Meeting of the Parliament 27 November 2025
I absolutely agree with Beatrice Wishart. There is something very wrong with a system in which communities are asked to host critical infrastructure but are still paying the highest electricity prices in the UK. That is why I have been advocating for a number of reforms at UK Government level. The first of those is decoupling the electricity price from the gas price, which was taken off the table as part of the review of electricity market arrangements—REMA—consultation and was never brought back when the new UK Government came in. Secondly, I am advocating for a social tariff, which should make a difference to those in particularly vulnerable households.
This morning, I met the leaders of Shetland Islands Council to discuss the need for more community benefits, not just from critical infrastructure but from energy development in general. We are updating our good practice principles on that, but I am pleased to say that, although the previous UK Government was not interested in having enhanced community benefits mandated in law, the current Government is consulting on the issue.