KATE FORBES: This is the greatest injustice for the Highlands and Islands
With parliament being in recess over the middle of October, it has given me the opportunity to reach different parts of my constituency – including Badenoch of course.
But what I’d like to share with you, is an event I participated in during my recent visit to Shetland – where the Convention of the Highlands and Islands was taking place (COHI for short).
On the second day I took part in a panel discussion, and fuel poverty and energy costs more generally was the topic.
A fellow panellist used a local example, putting to me that the Viking windfarm can power up to half a million homes, and yet in Shetland local residents’ energy bills are amongst some of the highest in the country – with around 30 per cent in fuel poverty.
The argument could be transposed to other locations, but in short the Highlands and Islands have some of the highest energy bills, as well as a disproportionate rate of fuel poverty, despite being geographically close to the source of much of the energy production.
I would go so far as to say that this is the greatest injustice for our islands, and indeed for the Highlands, but it is the greatest injustice of our day.
It is an absolute shocker and will be for generations to come, that the Highlands and Islands are responsible for generating such a wealth of power that actually keeps the lights on across this country and may, at some point, keep the lights on beyond this country, and yet we have pensioners and others in fuel poverty.
Sitting alongside that, we have comments from Greg Jackson, who is the chief executive of Octopus Energy. He has said that with reform to the energy market, Scotland could be paying the cheapest prices anywhere in Europe – and at times possibly even pay nothing – but that of course requires reform to energy and a system of regional pricing put in place.
My big hope, which I suspect may be disappointed, is that the new Labour government tackles this head on at Westminster. They really need to get to grips with it.
Now, GB Energy has its place. It’ll do what it needs to do, but it’s not about tackling that injustice.
What we need is a big vision from the UK Government, which the Scottish Government is willing to support for complete reform, that says “this is Scotland’s energy and we will not tolerate anyone in fuel poverty that lives within a metre or a mile of these turbines”.
I know that the UK Government is currently reviewing responses to the recent consultation on reforming electricity markets – but I’m certainly not holding my breath.
I am however looking forward to being back in Badenoch next month and seeing some of you then. In the meantime do contact my constituency office if I can be of assistance.
