Scotland
ACE Scotland
Cross party
construction
annual reception
group
A further meeting of the cross party
construction group was held in committee
Scotland’s minister for transport, infrastructure and room 2 at the Scottish Parliament Building
climate change has told ACE that engineers will lead the
at Holyrood on 16th December 2009.
way to a sustainable Scotland.
The meeting was chaired by Marilyn
Livingston MSP and heard a presentation
by Gordon McGuiness of Skills
S
tewart Stevenson MSP spoke tidal power technology off its east coast. Development Scotland on Construction
to ACE Scotland at their annual These projects require a great deal of Apprenticeships. While the subject
reception in November. He took technical expertise not just to develop the matter was not of direct relevance to ACE
the chance to outline Scotland’s progress sites, but to connect this new energy to members there was a lively discussion
towards leading the world in renewable the national grid. on the threats being posed to Scotland’s
energy creating a sustainable low carbon The renewables agenda north of colleges by the cuts in training budgets.
economy. This ambition has remained the border has spurred interest in the
undiminished by the present economic engineering sector. The public and
difficulties. politicians share a growing awareness
A stronger voice
Legislation passed last year has bought that engineers are central to economic
in legally binding commitments for reducing prosperity.
for construction
greenhouse gas emissions. Scotland will ACE has met in recent months with the Following the last cross party meeting ACE
now have to reduce carbon emissions by first minister, Alex Salmond, to discuss Scotland’s representative met with Alan Watt
42 percent by 2020 and by and ambitious engineering policy and wider issues. A of CECA (The Civil Engineering Contractors
80 percent in time for 2050. Scotland is similar meeting with the housing minister Association) and Derek Elder, the director of
one of the few countries in the world to Alex Neil also emphasised the breadth of the Institution of Civil Engineers in Scotland,
have written targets into law. policy interest that the sector can support. to agree the wording of a joint manifesto
The Scottish Parliament’s deputy Geoff French, chairman of ACE in entitled ‘Scotland’s Vital Infrastructure’. This
presiding officer, Alasdair Morgan, hosted 2008, was keen to emphasise that document will be printed and circulated to
the event at the Scottish Parliament the world’s most pressing problems politicians in the run up to the next general
Building at Holyrood. He agreed that have engineering solutions. He told the election and beyond. It was agreed to
engineers would be instrumental in driving reception: “Now is the time for engineers hold regular meetings as a group to co-
major change and in resolving many of to make their voices heard”. ordinate a construction industry response on
the challenges yet to arise. ACE members have agreed to do topical issues. This, it was felt, would help
Scottish is said to have around a third just that. Several have taken on roles to overcome the problem faced in trying to
of all Europe’s off shore renewable energy as spokespeople for a range of fields make our voice heard effectively in the cross
resource. It is working hard to exploit in Scotland. That should ensure that party group which contains representatives
this now and plans to invest heavily in reporters and politicians can turn to the from over 30 different bodies including
offshore wind as part of its climate change sector for information as and when they trade organisations, colleges and housing
commitments. It is also investigating need it. associations.
18 | Impact • February/March 2010
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