Hansard

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...