Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Katy Clark) Lab

The next item of business is a debate on motion S7M-00159, in the name of Stephen Gethins, entitled “It’s Scotland’s energy”. I invite members who wish to sp...

The Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Energy (Stephen Gethins) SNP

Deputy Presiding Officer, congratulations to you and your colleagues on your appointment. If you will permit me, before I get into the meat of the debate, I ...

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con

Will the minister take an intervention?

Stephen Gethins SNP

Do you know what? I will take an intervention, despite this being my first speech—and who better to take one from than Murdo Fraser?

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Katy Clark) Lab

I remind Mr Fraser that the convention is that there are no interventions on a first speech. However, the member has indicated that he is happy to take one.

Murdo Fraser Con

My apologies to you, Presiding Officer, and to the member. He was so confident in his approach that it had entirely slipped my mind that it was his first spe...

Stephen Gethins SNP

I have great respect for the member, and I thank him for both his intervention and his welcome. I urge him patience. I merely say this: Scotland is a massive...

Michael Marra (North East Scotland) (Lab) Lab

Will the minister give way?

Stephen Gethins SNP

I will give way for a second time, because I have great respect for the member.

Michael Marra Lab

I, too, welcome the minister to his position. I consider him a friend and am delighted to see him in his place.The minister spent the election campaign talki...

Stephen Gethins SNP

I have great respect for the member, and I thank him for his kind words. He is an advocate for the north-east and for Dundee. However, he must understand tha...

Liam Kerr (North East Scotland) (Con) Con

Will the member take an intervention?

Stephen Gethins SNP

I want to make some progress. I am not sure that I got a particularly good response from Mr Fraser.High energy bills might not matter to the Conservative Par...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Katy Clark) Lab

I call Daniel Johnson to speak to and move amendment S7M-00159.2.14:46

Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Lab

I congratulate you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and welcome you to your position.I begin on a friendly note by welcoming Stephen Gethins to his position. I hav...

The Cabinet Secretary for Justice (Neil Gray) SNP

Mr Johnson made a rather pejorative point about the difference between rhetoric and action. I am reminded of promises made by the Labour Party in the run-up ...

Daniel Johnson Lab

The cabinet secretary seems to be enjoying the new rules about interventions. Is he not aware that there have been some major changes in international circum...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Katy Clark) Lab

I remind members that the convention is that there should be no interventions during a first speech.14:52

Duncan Massey (North East Scotland) (Reform) Reform

I welcome everyone to their new roles, including the ministers and shadow ministers.I am delighted to rise to give my first speech. I believe that this Parli...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Katy Clark) Lab

I remind members that there should be no interruptions during first speeches. I appreciate that the minister took interventions, but there should still be no...

Duncan Massey Reform

Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer.As Professor Dieter Helm of the University of Oxford succinctly put it, renewables are“not cheap, not home-grown and not ...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Katy Clark) Lab

I call Lorna Slater to speak to and move amendment S7M-00159.3.15:03

Lorna Slater (Edinburgh Central) (Green) Green

For a change of tone, the Scottish Greens believe that Scotland’s energy should be put in Scotland’s hands. We have long called for more powers for Scotland,...

Liam Kerr Con

The member does not, however, address the fact that demand is continuing to rise and is not going anywhere. Where do we source the gas and oil to meet the de...

Lorna Slater Green

We need to manage that demand. The Scottish Government should have kept its commitment to reduce traffic kilometres by 20 per cent. It should have introduced...

Duncan Massey Reform

Will the member take an intervention?

Lorna Slater Green

I am going to make some progress, thank you.

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Katy Clark) Lab

It is a matter for the member whether she chooses to take an intervention.

Lorna Slater Green

In the previous session of Parliament, the Economy and Fair Work Committee heard over and over again that the cost of energy is the main concern for business...

Stephen Kerr (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con

Will the member take an intervention?