Portfolio Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament at on 22 May 2024.
Mr Mark Ruskell
Green
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its commitment to consult on the introduction of a carbon emissions land tax for large landowners. (S6O-03463)
Shona Robison
Scottish National Party
The Scottish Government is committed to reducing emissions from all sectors, including land, which was highlighted by the Climate Change Committee’s recent report. We will set out our approach for achieving that in the summer, and carbon taxes will form part of those considerations.
Mr Mark Ruskell
Green
The Cabinet secretary might be aware that the John Muir Trust has estimated that maximising carbon sequestration in forests and peatlands could lead to emissions savings of more than 6 million tonnes of carbon, which is the same as taking 4 million cars off our roads. However, it is clear that we have been too slow to realise that potential, which is yet another reason why Scotland has missed nine out of the last 12 climate targets. Following the consultation period during the summer, will the cabinet secretary commit to introducing legislation at the earliest possible opportunity to ensure that it is passed before the end of this parliamentary session?
Shona Robison
Scottish National Party
I acknowledge what Mark Ruskell said about the John Muir Trust. The proposal for a carbon emissions land tax is one of the options that merit consideration. It should be looked at alongside all potential fiscal and regulatory options to reduce emissions from Scotland’s land.
I am not able to give information on the timeline, but I assure Mark Ruskell that I will update Parliament once that has been established and we have more information to share. I am happy to keep him posted.
Question Time is an opportunity for MPs and Members of the House of Lords to ask Government Ministers questions. These questions are asked in the Chamber itself and are known as Oral Questions. Members may also put down Written Questions. In the House of Commons, Question Time takes place for an hour on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays after Prayers. The different Government Departments answer questions according to a rota and the questions asked must relate to the responsibilities of the Government Department concerned. In the House of Lords up to four questions may be asked of the Government at the beginning of each day's business. They are known as 'starred questions' because they are marked with a star on the Order Paper. Questions may also be asked at the end of each day's business and these may include a short debate. They are known as 'unstarred questions' and are less frequent. Questions in both Houses must be written down in advance and put on the agenda and both Houses have methods for selecting the questions that will be asked. Further information can be obtained from factsheet P1 at the UK Parliament site.
The cabinet is the group of twenty or so (and no more than 22) senior government ministers who are responsible for running the departments of state and deciding government policy.
It is chaired by the prime minister.
The cabinet is bound by collective responsibility, which means that all its members must abide by and defend the decisions it takes, despite any private doubts that they might have.
Cabinet ministers are appointed by the prime minister and chosen from MPs or peers of the governing party.
However, during periods of national emergency, or when no single party gains a large enough majority to govern alone, coalition governments have been formed with cabinets containing members from more than one political party.
War cabinets have sometimes been formed with a much smaller membership than the full cabinet.
From time to time the prime minister will reorganise the cabinet in order to bring in new members, or to move existing members around. This reorganisation is known as a cabinet re-shuffle.
The cabinet normally meets once a week in the cabinet room at Downing Street.
