Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP

The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-16171, in the name of Douglas Lumsden, on ensuring that communities are at the heart of the electricity c...

Douglas Lumsden (North East Scotland) (Con) Con

Up and down Scotland, including in my region, rural communities are being threatened by developments that, as one campaigner describes, are “bulldozing thro...

The Acting Minister for Climate Action (Alasdair Allan) SNP

The member knows full well that ministers cannot meet community groups during a live planning application.

Douglas Lumsden Con

Let us have a look at the ministerial code. It says that “meeting the developer or objectors to discuss the proposal, but not meeting all parties with an in...

Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Con

Douglas Lumsden talks about standing up for communities such as my community in the Borders. Communities are beset with hundreds of applications for renewabl...

Douglas Lumsden Con

Absolutely. We are currently facing plans for hundreds of miles of new pylons right across Scotland, affecting the Highlands, the Borders and Aberdeenshire,...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

I call Alasdair Allan to speak to and move amendment S6M-16171.3. 16:08

The Acting Minister for Climate Action (Alasdair Allan) SNP

I welcome the opportunity to debate the UK and Scottish Governments’ jointly proposed reforms to the consenting process. It is extremely important that every...

Douglas Lumsden Con

Will the minister give way?

Alasdair Allan SNP

I would be interested to know whether the member can gainsay that, but yes.

Douglas Lumsden Con

The minister is right—just like nuclear power is reserved, but the Scottish Government can block it by using the planning laws that it controls. Surely, in t...

Alasdair Allan SNP

I was not aware of Douglas Lumsden’s proposal that communities in Scotland should be in a position to block nuclear power stations. Scottish ministers—Interr...

Douglas Lumsden Con

That is not the point.

Alasdair Allan SNP

The point is that Scottish ministers determine applications to construct or install electricity infrastructure under the Electricity Act 1989. We do not choo...

Craig Hoy (South Scotland) (Con) Con

Made a request to intervene.

Rachael Hamilton Con

Will the member take an intervention?

Alasdair Allan SNP

Yes.

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

Is the minister giving way to Rachael Hamilton?

Alasdair Allan SNP

Yes.

Rachael Hamilton Con

The queue for an energy grid connection is vastly oversubscribed. Communities that I and others represent are angry—and they are angry because there are so m...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

Minister, you have one minute left.

Alasdair Allan SNP

There is certainly a need for reform at the UK level—which is where the powers lie—of the national grid in terms of grid connections and the capacity to make...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

Minister, you need to conclude. Please move your amendment.

Alasdair Allan SNP

I move amendment S6M-16171.3, to leave out from “opposes” to end and insert: “believes that communities must be at the heart of the renewable energy transit...

Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab) Lab

It is fitting that, as members came into the chamber today, we passed a Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks stall, showing the practical work that it ...

Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Con

There have been circumstances recently in which communities, local authorities, the reporter and a public inquiry have objected but the Scottish Government h...

Sarah Boyack Lab

The whole point of consulting people earlier is so that their views are heard much earlier and can shape proposals. We have examples of housing developments ...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

You need to conclude.

Sarah Boyack Lab

We need to develop more of a consensus, not just in the chamber but by working with local communities, so that we deliver community benefits, renewable energ...

Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD) LD

The Scottish Liberal Democrats strongly believe in the importance of empowering local communities. That belief has always been central to my approach in scru...