To ask the Scottish Government, regarding any implications for its energy strategy, what action it is taking to ensure that the grid connections for planned data centres reserved by National Energy System Operator are matched with the most preferential sites in Scotland, as set out in the report, Short list for Data Centre Site Development, which was published in May 2025. With the exception of the Scottish Government’s statutory consenting function, issues relating to the design and operation of the electricity networks, including the process to obtain a grid connection, are reserved matters.The Scottish Government regularly engages with the National Energy System Operator to discuss policy aims but ultimately grid connection applications and where they are made are commercial matters.In October 2024, the Scottish, UK and Welsh Governments jointly commissioned a Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP) for Great Britain which will assess the optimal locations, quantities and types of energy infrastructure required to meet future energy demand, including from data centres, with the clean, affordable and secure supply that we need.