Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 07 May 2014
07 May 2014 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Energy and Climate Change
I welcome the Scottish Government’s precautionary approach to hydraulic fracturing and unconventional gas extraction and, therefore, I have some sympathy—but only some—with Alison Johnstone’s motion.
I am proud of Scotland’s world-leading climate change legislation because it strikes a sensible balance between the need to reduce our CO2 emissions and the need to maintain our economy. That requires a long-term approach, and I am pleased that we are on course to hit our long-term targets.
Unfortunately, the Scottish Green Party focuses too much on short-term figures, denying the reality of the economic difficulties that may face us in any given year, denying the effect that poor economic performance would have on the poorest people in our society, denying the effects on jobs and unemployment that its policies would have and denying the increase in poverty that they would bring about.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Tricia Marwick)
NPA
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-09927, in the name of Alison Johnstone, on energy and climate change. 15:11
Alison Johnstone (Lothian) (Green)
Green
It is generally agreed that our energy policy should deliver three things: a secure supply; energy at an affordable cost; and energy that is low in climate-c...
The Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth (John Swinney)
SNP
I welcome the debate that the Green Party has initiated today on energy and climate change. It provides an opportunity for us to consider the range of measur...
Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
Mr Swinney knows that I agree with him on the importance of the oil and gas sector. Can he enlighten us as to when he intends to bring forward his revised es...
John Swinney
SNP
I told Parliament that I would bring those forward in the coming weeks and that is exactly what I intend to do to assist the debate. While we recognise the ...
Claudia Beamish (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
In view of recent announcements by electricity companies about the offshore renewables sector, does the cabinet secretary share any of my concerns about how ...
John Swinney
SNP
I certainly do not think that the uncertainty that has been created by the electricity market reform process undertaken by the UK Government has helped inves...
Alison Johnstone
Green
Although it may be possible to prove that extraction is safe, it simply will not be possible to prove that burning the fuel that is extracted is safe. Does t...
John Swinney
SNP
The key point that I would make to Alison Johnstone is that all these issues must be considered within our framework to reduce climate change. I have just co...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith)
Lab
I advise members that there is no extra time available this afternoon, so interventions should be contained within speeches. 15:28
Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
I start by congratulating Alison Johnstone on bringing the debate to the chamber, because it is an important and current policy issue that, until now, we hav...
Alison Johnstone
Green
Is Iain Gray aware that, in areas where unconventional gas extraction occurs, coal-bed methane extraction leads to hydraulic fracturing in 40 per cent of cases?
Iain Gray
Lab
They are two different processes, as Ms Johnstone herself pointed out when she complained that one can move easily to the other in the regulatory framework. ...
Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
I thank the Scottish Greens for giving us the opportunity this afternoon to debate the extraction of unconventional gas throughout Scotland. I commend Alison...
Graeme Dey (Angus South) (SNP)
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Murdo Fraser
Con
No, thank you. When we actually look at public opinion, we see that not everyone is buying that nonsense. According the latest DECC public opinion tracker, ...
Alison Johnstone
Green
Will the member give way?
Murdo Fraser
Con
No, I need to make some progress. We should remember that there is nothing new about fracking for shale gas and extracting coal seam gas in Scotland. Back i...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
We come to the open debate. We are very tight for time, with speeches of a maximum of four minutes. 15:38
Rob Gibson (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP)
SNP
As it says in the Scottish National Party amendment, “Scotland has a rich diversity of energy sources including a very successful oil and gas sector and gr...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
I am afraid that you must close now.
Rob Gibson
SNP
A recent poll for DECC showed that 50 per cent of Tories would rather live near a wind farm than have fracking in their back yard. Many more people across Sc...
Margaret McDougall (West Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
As stated in Labour’s amendment, Scotland needs a robust and balanced energy policy that strives to match our energy needs with our climate change and carbon...
Mike MacKenzie (Highlands and Islands) (SNP)
SNP
I welcome the Scottish Government’s precautionary approach to hydraulic fracturing and unconventional gas extraction and, therefore, I have some sympathy—but...
John Finnie (Highlands and Islands) (Ind)
Ind
Will Mike MacKenzie take an intervention?
Mike MacKenzie
SNP
No—I am sorry but I am short of time. For instance, I was disappointed to hear Patrick Harvie dismiss in a recent debate the opportunity presented by carbon...
Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green)
Green
Will Mike Mackenzie give way?
Mike MacKenzie
SNP
No, I am not taking interventions because I am short of time. Interruption. Sorry—another occasion, Mr Harvie. In acquiring the expertise to develop world-...
Marco Biagi (Edinburgh Central) (SNP)
SNP
To members of the Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee, this is a very familiar topic, although we are used to seeing Murdo Fraser curb his great enthusiasm...
Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
I am pleased to close the debate for the Scottish Conservatives. A number of members have rightly referred, as does our amendment, to the importance of ener...