Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 10 June 2026 [Last updated 18:45]
10 Jun 2026 · S7 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Portfolio Question Time
Electrical Infrastructure (Orkney)
Orkney and other communities across the Highlands and Islands will play a key role in Scotland’s renewable energy future. However, new projects in the region are being unfairly disadvantaged by Westminster’s transmission charging regime, which is costing Scottish renewable projects £1 billion. Does the minister agree that, if Labour ministers are serious about growing renewable energy in Scotland, they must scrap those unfair transmission charges immediately or get out of the way and give Scotland the power to control our own energy?
In the same item of business
Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD)
LD
To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting the installation of electrical infrastructure in Orkney. (S7O-00043)
The Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Energy (Stephen Gethins)
SNP
Since my appointment as minister, I have undertaken introductory meetings across the energy sector. I am clear that the energy transition represents one of o...
Liam McArthur
LD
I welcome the advances that the minister has made in his early days in the role. Earlier this year, the electricity cable serving North Ronaldsay, in Orkney,...
Stephen Gethins
SNP
I thank the member for the genuine work that he has done on this matter for years on behalf of his constituents. He will not expect me to comment on consents...
Laura Mitchell (Moray) (SNP)
SNP
Orkney and other communities across the Highlands and Islands will play a key role in Scotland’s renewable energy future. However, new projects in the region...
Stephen Gethins
SNP
I absolutely agree with Laura Mitchell, who has already been a strong advocate in this Parliament for jobs and investment in her constituency. We have seen u...