3. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the role that it anticipates that the low-carbon and renewables sector will play in the transition to net zero, including on any relevant discussions that took place at the recent All-Energy conference in Glasgow. (S6O-02278)

The low-carbon and renewables sector plays an essential role in delivering Scotland’s net zero ambitions. The draft energy strategy and just transition plan set out a vision for an energy system that delivers affordable, resilient and clean energy supplies.

The First Minister, myself, and three other Government ministers attended the All-Energy conference. We had constructive discussions with a range of energy companies and other stakeholders. The First Minister particularly re-emphasised this Government’s commitment to the Scottish Cluster, and the importance of an early and positive decision from the United Kingdom Government on carbon capture, utilisation and storage in Scotland.

In the First Minister’s speech to the All-Energy conference, he spoke about the flaws in the current transmission network charging system. What discussions has the Scottish Government had with the UK Government about fixing the methodology that is used, which, as it currently stands, is a potential barrier to supporting our renewables sector?

That assessment comes up in practically every single meeting that I have with every single stakeholder. The Scottish Government has repeatedly called for a change to the current system of transmission network use of system charges. My officials are in regular contact with Ofgem on that matter. I am pleased that Ofgem has reconvened the TNUOS charges task force, which was delayed to allow it to focus on security of supply over the winter.

The fact of the matter remains that a new approach, rather than small modifications to methodologies, is needed. We will continue to raise that with Ofgem and our counterparts in the UK Government to push for a fairer solution that recognises the renewable capabilities of Scotland. We need to do everything that we can do to maximise Scotland’s potential to power the nation using low-emissions technology by harnessing our substantial resources in a way that creates economic prosperity for communities and businesses and, in the end, supplies our households with the cleaner and cheaper power that they so desperately need and want.

The Deputy Presiding Officer:

Three members are seeking to ask supplementary questions. I intend to take all three.

The Scottish Government’s transition of North Sea workers to offshore wind roles has delivered only 3,100 positions in Scotland. I have discovered that the Government does not even break that data down to understand where the jobs are located. It therefore cannot even say whether a single worker in the north-east is part of the transition.

When does the Government intend to start collating and interrogating data properly, and thus provide a more realistic and rigorous assessment of its failure to deliver a just transition?

I am familiar with Mr Kerr’s asks on that. I think that I just issued a parliamentary answer to his written question on the subject.

As things stand at the moment, we do not have that granular data. However, methods are afoot in Government to collate and produce the data in the way that has been requested. That work is on-going.

I put on my record my apologies for cutting it fine with my arrival today.

Given the fantastic opportunities that were highlighted at the All-Energy conference and the need to tackle both the cost of living crisis and the climate crisis, what discussions does the minister have planned with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities to support local authorities to deliver council and community co-operative led heat and power schemes, given the huge benefits that that could deliver to our constituents?

That came up in discussion with the onshore wind strategy leadership group yesterday. We have to engage the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities on how we can support communities in relation to shared ownership, in particular. We are doing a number of pieces of work in that area and we are taking advice from the strategic leadership group that I mentioned. We were actively working on that at its quarterly meeting yesterday.

I do not think that we can do this without the help of COSLA and our local government partners. I am therefore really keen to have that conversation with our colleagues in COSLA quite soon. However, I want to wait for advice that will come from the group that I mentioned so that I can make those conversations more constructive and put in place a secure plan for how maximise the opportunities that we have in communities. We can also learn lessons from the communities that have already made that leap to make the plan more efficient.

The just transition to net zero will require significant levels of investment, including public and private sector investment, if it is to deliver its ambitions. I was encouraged by my discussions with investors when I spoke at All-Energy’s conference the other week. What work is the Scottish Government doing to lever in capital investment for infrastructure and business growth opportunities to deliver the net zero transition?

Pretty much every stream of work that is being done in respect of energy will involve a mix of public sector and Government support and will also lever in capital from private investors. The Government needs to signal that private investors will be putting their money into the right areas; we are working closely with Scottish Enterprise on that. Ivan McKee will know how important that body is in signalling where the Government’s goals are on private sector investment and where we can achieve confidence in certain areas.

If Ivan McKee wishes to write to me on that point, I could break that down into the individual pieces of information that he requires.