Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 05 March 2026 [Draft]
05 Mar 2026 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Draft Climate Change Plan
The UK Government is responsible. One of the main difficulties, and one of the reasons why we have the highest electricity prices in Europe, is the flawed situation where we tie electricity costs to the price of international gas. It is absolutely daft. The Tories should have got rid of that system, and the Labour Party should get rid of it. For us to get this right and make it right for Scots, who are being overcharged to a huge degree for electricity, that tie needs to be cut once and for all.
As I was saying, there is a role for hydrocarbons in our future electricity generation. It is a simple fact that the sun does not always shine and the wind does not always blow. Because of that, our electricity network must have the capacity to power our homes without renewables for up to 10 days at a time. Battery storage will be part of that solution and I hope that hydrogen will be part of it, too. However, there has to be a sense of reality here. We need back-up, so natural gas will remain vital for many decades to come.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-20964, in the name of Edward Mountain, on the draft climate change plan, on behalf of the Net Zero, Energ...
Edward Mountain (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
Helpfully, my office has written the word “farmer” at the start of the speech, to which I have added “Not yet.” However, because we will be talking about agr...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
Thank you, Mr Mountain. Can I ask you to move the motion, please?
Edward Mountain
Con
I apologise, Presiding Officer. My notes do say to move the motion at the end of my speech, but I did not see them.I move,That the Parliament notes the findi...
Clare Haughey (Rutherglen) (SNP)
SNP
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Ariane Burgess (Highlands and Islands) (Green)
Green
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Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con)
Con
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Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
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Finlay Carson
Con
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The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
I call Clare Adamson to open on behalf of the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee.15:18
Clare Adamson (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP)
SNP
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The Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy (Gillian Martin)
SNP
I am pleased to speak in this important debate on the Scottish Government’s draft climate change plan, the policies and proposals that it includes, the oppor...
Sarah Boyack
Lab
I will mention solar power in my speech, but will the cabinet secretary have a solar plan that fits into the final climate change plan?
Gillian Martin
SNP
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Stephen Kerr (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
Will the cabinet secretary take an intervention?
Gillian Martin
SNP
I am over time, so I will go to the end of my speech.We have consistently raised the issue that we are already getting on with delivery. That is why the Scot...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
I advise members that there is a bit of time in hand, so if you take interventions, you will get the time back, and possibly a bit more. Douglas Lumsden is n...
Douglas Lumsden (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
Thank you, Presiding Officer.I speak with a lot of disappointment, to be honest. What should have been a landmark report for this Parliament is instead a cat...
Gillian Martin
SNP
What action that is not in the climate change plan would Douglas Lumsden, who holds the shadow portfolio for his party, include in it?
Douglas Lumsden
Con
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Gillian Martin
SNP
On heat in buildings, what plans would the member who is the shadow for this portfolio put in a plan that he would devise? How would he decarbonise homes?
Douglas Lumsden
Con
Any plan should have real and proper targets that can be measured. This plan does not have any of that. We cannot wish our way to net zero. If the Government...
Stephen Kerr
Con
If the Government were serious about a plan with detail in it, it would not be cutting college funding in the way that it has done over the past five years, ...
Douglas Lumsden
Con
I completely agree. Once again, the SNP cannot wish its way to cheaper electricity. The same applies to the SNP’s claims that it would reduce people’s bills ...
Kevin Stewart (Aberdeen Central) (SNP)
SNP
Mr Lumsden has highlighted the issue of cheaper electricity. In order to reach net zero, we need cheaper electricity, but we also need more electricity. That...
Douglas Lumsden
Con
If only we had an energy strategy, we could maybe look at what we need. We should have a proper energy mix with nuclear, oil and gas and renewables. This Gov...
Kevin Stewart
SNP
You are not being honest.
Douglas Lumsden
Con
It is not telling people what the push for net zero by 2045 will mean for households. It is not telling people who live in a flat why they will have to pay u...
Stephen Kerr
Con
Will the member take an intervention?
Douglas Lumsden
Con
I will give way.