8. To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its final energy strategy and just transition plan. (S6O-02559)

The 2023 programme for government confirmed our commitment to publish and start implementing a new energy strategy and just transition plan. We are fully considering the views that were expressed in the consultation that took place earlier this year, and we will provide further details on that shortly.

When the Scottish Government published its draft strategy, the Scottish Trades Union Congress said that workers had “little faith” in the Government’s plan. In the light of the STUC’s submission to the Government’s consultation, will the minister set out precisely what policy changes have been incorporated into the final strategy since then?

As I have said, the final strategy has not yet been published. However, I recommend that Mercedes Villalba come to the chamber tomorrow to listen to my statement on the vision for Scotland’s future energy, which will give more information about when the energy strategy will be published. She will understand that she is asking for details of a final strategy that has not been published yet.

The Deputy Presiding Officer:

Kevin Stewart has a supplementary question.

As is outlined in the draft energy strategy and just transition plan, all the evidence tells us that we can protect and create jobs in Scotland if we get our energy transition right. How will the recent Tory net zero U-turns impact on that transition in the future? Does the minister agree that the Tory backtracking, and the uncertainty that it has caused, could hold back growth in renewable energy jobs and harm our economic future?

Kevin Stewart will be aware of the recent report, “Powering up the Workforce: The future of the UK offshore energy workforce”, from Robert Gordon University, which shows that Scotland has enormous energy potential and that we have the natural resources and skills that are required to lead the global energy transition.

However, Kevin Stewart is right: the UK Government’s backtracking is putting green jobs, inward investment and economic growth at risk. I also highlight the failure to secure any offshore wind projects in the recent allocation round 5. We have made representations, and I believe that the sector has made a great deal of representations, to the UK Government on improvements that we want to see ahead of allocation round 6.