3. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support the development of sustainable aviation fuel in Scotland. (S6O-02182)

Transitioning to sustainable aviation fuel is an essential part of the global endeavour to decarbonise aviation.

In developing our aviation strategy, the Scottish Government will consider all responses to our public consultation, including those supporting investment in SAF. In addition, Transport Scotland is working with Scottish Enterprise, which has commissioned an SAF supply chain study, to review the economic opportunity for Scotland. That review takes into account a new report by Sustainable Aviation that suggests that SAF production in the United Kingdom could create 10,000 jobs initially. We will consider all such material as we determine our potential actions on SAF.

Aviation is a critical part of Scotland’s transport infrastructure, bringing 2 million visitors to Scotland each year, who in turn spent £2.5 billion here. The industry is also worth £2.5 billion in its own right.

Net zero poses a real challenge. Electric aviation will be suitable only for short hops and hydrogen aviation fuel is some way off. Sustainable air fuel is therefore important, but we must make decisions about how we revitalise our petrochemical infrastructure. We also know that biomass comes with substantial opportunity costs.

What detailed steps have been taken to evaluate the opportunity costs of biomass? What planning framework will be in place so that any projects will be genuinely co-led by Government and industry?

In my initial answer, I set out the work being undertaken by Government, Transport Scotland and Scottish Enterprise. The SAF mapping exercise commissioned by Scottish Enterprise will provide a far more robust evidence base to allow us to consider whether and how the Scottish Government can support SAF production in Scotland.

Some measures in that regard are already being undertaken in Scotland. For example, Highland and Islands Airports Limited recently made SAF available at Inverness airport, and many other schemes are under way. We will continue moving forward on that front to ensure that aviation becomes sustainable and we will keep Parliament informed.

In March, the cross-party group on aviation published a report that called for the creation of an SAF industry in Scotland and for it to be supported by the Scottish Government and the Scottish National Investment Bank. The minister seems to accept the potential for SAF, and he said that its production could create up to 10,000 jobs. What is he doing to unlock that potential? Is he in talks with the United Kingdom Government about doing so?

Of course, the Scottish Government talks to the UK Government on a number of issues. I point out to Mr Simpson and the rest of the Parliament that regulation of aviation remains reserved, and the UK Government’s jet zero strategy will apply throughout the UK. The sector has repeatedly called on the UK Government to introduce a price support mechanism for SAF, given its high cost, and I agree with the sector that the UK Government should do that. Sustainable Aviation’s new report reiterates that request and notes:

“If UK SAF support schemes are not established soon, there is a risk of missing out on creating a UK SAF industry.”

Of course, the Scottish Government and I will do all that we can to prod and cajole the UK Government into putting that mechanism in place, and I hope that Mr Simpson will support us on that.