Chamber and committees

Because we believe that that is expensive technology with the safety and environmental impacts that come off the back of it. We think that huge opportunities are coming forward for us in our renewables capability. That will give us electricity that is cheaper than what is coming forward from the new nuclear power stations that are being funded to a very costly extent by the UK Government, and our future energy security will come from renewables.

As I said in response to Mr Kerr, decisions on new offshore oil and gas exploration are for the UK Government. We have made very clear our desire for the UK Government to have much stronger climate compatibility checks as part of that process. We await its decision in that regard.

We are continuing to discuss that with UK ministers. The Scottish Government judges that both suggestions—a nodal pricing system and a zonal pricing system—have potential to disadvantage generators in Scotland because Scottish supply often outstrips demand in each area. We are concerned about the risks for generators. At the same time, it is important to acknowledge that, if the systems are designed well, they may have corresponding benefits for consumers, including business consumers.

We continue to engage with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to understand the implications for Scotland and to do what we can to inform its decision-making process.

You would not expect me to comment on a particular proposal coming forward, but it is fair to say that we are going to have significant need for greater infrastructure to ensure that we meet the demands of generation and transmission. Claire Jones can provide some further information.

We will look to take any suggestion that anybody has about allocating additional funding. Obviously, we are in a particularly stretched public finance situation. The budget is currently fully allocated, but I would be more than happy to take a suggestion from either Monica Lennon or, indeed, the committee if there was a need or desire for a different intervention going forward.

I agree with the deputy convener that that is an incredibly important piece of legislation, which we support. We are continuing to encourage the UK Government to go further along the lines that I have set out on consenting and other areas, and on the areas that the committee has suggested as well. We await further feedback on what Mr Bowie set out to this committee a couple of weeks ago. We hope that the UK Government’s ambition would go further than what it is currently stating, particularly on consenting, which is a missed opportunity.

Yes. The lessons from previous applications and infrastructure interventions will feed into what comes down the track. I am confident that those who are proposing any future infrastructure investments—I have to speak in generalities—will be cognisant of what has gone before.

Yes, there is.

Yes, I agree with Mr Ruskell.

It is important that we have a resilient network that reflects the demand that is placed on it from generation capacity that is often at the extremities and not as close to consumers, and that it does not discourage generation that happens away from consumers. It is important that any model for redesigning the grid network acknowledges that to ensure that we do not disadvantage or discourage generation here in Scotland.