Meeting of the Parliament 04 October 2023
We are happy to support the legislative consent motion if not the tone in which the minister has presented it to the chamber this afternoon.
It is heartening to see a good level of co-operation between the Scottish and Westminster Governments, which is much needed but seldom found. This is an issue that the whole of the UK should be working together on, as it affects us all. Ensuring our energy supply and sustainability is key to us achieving our net zero targets, and exploring and legislating for new technologies is vital to our energy security.
We also thank the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee and the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee for the time that they have taken to consider the matter and their careful scrutiny of the lengthy and complicated bill. I was happy that the work was done by the net zero committee before I joined, because I can see how much was involved. With more than 300 clauses, there was a lot to get through and, clearly, there are many areas that require a UK-wide response that also includes powers that are delegated to the Scottish Government.
I welcome the consultation and, obviously, the detailed conversations that have happened between civil servants and ministers across both Governments. It is refreshing to see both of our Governments working together on this.
Many of the concerns that were raised by the net zero committee—and its report of 17 March—have now been addressed, which is reflected in the report that it published on 26 September.
I am also grateful to my fellow committee members and the clerks for bringing me up to speed so quickly on a complicated and detailed bill.
Throughout the clauses that are before us today, there is reference to the ministerial forum that will address many of the issues of contention in the bill. I ask the minister for clarity—if she has it—on the frequency of the meeting for the forum, the process for agreeing the agenda and how the minister proposes to update this chamber on those discussions. It might also be helpful to the minister if the relevant party spokespeople could meet her before and after the meetings to discuss progress. It is important that the process be as transparent as possible, given the implications for business and communities throughout Scotland and in the north-east, in particular.
It would also be helpful if the minister could share the details of the memorandum of understanding that is to be established between the Scottish and UK Governments on how they will work together on the policy relating to the economic regulation of CO2 transport and storage. That will be a new market, and any information would be appreciated.
Those points are picked up in the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee’s recommendation that the Scottish Parliament must be given the means by which to scrutinise and hold
“ministers to account for their position in any agreement with the UK Government.”
Perhaps the minister would like to update us now or in her closing remarks.
The fact that a key area of the bill concerns the relatively new industry of carbon capture is really exciting for our Acorn project. I say “new”, but I think that certain parts of the world have been doing carbon capture for a while now. With its deep underground depleted oil and gas wells, Scotland is uniquely well placed to store huge amounts of carbon deep underground. The carbon capture industry is, we hope, one that can bring huge economic benefit for the whole of Scotland.
It is vital that we all see the benefits of the move away from fossil fuels and towards renewable energy. Businesses and communities in the north-east are eager to play their part—that is a topic that I spoke about just last week—and the measures in the bill will assist with that. They will ensure that we have clear and consistent policy from both Governments on carbon capture, hydrogen, the reduction of emissions from industry and transport, and the provision of low-carbon power.
I also welcome the bill’s focus on the offshore wind environmental improvement package, as well as the habitats assessment process for offshore wind projects. The bill as amended now also imposes on the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets the express mandate of supporting the achievement of net zero, which will be key to ensuring that everyone, at all levels of government and in associated bodies, is focused on that goal.
District heating systems, too, are covered in the bill. I am convinced that district heating networks will have a huge role to play as we move away from traditional gas boilers, especially in large parts of our urban areas, where older, traditional flats may not be suitable for air-source heat pumps.
Without wanting to be too negative, one area that still disappoints me is this devolved Government’s stance against new nuclear. Wind power is great, but we need to understand that, on cold, still days, the wind does not blow and our turbines do not turn. We need to have a good, reliable baseload and not rely on imported electricity for our base. We have some great skills in nuclear and we have some great sites that are connected to the grid. I urge the Scottish Government to keep an open mind. Technology is changing, as is decommissioning. New nuclear could provide a real economic benefit to Scotland.
That said, I support the LCM before us today.
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