Select committee: Scottish Affairs Committee
Conclusion 11
1st Report - Clean Power by 2030: A fair deal for Scotland?
Published 21 May 2026
Addressed to Scotland Office
Scottish Affairs Committee GB Energy and the net zero transition All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
We welcome the Government’s commitment to introduce a mandatory community benefits scheme for new generation infrastructure. However, we remain concerned that the pace of implementation is too slow, with any scheme not expected to take effect until the end of 2027 at the earliest. Many developments—particularly across Scotland’s Highlands and Islands—will already be built out, leaving affected communities potentially feeling that they have been short-changed. (Conclusion, Paragraph 84)
From: Scottish Affairs Committee, 1st Report - Clean Power by 2030: A fair deal for Scotland? (HC 164), 21 May 2026
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 9 September 2026.
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government "partially agrees" with the committee's conclusions and recommendations on Great British Energy, the grid and community benefits, and "agrees" with those on community ownership.
- On Great British Energy, the government agrees the Clean Power 2030 target is "extremely ambitious" but believes it is "achievable". It says GBE, like all companies, must publish an annual report and accounts, laid before Parliament, and that its role is "not to duplicate" Scottish Government programmes.
- On standing charges, the government says it "will carefully consider" the committee's recommendation alongside the outcome of Ofgem's Cost Allocation and Recovery Review. Regional distribution of standing charges is "one of the options under consideration".
- On community benefits, a mandatory scheme "could come into force by the end of 2027 at the earliest", would need new primary legislation, and would not be applied retrospectively. A proposed level of benefit would be set out only "if a mandatory scheme was to come forward".
- On shared ownership, the government says it is "assessing how these powers could be used" and "plan[s] to consult on detailed proposals in 2026". It states that planning requirements such as worker accommodation in Scotland are for the Scottish Government to consider.