Chamber and committees

As the member rightly suggests, the decision to cut the winter fuel payment has meant a reduction of £147 million in 2024-25 in the block grant adjustment to deliver our intended universal pension age winter heating payment, which is more than 80 per cent of the forecasted cost. That now means that around 900,000 pensioners will not receive support this winter, including many who are eligible for pension credit but who have not yet applied.

We cannot continue to be expected to mitigate the results of UK Government cuts from our devolved budget. What is really needed is reform of the UK energy markets, to rectify the root causes of fuel poverty in Scotland, such as unfair standing charges and high fuel prices.

On those matters, it is welcome that it seems that Scottish Labour is joining the rest of the Parliament in our condemnation of the actions of the UK Labour Government in cutting the winter fuel payment. However, as the member alluded, it leaves us in the amazing position of seeing Labour in Scotland seeking protection from the actions of its own party. The question is what has changed for Labour in the weeks since it whipped its MSPs to vote to support the UK Government’s actions in cutting the winter fuel payment.

As temperatures fell in Scotland this week, it became clear that Scottish Labour finally realised the damage that its policy of cutting winter fuel payments would do, but, even in its repentance, it seems to have fallen short of advocating for the return of a universal winter payment. We, in the Scottish Government, will continue to do what we can within the limited powers of the Parliament to argue for reform of the energy market and will continue to press the UK Government for the introduction of a social tariff mechanism.

I am not sure whether the member was listening, but the UK Government’s approach reduces the block grant adjustment of the UK’s winter fuel payment by £147 million in 2024-25, which is more than 80 per cent of the cost of the intended universal benefit.

We will work with the UK Government on a range of fronts around fuel poverty and energy, and we have committed to keeping eligibility under review. Ministers and officials are working at pace on options for investing any consequentials as a result of the household support fund. However, that does not take away from the fact that energy bills have gone up by £150 as a consequence of the actions of a UK Government that promised to bring them down by £300.

The Government is committed to working with that company and other companies. On skills, the Scottish Government is continuing to work in partnership with that company and other companies to ensure that there are opportunities for individuals to reskill or to find the skills that they need. We are working closely with colleges and apprentices to achieve that. We are very happy to work with companies that have any suggestions as to how the process may be changed in the future.

As I mentioned, all applications are subject to those assessments, and the impacts of energy development proposals also require to be considered closely. That includes statutory elements around environmental impact assessment processes.

Scottish ministers have an expectation that communities are involved in the process and are listened to. Where there is a need for co-ordination among applicants who are proposing developments in the same area, all parties are expected to work together to co-ordinate the development and minimise any impacts on the communities and the environment.

When determining applications under the Electricity Act 1989, Scottish ministers are required to seek advice from planning authorities to ensure that decision making is co-ordinated in that way.

As well as the substantial funding that we provide for individuals and social landlords to install heat pumps, which is helping to grow supply chains, we are supporting business to develop the skills and accreditation that are needed in order to grow our qualified installer base.

Our green heat installer engagement programme, which is delivered by the Energy Saving Trust, provides assistance and support to help installers to participate fully and effectively in the clean heat supply chain. The enterprise agencies also work closely with manufacturers and installers to support their growth in Scotland.

I welcome the opening of Aira’s Scottish hub. Supporting Scotland’s current and future workforce to develop the skills that are needed for the net zero transition is a priority for this Government. Many of Scotland’s colleges and independent training providers offer heat pump training. We have invested in a mobile training centre for heat pump installation to ensure that training is equally available across all geographic areas.

As well as the green heat installer engagement programme that I mentioned, we are funding the clean heat strategic workforce development fund, which is delivered by Scottish Enterprise.

The Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy regularly discusses with ministerial colleagues a range of issues relating to Scotland’s future energy mix, including engaging on the safety and regulatory processes around battery energy storage sites.

When new development proposals come forward, our fourth national planning framework ensures that the impacts of proposals on communities and nature, including cumulative impacts, are important considerations in the decision-making process. All applications are subject to site-specific assessments. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service continually reviews and develops its operational response to any new and emerging technology to keep communities safe and to ensure the highest level of preparedness.

The Government listens closely to all stakeholders—not least the Fire and Rescue Service, as I mentioned—on that matter. All applications are subject to site-specific assessments. The cumulative impacts that I mentioned are relevant, because the cumulative impact of energy development proposals must also be considered through statutory environmental impact assessment processes.

In short, I take seriously the issues that the member has raised. The Government makes sure that communities are engaged at an early stage and can meaningfully influence all such proposals.

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I would have voted yes.