Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 07 December 2021
07 Dec 2021 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Just Transition
I welcome any investments in our renewables opportunities. Tess White will be aware that there was massive disappointment that it was not a much greater investment, which we require to move forward at a faster pace. I hope that she will take that message to the UK Government.
The UK Government has to play its role here, too. It can start not only by addressing the tidal energy issue but by reversing the illogical decision that it has taken to overlook the Scottish carbon capture utilisation and storage cluster for track 1 status. Awarding it that status would have supported more than 15,000 green jobs from next year, using the skills of our oil and gas sector, as is demonstrated in a report by Scottish Enterprise that has been released today.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
?I remind members of? the ?Covid-?related measures that are in place?and that face coverings should be worn when moving around?the chamber and across the Hol...
The Minister for Just Transition, Employment and Fair Work (Richard Lochhead)
SNP
Scotland’s journey to net zero in 2045, which is when we aim to end our contribution to global warming, will transform how we live and work, our economy and ...
Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
Does Richard Lochhead accept that, in this morning’s report, the CCC asked the Government to be more transparent about how policies will deliver the targets ...
Richard Lochhead
SNP
We have been and will continue to be transparent, and we will, of course, listen to the recommendations in the report and respond in due course. A cornersto...
Tess White (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
Will Richard Lochhead give way?
Liam Kerr (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
Will Richard Lochhead take an intervention?
Richard Lochhead
SNP
I thought that that might attract some interventions. If time is added on, I will take an intervention.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Minister, which member are you taking an intervention from?
Richard Lochhead
SNP
I apologise—I will take Tess White’s intervention.
Tess White
Con
Will the minister welcome the United Kingdom Government’s investment in tidal energy?
Richard Lochhead
SNP
I welcome any investments in our renewables opportunities. Tess White will be aware that there was massive disappointment that it was not a much greater inve...
Liam Kerr
Con
Will Richard Lochhead take an intervention?
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I will add on a bit of time for the intervention.
Richard Lochhead
SNP
I will take it.
Liam Kerr
Con
Is the minister aware that the selection of carbon capture cluster projects was made on objective criterion? He does not appear to be.
Richard Lochhead
SNP
What I am aware of is that Sir Ian Wood and others said that it is environmentally and economically the wrong decision and that it is like leaving the best p...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
You must bring your remarks to a close, minister.
Richard Lochhead
SNP
We must ensure that, whenever possible, our climate actions support our broader economic and social objectives. That is what the just transition is all about...
Tess White (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
The Scottish Conservatives believe in a fair and well-managed transition to net zero. That is critical to safeguarding jobs in the energy sector, to protecti...
Graham Simpson (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
Does Tess White agree that standing up for 100,000 jobs in the north-east and for energy security is not, as a Scottish Government minister has said, taking ...
Tess White
Con
I agree with Graham Simpson. Patrick Harvie is not here today, but for a Scottish Government minister with a ministerial car and a salary to match to suggest...
Richard Lochhead
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Tess White
Con
I am in my final few paragraphs. Let us not forget that it is the energy companies that are investing their money, time and technical expertise in renewable...
Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
We know that the clock is ticking if we are to prevent the climate emergency from becoming a climate catastrophe. We also know that COP26 barely kept 1.5° al...
Tess White
Con
Does the member agree that the Scottish Labour position on Cambo has jeopardised a thousand jobs in the energy sector?
Colin Smyth
Lab
The reality is that people in the energy sector are already losing their jobs and are getting very little support from the UK Government, at a time when oil ...
Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD)
LD
The purpose of this short debate is perhaps a little hard to discern. However, if it provides a chance for the Parliament to restate our collective commitmen...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
We move to the open debate. I advise members that we have no time in hand and that any interventions must therefore be absorbed in their speaking time. 16:18
Fiona Hyslop (Linlithgow) (SNP)
SNP
In 1904, the Oakbank Oil Company built the Niddry Castle oil works at Winchburgh in my constituency. The irony is that, long before the electrification of th...
Dean Lockhart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
There is cross-party agreement in the Parliament about the need to transition to net zero in a fair and managed fashion. I agree with many of the headline po...