Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 20 May 2025
20 May 2025 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Radio Teleswitch Service Switch-off
I am talking not about what has been done but about the fact that the programme has not been rolled out according to the deadline that the SNP promised. I was not even trying to make a particularly political point; I was simply making the point that people in the Western Isles have not seen any upgrades in that respect, and good broadband is required for some of the meter upgrades.
Across my region—and this is a further answer for the minister—more than 21,000 premises have yet to receive an upgrade, including more than 3,400 in Moray. It is evident that many households and businesses will not meet the June 2025 deadline, and many people could, as a result, face an energy cliff edge.
I call on the UK Government and Ofgem to consider a delay to the switch-off date so that households across Scotland, including in rural and island communities, can catch up. Similarly, I call on the SNP Government, which has devolved responsibility for rolling out broadband infrastructure, to ensure that there are no more delays to these vital upgrades.
18:19In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
The final item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-17484, in the name of Beatrice Wishart, on the radio teleswitch service switch-off. Th...
Beatrice Wishart (Shetland Islands) (LD)
LD
Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I am sorry not to join members in the chamber in person this evening. I thank members who have supported the motion and...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
As we move to the open debate, I advise the chamber that there is a lot of interest in the subject, and therefore I must ask members to stick to their speaki...
Elena Whitham (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP)
SNP
I thank Beatrice Wishart for bringing this important and urgent debate to the chamber, and I fully support her motion. The RTS switch-off is of great conc...
Tim Eagle (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
I am grateful to Beatrice Wishart for securing a debate on what is becoming an increasingly serious issue, for many of the reasons that have been mentioned. ...
The Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy (Gillian Martin)
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Tim Eagle
Con
I think that I have time, so yes.
Gillian Martin
SNP
I was not expecting to talk about R100 today, but I should say that we have activated 55 4G masts in areas where economic factors and challenges would have m...
Tim Eagle
Con
I am talking not about what has been done but about the fact that the programme has not been rolled out according to the deadline that the SNP promised. I wa...
Pam Duncan-Glancy (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
I thank Beatrice Wishart for securing this debate on an issue that affects people across Scotland, from Glasgow to the Shetland isles. Figures from Ofgem sh...
Emma Harper (South Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
I thank Beatrice Wishart for bringing this members’ business debate to the chamber. She has outlined extremely well the problems that will be caused for her ...
Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con)
Con
I thank Beatrice Wishart for securing this important debate. The urgency with which we need to deal with the issue is growing with each passing day. Schedul...
Emma Harper
SNP
Rachael Hamilton has just highlighted the challenges that some really vulnerable people are facing, especially the 97-year-old person in Duns. Does she agree...
Rachael Hamilton
Con
That is why it is so important that Beatrice Wishart has brought the debate to the chamber. I hope that it will almost be an awareness campaign for those who...
Ariane Burgess (Highlands and Islands) (Green)
Green
I, too, thank Beatrice Wishart for bringing this important and urgent debate to the chamber. I speak on behalf of my constituents in the Highlands and Island...
Christine Grahame (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP)
SNP
I congratulate Beatrice Wishart on securing this debate on the motion, to which I was a signatory. Much has been said about smart meters—often about their un...
Alexander Burnett (Aberdeenshire West) (Con)
Con
I thank Beatrice Wishart for bringing the motion for debate. As we have heard, the closure of the radio teleswitch service on 30 June is fast approaching. I ...
The Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy (Gillian Martin)
SNP
Like other members, I begin by thanking Beatrice Wishart for securing a debate on the hugely important issue of the RTS switch-off. Members will know that e...
Rachael Hamilton
Con
An issue that I did not get to in my speech is the fact that some of the remedial works are not being covered. Could the Scottish Government help with the pr...
Gillian Martin
SNP
As I said, Ofgem is responsible for the process, and the responsibility to replace the meters lies with the energy companies. We have called for certain prot...
Christine Grahame
SNP
Will the cabinet secretary take an intervention?
Gillian Martin
SNP
Yes, I will.
Christine Grahame
SNP
In taking all reasonable steps to ensure that customers are no worse off, should there be a discount on the bill if, to use my example, white metering means ...
Gillian Martin
SNP
My reading of suppliers being mandated to “take all reasonable steps to provide a tariff that leaves the consumer ‘no worse off’” is that it involves exact...
Rachael Hamilton
Con
When I talked about remedial works, I meant rewiring. That is what I was talking about.
Gillian Martin
SNP
Right. Thank you. We have asked for a fund to support consumers who are in that position, and we have called on Ofgem, the UK Government and industry to mak...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Thank you, cabinet secretary. That concludes the debate. Meeting closed at 18:50.