Questions and answers
Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.
- Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
- Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber
Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.
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Question reference: S6W-44228
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Independent
- Date lodged: Thursday, 12 March 2026
- Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 25 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding any implications for its energy policy, what its response is to reports that, on 8 January 2025, the National Grid's margin of surplus power over actual demand dropped to 580 megawatts, or just over 1% of peak demand, which was below safety requirements; what level of safety requirements it considers is sufficient to protect the public and businesses in Scotland against brownouts and blackouts; what its position is on the necessity of further investment in (a) increased gas storage and (b) new generating capacity from gas-fired power stations to provide back-up capacity to protect against brownouts and blackouts, and what discussions it has had with the (i) National Energy System Operator and (ii) UK Government regarding the role of non-renewable back-up generation in providing stability to the energy grid.
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