To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when it will publish its energy strategy and just transition plan. (S6O-03990)

In the programme for government we committed to publishing the energy strategy and just transition plan shortly, in order to support Scotland’s just transition to a green economy. However, since we published a draft for consultation, there have been significant changes in global and United Kingdom energy markets, including UK-wide policy developments that are now being pursued by the UK Government, which will have a direct impact on Scotland’s energy sector. It is therefore important that we take time to consider those policies.

From written questions, we know that £75 million of just transition funding has been allocated, but the Scottish Government does not hold figures relating to employment outcomes or job creation as a result of the funding. We also know that the net zero technology centre has no certainty of funding after the city region deal term ends in 2026.

Would the Cabinet secretary accept that thousands of jobs in the north-east are being put at risk by the Government’s abject failure to have a proper plan in place?

No, I would not accept that at all. I make it clear that we are fully committed to the just transition fund. A couple of months ago, I asked for an analysis of how the just transition fund has been deployed. That analysis relates very much to some of the things that Douglas Lumsden mentioned, such as how many jobs the fund has secured and how much it has increased capacity in the supply chain. I am considering that as we prepare to look at the next tranche of just transition funding, for which we will have a more focused approach to ensure that the funding that is available does the best things possible for a just transition in the north-east.

I welcome the Government’s continued work on that. It is vital that we press ahead with Scotland’s energy transition, replicating the success of projects such as the Aventus Energy and Sumitomo developments.

Does the Cabinet secretary agree that to build on the Scottish Government’s progress, the UK Government needs to urgently match our ambition for Scotland, and match the £500 million just transition fund?

We are committed to driving forward Scotland’s energy transition and working with our UK Government counterparts where we need to do so. Our just transition fund has already allocated £75 million to date, supporting projects in communities across the north-east and Moray to create jobs and support innovation.

The fund sends a clear signal of support for the region, but we recognise that it needs to be part of a wider stream of investment from the UK Government and others to deliver a just transition to net zero across Scotland. I urge the UK Government to match the fund to help to ensure that net zero future.

I call Sarah Boyack—briefly, please.

This week, we saw major investment in turbines in Hull. When are we going to get manufacturing transition in Scotland?

Does the Cabinet secretary accept that the repeated delay to the energy strategy, never mind the length of the consenting process for projects such as Berwick Bank, means that we are missing out on supply-chain opportunities, and we are not getting the green jobs—

Cabinet secretary.

—because we are so far behind?

Cabinet secretary.

Ms Boyack will be aware that, through our inward investment programmes and Scottish Development International, Sumitomo is building a cable factory at Nigg.

We have also committed, in the onshore wind plan, to a remanufacturing site for turbine blades. That is just the start of the transition, and the start of the ScotWind licensing developments, so I expect that there will be much more of that to come.