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Select Committee · Scottish Affairs Committee

GB Energy and the net zero transition

Status: Open Opened: 28 Nov 2024 21 recommendations 21 conclusions 2 reports

The Committee is investigating the transition to net zero in Scotland’s energy sector, and how the UK Government can support a transition that maximises opportunities for jobs and economic growth. As part of this, the Committee is examining how GB Energy and other interventions can most effectively back the development of clean energy. Read the … Show more

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Reports

2 reports
Title HC No. Published Items Response
1st Report - Clean Power by 2030: A fair deal for Scotland? HC 164 21 May 2026 22 Overdue
4th Report - The future of Scotland’s oil and gas industry HC 459 24 Oct 2025 20 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

8 items
5 Recommendation 4th Report - The future of Scotland’s o… Accepted

Set out plans to increase proportion of UK-based supply chains for clean energy generators.

We recognise that maximising economic return from clean energy investments requires supporting and expanding UK-based supply chains. (Conclusion, Paragraph 56) The Government should set out how it intends to increase the proportion of UK-based supply chains used by clean energy generators. (Recommendation, Paragraph 56) Tax and regulatory environment Read more

Government response AI summary
The government agrees with the recommendation and outlines four new policy interventions from its North Sea Future Plan to support and expand UK-based supply chains. These include establishing a North Sea Future Board, developing guidance, a Basin Wide Plan, and leveraging GBE's £1bn Supply Chain …
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Scotland Office
8 Conclusion 4th Report - The future of Scotland’s o… Accepted

Transparency in environmental impact assessments for new oil and gas fields requires improvement.

We welcome the Government’s publication of updated guidance on environmental impact assessments for new oil and gas fields, providing greater certainty to the sector. Given that each application will be considered on a case-by-case basis and the Government has not shared how factors will be weighted in its assessment, transparency … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government explains that each project is considered on its merits, with the Secretary of State balancing environmental effects against wider national benefits and objectives. It asserts that the existing EIA process already provides transparency through public notice and published decision reasons, without committing to …
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Scotland Office
11 Conclusion 4th Report - The future of Scotland’s o… Accepted

North Sea energy transition plan urgently required but progress remains slow.

A coherent transition plan for the North Sea is urgently needed. While we recognise that the Government has been in power for 15 months, plans are not yet in place and the transition is already well underway. The Government’s consultation, Building the North Sea’s Energy Future, which commits to producing … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the urgent need for a coherent transition plan and confirms the publication of its 'North Sea Future Plan' in November, further committing to establish a minister-led delivery board in early 2026 to oversee progress.
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Scotland Office
15 Recommendation 4th Report - The future of Scotland’s o… Accepted

Ensure clear communication campaigns for oil and gas workers on energy transition job opportunities.

There has been a failure of communication from consecutive governments to oil and gas workers about the transition and what they need to do to prepare and benefit from it. Government action is required to ensure the visibility and promotion of clean energy jobs, as well as to ensure existing … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government outlined several specific actions to improve the visibility and promotion of clean energy jobs, including a UK-wide awareness campaign, a deep dive into priority occupations, the Destination Nuclear campaign with a careers portal, and recent clean energy jobs fairs.
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Scotland Office
16 Recommendation 4th Report - The future of Scotland’s o… Accepted

Conduct a communications campaign informing oil and gas workers about energy transition job opportunities.

As part of its North Sea transition plan, we recommend that the Government conduct a communications campaign about the scale of the energy transition and the employment opportunities available, directed at both oil and gas workers and new entrants to the sector. This should include information about skills transferability between … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government agrees, committing to lead a UK-wide industry-led awareness and attraction campaign for clean energy jobs, launching next year. A strong communications approach will be embedded within the North Sea programme, with the North Sea Jobs Service providing job boards, apps, and job-matching to …
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Scotland Office
17 Conclusion 4th Report - The future of Scotland’s o… Accepted

Grangemouth case highlights government inaction on preparing for industrial job losses.

The Grangemouth case is the energy transition’s canary in a coalmine. It has illustrated the need for Government’s active stewardship in the energy transition. Petroineos advised the Committee that the UK and Scottish governments were aware of its plans to cease operations at the refinery five years ago. Both the … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government agreed with the committee's conclusions regarding past failures at Grangemouth and detailed its subsequent actions, including a £100 million support package, a training guarantee, the Project Willow feasibility study, and a £14.5 million seed fund to transform the site.
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Scotland Office
18 Recommendation 4th Report - The future of Scotland’s o… Accepted

Establish principles for a just industrial transition drawing on lessons from the Grangemouth case.

In its response to this report, the Government should outline what has been learned from this case and what can be done to ensure that comparable industrial transitions will be better managed in future. Having consulted trade unions and communities during its consultation on Building the North Sea’s Energy Future, … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government agrees with the recommendation, affirming its commitment to a fair and equitable transition for workers and communities. It will commence a "Future of Fuels programme" and launch a call for evidence to inform the UK's long-term strategy for the downstream oil sector, which …
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Scotland Office
19 Conclusion 4th Report - The future of Scotland’s o… Accepted

Clarity needed on Grangemouth investment decisions and taskforce integration.

Continued momentum on the future of Grangemouth is vital. Project Willow must not be left to gather dust while jobs are at stake. We welcome the Scottish Government’s £25 million Just Transition Fund and the UK Government’s commitment of £200 million in ringfenced National Wealth Fund funding to leverage private … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government agrees on maintaining momentum for Grangemouth, announcing £14.5 million in funding and describing the due diligence process undertaken by investment agencies. They commit to understanding and providing necessary policy or regulatory support as projects emerge to unlock investment.
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Scotland Office

Oral evidence sessions

11 sessions
Date Witnesses
15 Apr 2026 Michael Shanks MP · Department for Energy Security and Net Zero View ↗
4 Mar 2026 Guy Jefferson · Scottish Power Energy Networks, James Basden · Zenobe, Julian Leslie · National Grid ESO, Scott Somerville · E.ON UK, Steve McMahon · Ofgem View ↗
4 Feb 2026 Charandeep Singh · Scottish Chambers of Commerce, Dr Christian Calvillo · University of Strathclyde, Lawrence Johnston · scarf, Madeleine Gabriel · Nesta, Ned Hammond · Energy UK, Stephanie Mander · Citizens Advice Scotland View ↗
7 Jan 2026 Alan Roseweir · Wallacetown Community Energy Project, Christianna Logan · SSEN Transmission, Finley Becks-Phelps · Nadara, Gail Anderton · Highland Council, Lynda Mitchell · ALIEnergy, Neil Mackinnon · Galson Estate Trust, Zoe Holliday · Community Energy Scotland View ↗
19 Nov 2025 Dan McGrail · Renewable UK View ↗
2 Jul 2025 Michael Brannan · Offshore Energy Transition and Coal Legacy, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Michael Brennan · Offshore Energy Transition and Coal Legacy, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Michael Shanks MP · Department for Energy Security and Net Zero View ↗
14 May 2025 Doug Duguid · Aurora Energy Services, Gavin Templeton · Veri Energy, Jim Brown · Energy Skills Partnership, Kenneth MacInnes · Forth Valley College, Lynsey Benson · Engineering Construction Industry Training Board, Neil Cowie · North East Scotland College View ↗
2 Apr 2025 Anu Bhambi · EY Parthenon, Colin Pritchard · INEOS, Iain Hardie · Petroineos View ↗
19 Mar 2025 Derek Thomson · Unite the Union, Ian Perth · Prospect, Robert Deavy · GMB View ↗
26 Feb 2025 Becca Groundwater · Energies Industries Council, Hebe Trotter · Harbour Energy, Jenny Stanning · Offshore Energies UK, Louise Kingham CBE · BP plc, Neil Gordon · Global Underwater Hub, Russell Borthwick · Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce View ↗
22 Jan 2025 Ameena Camps · Just Transition Commission, Emma Pinchbeck · Energy UK, Fraser Stewart · Regen, Hannah Corbett · University of Strathclyde Centre for Energy Policy, Owen Bellamy · Climate Change Committee, Professor Paul de Leeuw · Robert Gordon University Energy Transition Institute, Richard Hardy · Just Transition Commission View ↗

Who gave evidence

47 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Michael Shanks MP · Minister for Energy Department for Energy Security and Net Zero 2
Alan Roseweir · Community Energy Project Lead Wallacetown Community Energy Project 1
Ameena Camps · Commissioner Just Transition Commission 1
Anu Bhambi · Head of Energy Transition Strategy EY Parthenon 1
Becca Groundwater · Head of External Affairs Energies Industries Council 1
Charandeep Singh · Chief Executive Scottish Chambers of Commerce 1
Christianna Logan · Director of Customers and Stakeholders SSEN Transmission 1
Colin Pritchard · Sustainability & External Relations Director INEOS 1
Dan McGrail · Chief Executive Renewable UK 1
Derek Thomson · Scotland Regional Secretary Unite the Union 1
Doug Duguid · Chief Executive Aurora Energy Services 1
Dr Christian Calvillo · Research Fellow at Centre for Energy Policy University of Strathclyde 1
Emma Pinchbeck · Chief Executive Energy UK 1
Finley Becks-Phelps · UK Head of Development Nadara 1
Fraser Stewart · Just Transition Lead Regen 1
Gail Anderton · Community Benefits Manager Highland Council 1
Gavin Templeton · Chief Executive Veri Energy 1
Guy Jefferson · Managing Director Transmission Scottish Power Energy Networks 1
Hannah Corbett · Senior Knowledge Exchange Fellow University of Strathclyde Centre for Energy Policy 1
Hebe Trotter · Vice President, Global Government Relations Harbour Energy 1
Iain Hardie · Head of Legal & External Affair Petroineos 1
Ian Perth · Negotiations Officer Prospect 1
James Basden · Founder and Director Zenobe 1
Jenny Stanning · External Relations Director Offshore Energies UK 1
Jim Brown · Director Energy Skills Partnership 1
Julian Leslie · Head of Networks National Grid ESO 1
Kenneth MacInnes · Principal Forth Valley College 1
Lawrence Johnston · CO-Chief Executive scarf 1
Louise Kingham CBE · Head of Country, UK BP plc 1
Lynda Mitchell · Chief Executive ALIEnergy 1
Lynsey Benson · Head of Policy and External Affairs Engineering Construction Industry Training Board 1
Madeleine Gabriel · Director of Sustainable Future Nesta 1
Michael Brannan · Co-Deputy Director Offshore Energy Transition and Coal Legacy, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero 1
Michael Brennan · Co Deputy Director Offshore Energy Transition and Coal Legacy, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero 1
Ned Hammond · Deputy Director for Policy Energy UK 1
Neil Cowie · Principal North East Scotland College 1
Neil Gordon · Chief Executive Global Underwater Hub 1
Neil Mackinnon · Development Manager Galson Estate Trust 1
Owen Bellamy · Head of Energy Supply Decarbonisation and Resilie… Climate Change Committee 1
Professor Paul de Leeuw · Director Robert Gordon University Energy Transition Institute 1
Showing 40 of 47.

Correspondence

20 letters
DateDirectionTitle
14 May 2026 — Correspondence from Energy Minister Michael Shanks following up from 15 April e…
15 Apr 2026 — Correspondence from Chair to Gillian Martin, Cabinet Secretary for Climate Acti…
15 Apr 2026 — Correspondence from Ofgem following up from 4 March session, dated 27 March 2026
15 Apr 2026 — Correspondence from E.ON following up from 4 March session, dated 20 March 2026
15 Apr 2026 — Correspondence from Ocean Winds regarding transmission charges impact on Scotla…
25 Mar 2026 — Correspondence from Neso following up from 4 March session, dated 16 March 2026
26 Feb 2026 — Correspondence from Great British Energy regarding GB Energy Headquarters, dat…
26 Feb 2026 — Correspondence from Scottish Chambers of Commerce, CEO Charandeep Singh regard…
28 Jan 2026 — Correspondence from SSEN Transmission regarding follow-up from 7 January sessi…
21 Jan 2026 — Correspondence from Great British Energy following up from 19 November session…
3 Sep 2025 To cttee Letter from the Chair to Sharon Graham, General Secretary at Unite the Union r…
3 Sep 2025 To cttee Letter from the Chair to Derek Thomson, Scotland Regional Secretary at Unite th…
12 Aug 2025 To cttee Letter from Energy Minister Michael Shanks following up from 2 July session, da…
16 Jul 2025 To cttee Letter from Offshore Energies UK regarding GB Energy and the net zero transitio…
2 Jul 2025 To cttee Response from Colleges Scotland following up from 14 May session, dated 26 June…
18 Jun 2025 To cttee Letter from INEOS relating to information requested during 2 April evidence ses…
2 Apr 2025 To cttee Letter from Unite the Union, regarding GB Energy and the net zero transition i…
19 Mar 2025 To cttee Letter from Just Transition Commission, regarding oral evidence presented to th…
19 Mar 2025 To cttee Letter from Andrew Montford, Net Zero Watch, regarding oral evidence presented …
22 Jan 2025 — Correspondence from National Energy System Operator, regarding GB Energy and th…

Meetings & visits

2 items
DateTypeDetail
14 May 2026 Formal meeting (private meeting) — · The Wilson Room, Portcullis House
15 Oct 2025 Formal meeting (private meeting) Report agreement – GB Energy and the net zero transition · Room 8, Palace of Westminster