An opportunity for greater collaboration
Collaboration between the Scottish mineral products industry, Scottish Government and others is essential if the best outcomes on key issues is to be achieved.
MPA Scotland have been advocating for the establishment of a Scottish Minerals Forum and is included within our ‘Priorities For Scotland’ document.
From homes, schools to railways, roads and water treatment to flood defences, hydro-electric schemes to offshore wind development, mineral products including concrete, aggregates, cement and asphalt are essential for the Scottish economy, society and environment.
As such our sector sits across a range of Government functions, it does not sit neatly within just one area of Government, as a consequence the important role we play within the Scottish economy can be, to some, invisible and as a consequence overlooked. In order to help address this MPA Scotland has been advocating the establishment of a Scottish Minerals Forum.
MPA Scotland, the Scottish Government, local government and other key stakeholders could collaborate more closely and effectively through a Scottish Minerals Forum to ensure the sector can be fully engaged in decisions that affect its future and importantly its contribution to the Scottish economy.
MPA Scotland would be keen to see a Scottish Minerals Forum established:
- looking at forward planning and strategic reserve replenishment (noting NPF4 requires landbanks of at least 10 years yet the current NPF itself runs to 2045 with objectives indeed running beyond)
- assisting in the cost effective and sustainable delivery of key infrastructure projects
- provide improved dialogue between our sector and importantly across the range of Government departments / Directorates
- improved communication across key stakeholders who have a role within our sector and its ability to achieve Scottish Government objectives
- an opportunity to consider further recycling & secondary aggregate opportunities and examine any barriers preventing further recycling opportunities in our sector
- aiding the sector in terms of future investment strategies and encouraging innovation
- aid the sector in terms of future employment and skills development
With regard to potential partners in such a Forum we would initially propose:
- MPA Scotland and its Members
- Scottish Government – Planning / Marine Directorate / Construction / Housing / Procurement
- Revenue Scotland
- Transport Scotland
- SCOTS (Scottish Collaboration of Transport Specialists)
- Scottish Roads Research Board
- Heads of Planning Scotland
- Crown Estate
- SEPA
- Scottish Futures Trust
- British Aggregates Association
- Civil Engineering Contractors Association (Scotland)
- Scottish Water / Scottish Power Energy Networks etc
- Other key stakeholder invited to attend as appropriate ie Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS)
Ministers closing remark
Indeed, our proposal to set up a Scottish Minerals Forum was mentioned on a number of occasions during the Scottish Aggregates Tax Stage 3 debate within the Scottish Parliament. Such support coming from across the chamber. We particularly welcome the Ministers closing remarks from the debate.
The sector has rightly been identified as a hugely important, although often unsung, part of the Scottish economy that underpins many of the critical areas that we have talked about, including infrastructure, housing, transport and many other sectors. It is only right that the Government continues to work closely with the sector.
Many members have raised the issue of having a forum for the sector. As I indicated, I do not think that there is any need to have that provided for in legislation. The Government engages with many sectors regularly at the ministerial level, and this sector is no exception. I am keen to work with the sector in a forum that allows us to discuss the direction of travel on taxation, innovation, skills and wider issues that impact this important sector.
I look forward to hearing from the sector as we work together to set up such a forum. I hope that that sets members’ minds at rest and that the sector understands our seriousness about continuing to engage increasingly with it on these important issues.
MPA Scotland proposal
MPA Scotland raised this proposal during the proposed Scottish Aggregates Tax consultation process, indeed Paragraph 74 of the Stage 1 report on the Aggregates Tax and Devolved Taxes Administration (Scotland) Bill stated:
‘We would also highlight MPA Scotland’s recommendation regarding the establishment of a Scottish minerals forum, including bodies such as Heads of Planning Scotland, the Scottish Collaboration of Transportation Specialists, COSLA and SEPA, which could provide strategic direction in this area, address issues regarding the availability of aggregates, sustainability and the move towards a circular economy.’
During the Debate on the 16th May 2023 following Stage 1 the issue was raised by Fergus Ewing MSP, the response of the Minister was:
Fergus Ewing made an excellent point about looking at a deliberative forum in which we can ensure that there is continued engagement with the industry that builds on the constructive engagement that we have had to date.
Ahead of stage 2, we should clarify whether we could use any existing bodies or forums or whether we require something that is bespoke. However, that is a point of process; it is simply to ensure that there is efficiency and to avoid any duplication. The forum’s objective would be to ensure that there is on-going engagement so that regulation is proportionate and can be a driver for innovation, investment and entrepreneurship, rather than something that suffocates or closes off those things. That will be important.
That is why it is vital that we continue to engage with business. Fundamentally, people who have been working in a sector for decades will grasp things just like that, whereas it would take others who are new to the sector months of work to do the same. When developing legislation and regulation, we must harness and bring to bear the collective expertise of all our people in business and across every sector.
That engagement has played a big role in getting the bill to the place that it is in now, and continued engagement will be vital as we take the legislation forward to stages 2 and 3 and as we implement it.
We agree that the Scottish Minerals Forum’s objective should be to ensure that there is on-going engagement so that regulation is proportionate and can be a driver for innovation, investment and entrepreneurship, rather than something that suffocates or closes off those things.
MPA Scotland welcomes the Minister’s commitment to ‘work with the sector in a forum that allows us to discuss the direction of travel on taxation, innovation, skills and wider issues that impact this important sector.’