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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 …

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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 Pending
4th Report - The future of Scotland’s oil and gas industry HC 459 24 Oct 2025 20 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

3 items
2 Conclusion 4th Report - The future of Scotland’s o… Acknowledged

Mismanged energy transition risks severe harm to UK economy, jobs, and Scottish communities.

Such an approach is the minimum necessary for a smooth transition of workers, and to avoid the risk of harming UK tax revenues, economic activity, and employment in many Scottish communities, where the effects of the transition will be disproportionately felt. The loss of jobs abroad has detrimental impacts to …

Government response. The government states its commitment to achieving a fair and inclusive transition, outlining various existing strategies, plans, and investments like the Clean Power Action Plan, Clean Energy Industries Sector Plan, and UK Export Finance support. These initiatives aim to ensure …
Scotland Office
6 Conclusion 4th Report - The future of Scotland’s o… Acknowledged

Unclear and disproportionate Energy Profits Levy accelerates North Sea decline, risking job losses.

We welcome the Government’s acknowledgement that it now needs to take action on the oil and gas industry’s fiscal environment. However, a lack of clarity on the fiscal regime beyond 2030 has created uncertainty for industry in the North Sea. The Energy Profits Levy at its current rate of 38%, …

Government response. The government acknowledges the committee's concerns about fiscal uncertainty, outlining its plan to end the Energy Profits Levy by March 2030 or earlier via a price floor, and to replace it with a new Oil and Gas Price Mechanism for …
Scotland Office
13 Conclusion 4th Report - The future of Scotland’s o… Acknowledged

Retaining oil and gas worker skills is vital for Scotland's energy transition.

It is vital that the skills of workers who have made Scotland’s oil and gas industry successful are not lost. We welcome the efforts of both governments to support the development of clean energy jobs and the transfer of skills from the oil and gas sector to other industries. In …

Government response. The government acknowledges the importance of the Oil and Gas Transition Training Fund, announcing its extension and expansion with up to £18 million in joint UK and Scottish government funding from 2026-29. They also detail the new North Sea Jobs …
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 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 ↗

Correspondence

20 letters
DateDirectionTitle
14 May 2026 — Correspondence from Energy Minister Michael Shanks following up from 15 April e…
15 Apr 2026 — Correspondence from Ocean Winds regarding transmission charges impact on Scotla…
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
25 Mar 2026 — Correspondence from Neso following up from 4 March session, dated 16 March 2026
26 Feb 2026 — Correspondence from Scottish Chambers of Commerce, CEO Charandeep Singh regard…
26 Feb 2026 — Correspondence from Great British Energy regarding GB Energy Headquarters, dat…
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…