Meeting of the Parliament 05 March 2026 [Draft]
Regarding the specific proposal that the member raises, I am unable to comment on live applications.
In June last year, I met the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy to discuss areas of her portfolio where different groups experience particular impacts in relation to net zero, climate justice and just transition. The member can be assured that we will continue to engage on and consider those matters carefully.
Regarding new infrastructure, it is important to note that Scotland’s fourth national planning framework, known as NPF4, ensures that the potential impacts of proposals on communities and nature are important considerations in the decision-making process. Matters relating to electricity networks, including legislation and regulation, are, of course, reserved to the United Kingdom Government, with strategic planning undertaken by the National Energy System Operator, and the Scottish Government has no role beyond its statutory planning and consenting functions.