Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his department has made of the potential merits of rebalancing policy costs levied on electricity bills across gas and electricity bills equally.

Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government recognises that policy costs fall disproportionately on electricity bills and are taking forward work to ensure that prices reflect the cheaper wholesale price of clean energy.

On the distribution of costs between electricity and gas, the Government acted at the Autumn Budget to cut electricity costs in a way that makes this distribution fairer. We ended funding for the Energy Company Obligation scheme, as well as removing 75% of costs for the Renewables Obligation scheme from people’s energy bills.

The government also announced in April plans to go further and faster on delinking electricity and gas prices. We will consult later this year on arrangements to offer existing generators a fixed price Contract for Difference for the electricity they generate. In addition, the rate of the Electricity Generator Levy has been increased by 10% to respond to the high prices that generators are benefitting from due to the crisis in the Middle East.

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Norman MacLeod

Found: Lillian Jones (Labour; Kilmarnock and Loudoun) Douglas Lumsden (Conservative; Aberdeen South) Mr Angus MacDonald

Found: present: Patricia Ferguson (Chair); Maureen Burke; Dave Doogan; Lillian Jones; Douglas Lumsden; Mr Angus MacDonald

Found: Lillian Jones (Labour; Kilmarnock and Loudoun) Douglas Lumsden (Conservative; Aberdeen South) Mr Angus MacDonald

Found: can confirm that we have spoken with Lloyds Banking Group, who have advised that they wrote to Angus MacDonald

Found: Ferguson (Chair); Maureen Burke; Harriet Cross; Dave Doogan; Lillian Jones; Douglas Lumsden; Mr Angus MacDonald

Found: attendance: • Patricia Ferguson MP • Dave Doogan MP • Lillian Jones MP • Kirsteen Sullivan MP • Angus MacDonald

Found: Ferguson (Chair); Maureen Burke; Harriet Cross; Dave Doogan; Lillian Jones; Douglas Lumsden; Mr Angus MacDonald

Scotch whisky is one of Scotland’s most globally recognised products and the UK’s largest drink export. The industry contributes substantial economic value and supports 41,000 jobs across Scotland. Whisky also carries cultural significance and plays a central role in rural economies. However, recent global volatility and a rise in protectionist measures have contributed to a slowdown in Scotch whisky exports, while market trends are also shifting. At the same time, the sector is facing a number of domestic pressures, such as rising energy costs and the introduction of a Deposit Return Scheme. This inquiry will examine these challenges, and explore how UK Government policies on trade, duty and domestic regulation are shaping the future of this key Scottish industry.

At its meeting on 9 September, the Committee agreed to inquire into the Electoral Commission's oversight of the funding and governance of political parties in Scotland, and the policies, processes and safeguards associated with the distribution of Short Money to political parties. Further information on the scope of this inquiry will be published in due course.

The Lord Advocate and her deputy the Solicitor General for Scotland each assume a “dual role” being both senior government legal advisers, and senior public prosecutors. There is a long-standing and ongoing political and constitutional debate within Scotland about whether the dual role should be split to better mitigate actual and/or perceived conflicts of interest between the two functions. This inquiry will appraise the case for and against splitting the dual role, and exploring different options for reform.