few key points on the matter.

We have heard consideration being given to the issue of the potential use of composites. We know that composites that have been partly funded by the State have been unable to get co-operation from business. The use of composites is an issue. Working with apprentices is another issue. Working with institutes of technology to train people up for the future is a specific question.

I would like to ask about planning. It has been mentioned that we are moving towards offshore floating. We know that wind speeds are increasing globally. That is the news we are hearing now. It is appropriate that the planning processes which are starting are long because they need to be long. We have been told that planning for a model with regard to offshore floating is slightly down the line. How do we plan for a five-year roll-out that involves offshore floating, addresses the environmental changes that will affect things like wind speeds, builds up local capacity and invests in materials and in the workforce?