Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 20 February 2025
20 Feb 2025 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Great British Energy Bill
I thank the Parliament for giving us further opportunity to debate the Great British Energy Bill and the supplementary legislative consent memorandum that was lodged in Parliament on Monday. I seek that the Parliament gives consent to the UK bill and to the UK Government’s new clause on sustainable development.
During the UK Government bill’s report stage in the House of Lords, four amendments were made to the bill as recently as 11 February, one of which required the supplementary LCM from this Parliament. That amendment introduced clause 7A, which requires Great British Energy to keep
“under review”
its impact
“on the achievement of sustainable development in the United Kingdom”.
That clause will likely touch on areas in the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament, such as the environment and planning.
I note that a further amendment to the bill was tabled as recently as Monday. It would require the UK Secretary of State to “appoint an independent person”—
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-16526, in the name of Alasdair Allan, on a legislative consent motion for the Great British Energy Bill, ...
The Acting Minister for Climate Action (Alasdair Allan)
SNP
I thank the Parliament for giving us further opportunity to debate the Great British Energy Bill and the supplementary legislative consent memorandum that wa...
Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab)
Lab
Will the member give way?
Alasdair Allan
SNP
Yes, I will.
Daniel Johnson
Lab
On that technical point, why is the Government not waiting until the final reading to wrap up the LCMs into a single decision for the Parliament?
Alasdair Allan
SNP
This is a matter for the UK Government. The bill is proceeding at great pace and my understanding is that royal assent will be granted very soon—within the n...
Douglas Lumsden (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
Will the member take an intervention?
Alasdair Allan
SNP
I have to make progress in the little time that I have available. It is important to note that the Scottish Government was given very little notice of the t...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I call Edward Mountain to speak on behalf of the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee. 16:43
Edward Mountain (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
Here we go, yet again, debating a legislative consent motion on the GB Energy Bill. The first legislative consent motion was lodged in August last year. It d...
Alasdair Allan
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Edward Mountain
Con
No, not at the moment. We did our best under the circumstances, and the report added usefully to the debate, but the committee should have been spared that ...
Douglas Lumsden (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
It is a pleasure to speak to the motion, which is on my favourite topic—the myth that is GB Energy. GB Energy will do nothing for my constituents. It is a f...
Daniel Johnson
Lab
The word “fraud” has a very precise meaning. Perhaps Douglas Lumsden could explain his use of it. In case he is not aware of the way in which legislation wo...
Douglas Lumsden
Con
It is fraudulent when we are promised 1,000 jobs but the chair of GB Energy then says, “Well, those jobs will perhaps come in 20 years’ time.” That is what I...
Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
Members will remember that, in the debate two weeks ago in which when we agreed to the LCM on the Great British Energy Bill, it was flagged up that there wou...
Graham Simpson (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
Does Sarah Boyack think that this Parliament has had sufficient time to consider the LCM?
Sarah Boyack
Lab
The irony is that we are debating a very straightforward amendment, because we have debated sustainable development on numerous occasions in the Parliament. ...
Douglas Lumsden
Con
Will the member take an intervention?
Sarah Boyack
Lab
I certainly will not. I am winding up. Our UK Labour Government has taken more climate action in six months than the Tories did in 14 years in government. T...
Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD)
LD
It is very Edward Mountain to consider a legislative consent motion that is based on an amendment in the House of Lords on the Great British Energy Bill to b...
Jackie Dunbar (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP)
SNP
Presiding Officer, “The untapped resources of the North Sea are as nothing compared to the untapped resources of our people.” Fifty-three years after Jimm...
Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab)
Lab
It is somewhat ironic to hold a debate on energy at this point on a Thursday afternoon, so let me try that witticism to begin with. In some ways, Jackie Du...
Douglas Lumsden
Con
I absolutely accept that there is a need for transition, but a plan needs to be in place. I have signed Unite the union’s campaign pledge for no ban without ...
Daniel Johnson
Lab
What does Douglas Lumsden think GB Energy is about?
Douglas Lumsden
Con
We do not know. Where is the plan?
Daniel Johnson
Lab
It is central to the plan. If Douglas Lumsden wants a plan, he should back GB Energy. For goodness’ sake, we cannot, on the one hand, say that we need a plan...
Kevin Stewart (Aberdeen Central) (SNP)
SNP
I agree that we need to reap those benefits. We also need to keep the workforce. I recognise what Mr Johnson said about the legislation not being passed, bu...
Daniel Johnson
Lab
I do not need to talk to them in London. I talk to them here, because they are up here regularly. I was talking to Michael Shanks just this morning, and I wi...
Graham Simpson (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
Like Edward Mountain, I take the Parliament’s work very seriously. I like things to be done properly, whatever the outcome. The consideration of the LCM that...