Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 25 February 2015
25 Feb 2015 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Energy Strategy
I have a lot to get through in my four minutes, so let us crack on.
On Longannet, I hear the comments that are being made that transmission charging is only a part of what is affecting the station, but it is a £40 million part. The press release that has been issued by Prospect, the union, states:
“The union representing engineers, technicians and other professional staff in the electricity supply industry has warned the viability of Scottish Power-run Longannet, Scotland’s largest power station, is threatened by a £40m charge for connecting it to the grid, which penalises it in comparison to similar energy generation south of the border.”
That is a like-with-like comparison. Prospect’s national secretary said of Fergus Ewing:
“We welcome the minister’s commitment to continue to put pressure on the Westminster Government who have responsibility for this matter.”
The union is identifying transmission charging as the key element in the Longannet situation.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (John Scott)
Con
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-12395, in the name of Murdo Fraser, on an energy strategy for Scotland. I call Murdo Fraser to speak to a...
Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
Last week, we had yet more unwelcome news about the future of the Longannet power station in Fife. As someone who represents the area, I am well aware of the...
The Minister for Business, Energy and Tourism (Fergus Ewing)
SNP
Does Murdo Fraser recognise that I have made clear not only for the past four years, but in our “Electricity Generation Policy Statement—2013” that we will c...
Murdo Fraser
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Murdo Fraser
Con
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Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green)
Green
Will Mr Fraser give way?
Murdo Fraser
Con
No—I need to make some progress. In his amendment, the minister mentions “the need for increased investment in large-scale flexible electricity storage sol...
The Minister for Business, Energy and Tourism (Fergus Ewing)
SNP
I genuinely welcome the opportunity to debate this important matter, and I thank Murdo Fraser and his party for raising it in the chamber. Few things are of ...
Murdo Fraser
Con
Does the minister include in his denigration of all those who disagree with his stance Professor Paul Younger, professor of energy engineering at Glasgow uni...
Fergus Ewing
SNP
The member has asked three questions. I will not be drawn into commenting on particular individuals, but if Mr Fraser can demonstrate that I have said anythi...
Patrick Harvie
Green
Will the minister give way?
Fergus Ewing
SNP
I am sorry, but I do not have the time. I might come back to the member in my closing speech. The central conundrum for the Scottish Conservatives is this: ...
Lewis Macdonald (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
Longannet power station is under threat of closure, which is a matter of regret, but it should come as no surprise to anyone and least of all to ministers in...
Fergus Ewing
SNP
Does Lewis Macdonald accept that CCS schemes—gas CCS at Peterhead and the white rose project for coal south of the border—are being agreed to go ahead? I tho...
Lewis Macdonald
Lab
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Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green)
Green
Murdo Fraser indicated that he had tried to find the kindest thing that he could say about my amendment. I appreciate the effort that he went to, but I am ha...
Fergus Ewing
SNP
On the face of it, that is a fair point, but Mr Harvie will recollect quite well that SNP members—including Mike Weir back in 2005—and then the SNP Governmen...
Patrick Harvie
Green
I hope that the general point is made that the transmission charging regime is one factor among many and that the minister has failed to place sufficient emp...
Chic Brodie
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Patrick Harvie
Green
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The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
We move to the open debate. We are very tight for time, as I said. Members have up to four minutes. 15:10
Mark McDonald (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP)
SNP
I have a lot to get through in my four minutes, so let us crack on. On Longannet, I hear the comments that are being made that transmission charging is only...
Murdo Fraser
Con
Will Mr McDonald give way?
Mark McDonald
SNP
I have only four minutes and I have a lot that I need to get through. We should also accept that—contrary to Murdo Fraser’s statements—transmission charging...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
Will you draw to a close, please?
Mark McDonald
SNP
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The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
You must close.
Mark McDonald
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Cara Hilton (Dunfermline) (Lab)
Lab
I am pleased to take part in today’s debate on an issue that is of huge importance to Fife and to Scotland. Longannet sits on the west side of my constituenc...