Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 18 March 2026 [Draft]
18 Mar 2026 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Portfolio Question Time
Energy Prices (Impact on Businesses of Middle East Conflict)
While £10 million is going to support 71 businesses in Glasgow that have been impacted by the fire there, thousands of businesses across the Highlands and Islands will be seeing fuel costs double, with apparently no support coming to them. Will there be specific support for those businesses across the Highlands and Islands and across Scotland? I am thinking in particular of businesses in our rural areas, which rely on oil and already pay higher costs for it, and which are already massively impacted by the rise.
In the same item of business
5. Jamie Halcro Johnston (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to businesses facing higher energy prices and other increased costs resulting from the conflict i...
The Minister for Business and Employment (Richard Lochhead)
SNP
Ministers are deeply concerned about the impact of the conflict in the middle east. Both the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy and the Cabinet ...
Jamie Halcro Johnston
Con
While £10 million is going to support 71 businesses in Glasgow that have been impacted by the fire there, thousands of businesses across the Highlands and Is...
Richard Lochhead
SNP
The member raises a serious issue that is impacting on businesses in Scotland, and we share his concerns. As I indicated earlier, issues relating to energy c...
Emma Roddick (Highlands and Islands) (SNP)
SNP
Defence experts cited in a recent RenewableUK report have urged for there to be an acceleration of renewables development in order to shield against further ...
Richard Lochhead
SNP
Emma Roddick raises an important issue. It is ironic that, in energy-rich Scotland, we are facing rising energy bills. As the member has said, we do not have...
Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD)
LD
I join other members in paying tribute to Kate Forbes as she leaves this Parliament. She was cheered on by Richard Leonard and the Conservatives, but there w...
Richard Lochhead
SNP
I will ensure that I convey Willie Rennie’s comments to Mairi Gougeon, the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, who often discusses ...