Douglas Lumsden
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party · Scotland
“That is absolutely shameful. Tim Eagle: Answer the question. The Presiding Officer: Let us hear one another. The First Minister: It is all very well for Mr Eagle to take issue with me on this question, but the real guilty parties on Brexit and its implications for agriculture are the Conservative Party and its activities, and the Conserva…”
“Back in November, I criticised the draft climate change plan for being yet another Scottish National Party propaganda pamphlet that was heavy on rhetoric and light on detail, and the full plan is more of the same.”
“Will the cabinet secretary apologise for finding the time to jet all over the world while failing to produce an energy strategy? When will the cabinet secretary come forward with more detail about the cost of the policies included in the plan, so that she can finally be honest with Scots about how much it will cost them?”
“The plan will also, as I have mentioned—and as has been said in an independent report—provide more than £8 billion in co-benefits, including through improvements in population health brought about by active travel, warmer homes and cleaner air.”
“If I am lucky enough to be back in Parliament and lucky enough to be still doing this job, I will continue to deliver on the plan, which will include working globally with other sub-national and national Governments that understand that the fundamental challenge of our time is decarbonisation.”
“Continuation of that support has been built into the new members’ expenses scheme, as the need for on-going additional support was recognised by the corporate body during its recent review of the scheme, prior to the new session.”
The complete record
Every one of 543 lines we hold for Douglas Lumsden, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 7 of 11.
“It is important to differentiate between the general use of a facility for military purposes and other use. However, I was able to give the chamber an assurance, because it is a matter of public record, that the American attacks on Iran took place from the United States of America and did not involve any military facilities in any other country, least of all Scotland. Community Payback Orders (Breaches) 2.”
“The majority of Prestwick’s income comes from fuel sales revenues, most of which are driven by military customers. Can the cabinet secretary confirm that Prestwick’s use by the US Air Force directly contributes to the viability of the airport, which also means that the Scottish Government, as the airport’s owner, benefits financially from the US Air Force refuelling at the airport? Angus Robertson: As I have pointed out to colleagues, Prestwick is a facility that is used for both civil and military flights. What is true for US aircraft using the facilities is true for aircraft from other allied air forces that also use what is an excellent airport. I foresee that continuing. That being said, I am sure that the Presiding Officer would wish me to bring my remarks back to the actual subject, which relates to Iran.”
“We could have launched a deposit return scheme that did not include glass two years ago, because an exemption from the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020 was granted. If we had done that, the system administrator would not have collapsed with debts of £86 million, a big chunk of which was made up of Scottish taxpayers’ cash that had been lent through the Scottish National Investment Bank. All of that has been lost. We would not be in a position in which Biffa is taking legal action against the Scottish Government for £166 million. If it is successful, that will mean that less money will be available for our national health service, for policing and for our schools.”
“Although we will support the SSI, we have serious concerns about what has been put in front of us and the lack of detail that we are being asked to approve. I raised those concerns at committee, and I will go through some of them again today. There is no detail on the level of deposit or who can alter it; on the different deposit rates for different sized containers; or on the level of producer registration fees. There is a lack of detail on closed-loop premises and no mention of the costs for or impact on the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, or of the rural exemptions and coverage. Today, we are being asked to approve a deposit return scheme that excludes glass. I do not have a problem with that, but I have a problem with the amount of taxpayer money that has been wasted to get us to this point.”
“As a result of the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012, we have saved almost £2.5 billion in back-office costs over the past 10 years. In the past two years, we have saved £280 million through the work that we have done on procurement, estates and the automation of back- office functions. The Scottish Government balances its budget every year. We take Scotland’s finances seriously. Next week, we will lay out the detail of our medium-term financial strategy and our fiscal sustainability delivery plan, and, tomorrow, I will lay out the work that we will take forward in the next phase of our public service reform agenda. 15:55”
“However, we think that he is including in that the 6,000 consultants—and employed general practitioner staff on top of that— who are of course in that bracket, because we can find only a few dozen beyond that number that are in that category. [Interruption.] If Russell Findlay’s message to the people of Scotland is that he is going to take an axe to NHS consultants, people should be aware of that. In my closing remarks, I want to talk briefly— The Deputy Presiding Officer: You need to be very brief. Ivan McKee: —about the work that we have done on public service reform. It is important to recognise that we are on a journey. Much has already been done. Tomorrow, we will articulate the next stage on that journey. We have reduced the number of public bodies in Scotland from 199 to 131.”
“Interestingly, for half of that year, the UK Government was under Tory jurisdiction and, for the other half, it was under Labour jurisdiction, so I do not know who we would blame for the poor performance of the UK economy vis-à-vis what happened in Scotland. In addition, more people earn the real living wage in Scotland than in the rest of the UK. I listened with interest to Russell Findlay on “The Sunday Show” at the weekend. He threw out a number, and I had to go back to check whether he had articulated it correctly, because he claimed that 5,500 public sector workers in Scotland earn more than £130,000 a year. We have not been able to source that figure. If he has the stats for it, I would love to see them.”
“On the recycling point, I note that Craig Hoy is very much in the recycling business; as Daniel Johnson pointed out, he is recycling Truss’s policies. On the Scottish economy, as Kenny Gibson referenced, there is higher GDP growth per person over the long term, higher productivity growth per person over the long term, lower unemployment in the here and now, and the best FDI performance over the past 10 years anywhere outside of London. That is a consequence of the international offices that SDI has around the globe; of course, the Tories want to close those, shutting off access to international investors. There was higher growth in the Scottish economy in 2024 than in the UK economy.”
“Will the minister give way? Ivan McKee: Yes, indeed. Douglas Lumsden: I thank the minister for taking the intervention. When you are looking for savings, will you also look for savings from ministers taking limos to pubs? [Interruption.] Those are savings that could easily be had. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Speak through the chair, Mr Lumsden. Ivan McKee: I missed some of that. Douglas Lumsden needs to be a bit more articulate, perhaps, but I do not think that I missed anything. Kenny Gibson characterised the motion correctly when he talked about it being more akin to an approach taken by double glazing salesmen. If we are to look for inefficiencies, a very interesting place to look is personal protective equipment contracts south of the border.”
“To ask the Scottish Government what urgent action it is taking to address general practitioner waiting times in NHS Grampian, in light of reports of on-going staffing shortages, delayed discharges and critical incidents. (S6O- 04812)”
“Apart from missing concepts such as decency and manners, the member has missed out the great issue facing our world today: the need to get to net zero, which he seems to have overlooked. He seems to think—and this will be my parting word to him—that we can somehow get through the next 50 years without attempting to get to net zero. That is what he has missed.”
“The Government has failed to publish a climate change plan; failed to publish an energy strategy; failed to publish a just transition plan; failed to meet community groups who are concerned about pylons and substations carpeting their communities; failed to publish carbon budget regulations when it said that they would be published; failed to protect thousands of jobs in the North Sea oil and gas industry from being lost; failed to prevent the closure of refining at Grangemouth; failed to back Rosebank, Cambo or Jackdaw; failed to remove the presumption against new oil and gas; and, today, we have heard of its failure to meet its own emissions targets. I ask the minister: when it comes to the long list of failures, what have I missed? Alasdair Allan: I will tell the member what he has missed.”
“I thank the minister for advance sight of his statement, which is a statement of more failure from this devolved Scottish National Party Government—but, of course, this Scottish Government rewards failure. We need simply look at the promotion of the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy, who has presided over a long list of failures.”
“In the instant case, it might interest Mr Lumsden to know that one of the members is not well and the other member has a special dispensation to participate in a committee meeting that is taking place at the same time as this meeting of Parliament. I hope that that assists Mr Lumsden. [Interruption.] Excuse me, Mr Carson. Do you have something to say further to that point of order, or do you just want to mump from a sedentary position? I have stated what the position is, and I hope that that is accepted by all members in the chamber. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Statistics 2023”
“On a point of order, Deputy Presiding Officer. In the portfolio question time that we have just had, the fact that two Scottish National Party members had withdrawn questions meant that other members did not have a chance to question the Government. One question was about the £80 million that the Scottish Government has committed to the Acorn project and when that would be forthcoming. Will you advise on whether anything can be done to ensure that members who put themselves forward to ask a question actually ask it? The Deputy Presiding Officer: I thank Mr Lumsden for his contribution. As a general rule, members will withdraw or not lodge questions for a number of reasons.”
“The reason why I also pointed to the UK Government is that, for instance, the policy on the energy profits levy is continually raised by the industry in the north-east as something that is making life more difficult. That is why we raise it with the UK Government. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Question 5 has been withdrawn. Local Bus Services (Franchising Guidance) 6.”
“We have now been waiting more than two years for an updated energy strategy. The chamber of commerce’s survey has revealed that 90 per cent of firms believe that the absence of a Scottish Government energy strategy is damaging investor confidence. Will the minister wake up and listen to businesses in the north-east? Alasdair Allan: As I indicated, we have not been waiting for a plan to take action—important as a plan undoubtedly is. I have mentioned the £500 million investment over 10 years and the many actions that the Government is taking. Douglas Lumsden is right to point to the real anxiety that exists about ensuring that the north- east has the economic future and just transition that it deserves.”
“The First Minister will know that Scotbeef has closed its doors in Inverurie, causing the loss of 90 jobs. That is a devastating blow to the families affected and to farming in general in the north-east. Will the First Minister join me in meeting members of the farming community in the north-east to hear their concerns about how that latest closure will affect them?”
“My lasting memory of that visit was the friendliness of our Japanese guests. Their warmth and kindness, and their interest in Glover, will stay with me and made me determined to visit Japan in the near future. When I am there, I hope that I will visit the Thomas Blake Glover statue in Nagasaki to pay my respects to the man from the north-east who made such a huge impact in Japan. I wish the organisers of the Thomas Blake Glover festival every success for the upcoming event. 13:16”
“I seem to remember that Martin Gilbert and Aberdeen Asset Management were also involved in that process. Regrettably, in my time as a councillor, we could not come up with a sustainable plan on what to do with Glover house. We worked with the University of Aberdeen and Mitsubishi on a plan to use part of Glover house as a museum celebrating Glover, and part of it for Japanese students attending the University of Aberdeen to live in. However, that plan fell through when Covid struck, and I do not believe that any plan has come forward since then, which is a real shame. I visited Glover house with a delegation from Kobe in 2019. It would be sad to see the house fall into further disrepair. It is part of the history of the north-east, and it should be protected. I hope that a sustainable future can be found for the house.”
“When I was a councillor, I became aware of Thomas Blake Glover, his impact and the important role that he played in the industrialisation of Japan. I also learned that the council owned Glover house, which, as we have heard, was the Glover family’s home in Bridge of Don. I remember my conversations with Richard Sweetnam, a council officer who was sadly taken from us too young, about how big a deal Glover was and how, as a city, we should make more of a deal of him and celebrate him, which would be an opportunity for tourism. That view was shared by all parties in Aberdeen City Council. We did not often agree, but we did agree on Glover. The then Lord Provost, Barney Crockett, was heavily involved with Mitsubishi to see whether we could take a partnership approach to utilising Glover house in Bridge of Don.”
“I congratulate Karen Adam on securing the motion for debate and thank her for educating us more about Thomas Blake Glover. Today’s debate gives us an opportunity to celebrate someone from the north-east who is probably more famous outside the area than in it, as Jackie Dunbar noted. It also gives us an opportunity to celebrate Scotland’s strong links with Japan, which I witnessed at first hand when I was leader of Aberdeen City Council. Aberdeen signed a memorandum of understanding with Kobe in Japan in 2019, strengthening the links between the cities. Today, I am wearing my Kobe tartan tie, which is a gift that I received when a delegation visited Aberdeen to sign the agreement. It is not just tartan that we have in common; I also learned about our shared love of whisky.”
“To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide further detail regarding the reasons why it is not planning a broader review of the statutory grounds for fatal accident inquiries, in light of the previous review of statutory grounds being undertaken nearly a decade ago and reports of growing public concern over preventable deaths outside of custody settings. (S6O-04748)”
“However, more relevantly, I will respond to the real and significant points that Douglas Lumsden raised about the challenges that the north-east of Scotland and his constituents face. Douglas Lumsden mentioned the idea that the challenges that the industry faces are somehow the consequence of being demonised by Government policy. I have to push back very strongly against that, and I merely point to the fact that the north-east of Scotland faces real challenges, as he and I both acknowledge, due to the maturing of the North Sea basin and the changes that will come regardless of Government policy. All Governments—the Scottish Government and the UK Government—have to prepare for that and are devoting real resources, as I have set out today.”
“The front page of today’s Press and Journal lays bare that 400 jobs are to go every fortnight over the next five years. That is like a Grangemouth facility closing every two weeks. The SNP is doing nothing to stop that, and it is continuing with its presumption against new oil and gas. Does the minister accept that there can be no transition if oil and gas jobs are lost because the SNP is demonising the industry? Will he apologise to the people of the north-east for his Government’s failure to plan properly and publish its energy strategy and just transition plan? Alasdair Allan: I could begin by saying that many of the plans that have been referred to exist in draft form. I could talk about the fact that some of the plans are dependent on court decisions at UK level.”
“I thank the minister for advance sight of the statement. It is clear that he has his head in the sand, because the north-east faces an emergency. The Just Transition Commission report needs to be a wake-up call for this devolved Government, because it sets out something that we already know and have been warning about. It says: “There is still no transition plan for oil and gas workers.” We know that because the just transition plan and energy strategy were meant to be delivered years ago. I have repeatedly asked when they will be published, but it is clear that the minister and the cabinet secretary simply do not have a clue. While that uncertainty continues, thousands of jobs in the north-east are being lost. The Scottish National Party cannot keep passing the buck, because we need an affordable, commonsense transition.”
“In his statement today, the minister has called for insurers and mortgage lenders “to treat home owners fairly”. Will he also instruct the SNP administration and Aberdeen City Council to treat homeowners fairly by improving the derisory offers that have been made to homeowners in Torry?”
“I want to work with the existing chair to address the issues that have arisen and the reasons for the escalation around leadership and financial control. We will keep working with the chair to ensure that that is the case.”
“It is clear that NHS Grampian is suffering from a serious leadership crisis. I welcome the fact that there is at last progress on recruiting a new chief executive. The board has for far too long not had a permanent chief executive in place, with waiting lists spiralling and financial difficulties deepening. Leadership comes from the top. I genuinely appreciate that the cabinet secretary met me and my colleagues to discuss the issues that we have raised. However, does he agree that it is time for the chair of NHS Grampian, who has presided over the mess, to be moved on immediately so that a leader who better understands the scale of the challenge can be appointed? Neil Gray: We will see new leadership coming into NHS Grampian in the form of a new chief executive.”
“I urge the Government to take on the seriousness and urgency of the issue and move with pace, because we are talking about mainly elderly people who might be reaching the end of their lives. We need to look after them and make sure that they can communicate with everyone else as much as possible. 17:51”
“However, just now, so much of that resource is being spent on people who should be not in a hospital setting but in community settings instead. As Sharon Dowey pointed out, we already have a solution in our communities. Companies such as Specsavers, which I visited on Friday—I even had a hearing test done—already provide that service. As we have said, we already do community eye care so, surely, we should just replicate that for hearing. A couple of months back, I met Neil Gray and Jenni Minto, and the issue was one thing that I spoke to them about, because I had raised questions on it. I thank them for that time. NHS Grampian would be an ideal place for a pilot on community audiology. There are huge waiting times and a real need for something to be done.”
“I imagine that people can only say “Pardon?” once or twice before they withdraw from engaging in conversation altogether. The issue should be looked at as soon as possible. The answer is clear and has been accepted by all: we need to get people out of a hospital setting. Ninety-four per cent of people with hearing loss have uncomplicated adult-onset hearing loss that is suitable for community treatment. At present, those patients compete for the limited capacity that is available to treat children and adults with sudden onset hearing loss and specified comorbidities, who have to be treated in hospital. There is absolutely a need for intensive audiology in major hospital settings, but the specialists involved should be reserved for the 6 per cent of cases that involve traumatic hearing loss or child hearing loss from birth.”
“I congratulate my colleague Sharon Dowey on securing the debate, although I feel that it is a debate that we should not be having. We should not be in the situation that we are in now. The system that we have in place is cruel. Audiology is in crisis. Imagine saying to an elderly person, “I’m sorry, but we’re not going to be able to see you for two years.” We in the chamber can all recognise how inhumane that would be, but the waiting times in NHS Grampian, for example, show that people are having to wait for two years before they get an assessment and then wait longer to get a hearing aid. As Christine Grahame points out, all that leads to social isolation and links to dementia. There is also an impact on family and community settings.”
“Money will not necessarily make a difference to that, although it might allow groups to buy in expertise when they need to, given that they are often volunteer groups of committed individuals who have busy and changing lives. The personnel can change frequently and it is difficult for them to see a project through, given the amount of time that is required even to fill in the necessary paperwork. Secondly, there is a lack of skills. The ClimateXChange report refers specifically to the lack of skills within local authorities to spearhead projects, stating that “local authority stakeholders note that there is still often a lack of skill for local energy projects in general.” That is, of course, in addition to a lack of expertise in local communities.”
“There is little in the Government’s motion to suggest that that will be easier in the future, only that more money might be available. The community groups that I have spoken to highlight some key challenges when it comes to getting schemes from idea to delivery. A report from ClimateXChange in 2024 found three main barriers: a lack of resources, a lack of skills and a lack of community input. Nothing that the cabinet secretary has said today will change any of those things. First, there is a lack of resources. Taking a project from idea to execution can take five years or more, which, for a community group, is a huge amount of time and resources to which few can commit.”
“It is for the expansion of the capacity of CARES off the back of the pilot work that we did. Douglas Lumsden: I thank the cabinet secretary for that important clarification. We often hear that funds have gone from one place to another, so it is good to hear that that is actually new money. However, rural communities will wait to see what benefit it actually brings in the form of inward investment and economic benefit. My pessimism well and truly returns when it comes to the jobs promised by GB Energy. It promised 1,000 jobs, but that will take years and years. At the heart of all the announcements are small local communities that see the potential in small local energy schemes. They want to do their bit; they see an opportunity and have the drive and passion to take it forward, but they find the process incredibly daunting.”
“By bringing ourselves into line with that target, we can achieve a lot more, instead of by following the usual SNP mantra of being different for difference’s sake. While I am speaking about the relationship with the Labour Government, I want to pick up on an announcement that has been made by both Governments, each claiming it as its own. We are talking about an £8 million scheme, and I believe that it is actually £4 million from the UK Government through GB Energy and £4 million from the SNP Government. I would like to ensure that that is clarified. If it is £4 million from the Scottish Government, is that new money or has it just been repurposed from another budget line? Gillian Martin: I can confirm that that is shared funding from both Governments. It has not been repurposed; it is new money.”
“Community Energy Scotland wants the Government to distinguish between community and locally owned and solely community-owned schemes. It wants to see a separate target of 1GW of energy per year produced by community schemes, as well as the 2GW target for community and locally owned schemes that has been set by the Government. Although that might seem like a small change, it is fundamental to ensure that those schemes are run for and by communities, instead of having the possibility of larger companies taking the benefit without ensuring community support. The change would also enable us to access additional funding from the UK Government, which is focused on delivering 8GW of community energy by 2030.”
“I have spoken to many community groups that have spoken highly of the support, advice and guidance that the agency has given them, and I have spoken to MSPs about the support and advice that CES has given us through meetings in which it has patiently explained its ambitions for and frustrations about community energy production throughout Scotland. Rarely have I heard such warm words spoken of a Government body. We know that 1.1GW of community and locally owned renewable energy capacity was in operation in Scotland in December 2024 and that the Government has a target of 2GW by 2030. That is a laudable target, although the Scottish National Party’s record of achieving targets on environmental issues has not been great so far. However, I will suspend my pessimism on this occasion.”
“I think that there will be a lot that we agree on this afternoon. Community-owned energy is becoming an increasingly important element in our energy production in Scotland. Local power production schemes are fast becoming a means by which our more rural communities become energy efficient and less reliant on more carbon- intensive means of energy production. They serve to bring autonomy to our rural communities, giving them a stake in their energy production, environmental sustainability and resilience for when the main grid fails due to weather or other calamities. I join the cabinet secretary in recognising the work that has been done by Community Energy Scotland.”
“I work very closely with the Just Transition Commission. I cannot really answer Douglas Lumsden’s question based on the original question that was put to me by Audrey Nicoll, about the proof of concept fund, but I want to give clarity to the Parliament that I take everything that the Just Transition Commission says very seriously and I regularly work with it on how we can deliver a just transition in the north-east. Social Tariff Working Group 5.”
“Today, the Just Transition Commission published its latest damning report, which highlights how this devolved Government is failing workers in the north-east. The report’s message is clear: this Government is not delivering a just transition for Aberdeen and the north-east. The SNP simply does not care about the hard-working oil and gas workers in the north-east. My constituents do not need another report to tell them what they already know. They need action, and they need it now. Has the cabinet secretary read the report? What is her response, and what is she going to do about it? The Presiding Officer: Please respond to the substantive question, cabinet secretary. Gillian Martin: I have read the report and, indeed, I welcome all the interventions that the Just Transition Commission made.”
“Switching the rural and islands housing fund on and off leads to questions as to whether funding will happen and will break the system at a time when we need to be building at least 11 per cent more houses on Scotland’s islands. 15:49”
“The review and extension of the rural and islands housing fund is really welcome, but we need to recognise a number of things. Uptake of the fund has been low because there is a high bar to access it due to feasibility studies. We need to look at that, because if there is no housing, no one will be on the islands to tackle the climate emergency or do anything with the economy. If we are going to give communities money from the rural and islands housing fund, we need to build in a resource for the communities that do not have wind energy to support someone who can deliver the plan. We need to think about building houses at scale and creating a pipeline.”
“Will the member take an intervention? Ariane Burgess: That was highlighted by the Scottish Human Rights Commission’s report, which was released last autumn. It is simply unacceptable that Government policy is not delivering on the most basic human rights obligations in relation to islanders’ rights to housing and food. I hope that the new islands plan, which the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands mooted earlier, will lead to better delivery than the previous version of the plan. It is encouraging that the cabinet secretary’s motion acknowledges that more needs to be done. How much time do I have, Presiding Officer? The Deputy Presiding Officer: You have a generous four minutes. Ariane Burgess: I will close with a couple of comments. I apologise to Mr Lumsden, but I will not take the intervention.”
“I am speaking as cabinet secretary today, but, speaking also as a north-east MSP, I think that it is important to realise that there will be thousands of jobs for the north and the north-east of Scotland associated with the energy transition and the build-out of ScotWind. We could be looking at replacing many of the jobs that will inevitably, unfortunately, disappear as a result of the downturn in oil and gas in the basin. How we do that is important, but it is critical that we do it. That is a fact: we have to do it. I take on board Douglas Lumsden’s points about how we do it and how we bring communities with us, and I am determined to work with members across all parties on that. Nonetheless, we must decarbonise—that is a scientific fact.”
“As I have set out to Parliament—members of the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee should be well versed in this—the climate change plan for the next five years will be set out once the secondary legislation has gone through Parliament, and as a result of the advice that I will receive tomorrow from the Climate Change Committee. As soon as the secondary legislation—which is new legislation—that is associated with the carbon budget that is being put in place is agreed, we will put forward the next climate change plan. As part of that plan, there will be yearly statements like the one that I have given today. We are fully committed to addressing the challenges in front of us and taking decisive action. Douglas Lumsden seems to think that we can do that without getting renewables on to the grid.”
“Gillian Martin: Scotland has a very good story to tell on the drive to renewables and reducing the emissions that are associated with electricity supply—that is why we have achieved 50 per cent of our target for 2045. I must correct Mr Lumsden when he says that I am commenting on a climate change plan that does not exist. We have a climate change plan that was published in 2021, and under the Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Act 2019, we have to produce reports such as the one that I am speaking to today, which is based on the 2021 climate change plan.”
“Our rural communities are paying the price for this Government’s folly of putting all its eggs into one renewables basket, with hundreds of battery storage sites, substations and monster pylons scarring our countryside. Is that just the price that our rural communities have to pay for net zero? The energy strategy and just transition plan is years late. Will the cabinet secretary confirm whether it will be issued before the summer recess, or does she have no idea? Now that countries such as Denmark have come to realise that nuclear has a part to play in clean, green power, will the Government get its head out of the sand and drop its ban on nuclear power?”
“I thank the cabinet secretary for providing advance sight of her statement. Only this devolved Government could have a climate change plan monitoring report when it does not have a climate change plan, after it was forced to ditch it. From the update, we see that only 16 of the 43 indicators are on track, but this devolved Government shamelessly claims to be world leading. You could not make it up—that is more pathetic spin from this out-of-touch Government. I do not think that world leaders will be calling to ask it for advice. The Government needs a reality check. We need a commonsense, affordable transition that takes households with us, not a transition that will make families poorer and widen inequalities.”