MSPs have backed calls for energy powers to be devolved to the Scottish Parliament as the Scottish Government said “Westminster has had its chance, it failed”.
Energy minister Stephen Gethins made the comments in a debate at Holyrood titled It’s Scotland’s Energy to call for powers over energy to be devolved, complaining that current arrangements leave Scots facing some of the highest energy bills in Europe.
That is before industry regulator Ofgem increases the price cap by 13% from July 1 to £1,862 a year for the average household – an increase of £221.
MSPs voted in support of the motion 70 to 54 to push for all energy powers to be immediately devolved to the Scottish Parliament.
Speaking in the chamber on Thursday, Mr Gethins said that while Scotland “has the energy” it does “not yet have the power” to use it.
He said: “High energy bills matter to the people of Scotland, and a Labour government that came in promising that bills would be £300 lower and yesterday another eye-watering increase means they will be £300 higher. That is not good enough.
“The future lies in clean, affordable and secure power, strengthening affordability, resilience and competitiveness, but also protecting Scottish people and businesses from our energy bills being dictated by international events.”
He continued: “Scotland has the energy, it does not yet have the power. Our vast resource is among the best in Europe, but the people are not feeling the benefit. Westminster has had its chance, it failed.
“What we are asking parliament to do today is to empower this parliament to be part of the solution across Europe on energy security — part of the solution locally, nationally and internationally and, vitally, in people’s homes.”
It's Scotland's Energy might make for a somewhat adequate T-shirt slogan, but it's an incoherent parliamentary motion and there's an entirely empty basis of policy
Scottish Labour MSP Daniel Johnson was critical of the Scottish Government’s statement which he said was “heavy on rhetoric” and “light on actual analysis”.
He said: “It’s Scotland’s Energy might make for a somewhat adequate T-shirt slogan, but it’s an incoherent parliamentary motion and there’s an entirely empty basis of policy.
“And could I just gently point out to Mr Gethins that I think his speech was rather heavy on rhetoric and rather light on actual analysis.”
Reform UK’s Duncan Massey used his speech to make the case for both the oil and gas sector and nuclear power.
In the midst of an “energy price crisis” resulting in “extremely high prices” for power, he complained renewable power was too expensive.
He hit out at net zero polices and the “overuse of expensive and intermittent renewables” in Scotland’s energy system.
While he said the renewables would “definitely be part of the energy mix”, Mr Massey added: “We have to recognise their high cost and limitations.”
He continued: “Despite the massive renewables investment oil and gas remain essential, in the UK 75% of primary energy still comes from oil and gas.
“We need to acknowledge under all scenarios the UK and Scotland will need oil and gas for decades.”
Scottish Green MSP Lorna Slater, however, stressed that oil and gas “is a finite resource”, describing the North Sea as being a “declining basin”.
Arguing for a transition to more renewable power, she argued: “We can not remain tied to the roller coaster of fossil fuel prices. We need to produce our own clean and sustainable energy from renewable sources.
“The world has far more fossil fuel than it can safely burn, and issuing licences to extract fossil fuels from new sources is indefensible.”
Her comments came as she accused Reform of “flat out climate denial”.
Ms Slater also backed the call for control over energy to be devolved, saying “Scotland’s energy should be put in Scotland’s hands”.
However, Conservative Liam Kerr said the consequences of that would be “calamitous” for energy generation, household bills and Scotland’s economy.
The Scottish Tory energy spokesman said: “The SNP bang on about taking full control of Scotland’s energy sector, but we know that would be the final nail in the coffin for North Sea oil and gas.
“They still have a shameful presumption against the oil and gas industry, which has contributed to thousands of job losses, caused bills to rise, and left us increasingly reliant on costly foreign imports.”
For the Liberal Democrats, Liam McArthur said the Scottish Government had sought to “simplify” issues in energy policy by focusing the debate on the constitution.
He suggested: “A more productive exercise would be to look at the clear and numerous ways we can maximise Scotland’s energy potential, while also better protecting households and businesses.”
A UK Government spokesperson said: “Families and businesses in Scotland benefit from being part of a much wider GB-wide energy system, and from our drive for clean power to bring lower bills, energy security and good jobs.
“Electricity sourced from the lowest cost generation means lower prices, with system and network costs spread across a much larger customer base. And it means stronger and more resilient energy supply, with peaks and lows of generation spread across the country.
“The Scottish Government needs to concentrate on using the powers it has to get the basics right for people in Scotland – from the ferry network to our NHS and helping people with the cost of living.”