Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 22 January 2025
22 Jan 2025 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Electricity Infrastructure Consenting
The Scottish Liberal Democrats strongly believe in the importance of empowering local communities. That belief has always been central to my approach in scrutinising policy and legislation. However, I also recognise that that must be balanced with other priorities, including the need to deliver vital infrastructure. Two weeks ago, at 5.30 pm on 8 January, the spare electricity capacity on the national grid was just 580MW. Experts warned that a further small drop in generation could have resulted in blackouts. Had it done so, this debate would not have taken place—or the tone and content of it would certainly have been very different.
The national grid represents an incredible achievement, but some 1920s infrastructure is still in use. Upgrades have not kept pace with the changing nature of energy generation and customer demand. Wind, solar and other renewables demand more decentralised transmission and use of storage. There is no world in which we can rely indefinitely on the North Sea basin. That is not a matter of politics—it is a matter of geology.
In the same item of business
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...