6. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the United Kingdom Government regarding an increased windfall tax on the excess profits of large oil and gas companies, in light of reports that the income from any such tax could be used to support households struggling with the cost of living crisis, including in Scotland. (S6O-03155)

Households across the country continue to face a serious cost of living crisis because of the UK Government’s economic mismanagement. We support a simple, holistic and predictable windfall tax on oil and gas company profits to help with that; Labour’s plans to increase the current levy to pay for nuclear power plants in England are simply wrong.

I hope that Carol Mochan is perhaps in a position to outline how much additional revenue she predicts would come to Scotland in the next few years should Labour form the next UK Government. I am sure that she wants to be transparent with the people of Scotland and be held accountable should that investment not be forthcoming.

I think that it is the Government’s responsibility to answer questions. [

Interruption

.] Does the Minister think that it will be a disappointment for people, but possibly not a surprise, that the Scottish National Party and Green Government has placed itself firmly behind the oil and gas giants on the issue, rather than behind working people?

The policy could create funds to support households that are struggling with the cost of living, but the SNP would rather protect the eye-watering excess profits of those at the very top. Why does the minister think that her party is more aligned with Douglas Ross and the Scottish Conservatives on the issue than with the working people of Scotland?

First, Carol Mochan is asking me about a policy that is reserved to those in the party of government in the UK. Given that her party is hoping to potentially become the UK Government this year, it is fairly acceptable that I ask her what Labour’s plans are with regard to a windfall tax and what, if any, ring-fenced funds might be deployed in Scotland as a result of that tax.

I reiterate that it is fair enough for anyone to ask anybody who wants to be an incumbent of number 10 what they want to do with the windfall tax and what they want to support. [

Interruption

.] If the answer is that they want to support nuclear power plants in England, I would say that the Scottish people will make a very clear judgment on that. [

Interruption

.] I would also say, in answer to the member’s question, if I could hear myself, Presiding Officer—

The Deputy Presiding Officer:

Minister, could you please resume your seat for a second? I say to members that there is far too much heckling going on while the answer is being provided. Let us have the courtesy of listening to the question and to the response.

A UK-wide energy profits levy has been in place since 2022 to tax the windfall profits of the oil and gas sector, which every party signed up to. We need to consider the level of that tax and consider, if it were increased, what the unintended consequences might be for jobs, particularly where I come from in the north-east.

While the Scottish Government continues to do what it can with its limited powers to ensure that folk receive the help that they need during this Tory cost of living crisis, what assessment has been made of the potential long-term impact on jobs and on folk’s energy Bills of Labour’s aggressive windfall tax plans for the North Sea, coupled with Keir Starmer abandoning his £28 billion green investment pledge?

In my last answer to Carol Mochan, I put that very question to her, because the long-term impact on jobs and people’s energy Bills of Labour’s plans has not been articulated.

The Scottish Government continues to do what it can to ensure that the people who need it most receive the help that they need during the cost crisis. Offshore Energies UK has made it clear that Labour’s windfall tax proposals could cost tens of thousands of jobs and impact investment in the sector. We believe—as does the industry—that Labour’s plans are shambolic, having been revised numerous times.

Jackie Dunbar made a good point that Labour’s headline £28 billion investment pledge is being dropped entirely, which gives no certainty for the energy sector’s transition. Net zero investment is the greatest economic opportunity that we have as a nation and it is critical for our climate and social justice ambitions. It is also critical for the future of the Constituency that Jackie Dunbar represents. It is disappointing to see Labour equivocating at a time when investment is so needed.