Elaine Stewart

Long duration electricity storage (LDES) allows excess renewable generation to be stored and then used at peak times, helping to maximise the use of low-cost homegrown energy and reduce reliance on expensive global gas markets. New LDES will be built for the first time in over forty years under the cap and floor policy brought in by this government.

Ofgem is the independent regulator and decision maker for the cap and floor scheme appointed by government to deliver the policy. It assessed all projects through its Multi Criteria Assessment framework, with analytical support from NESO on whole system impacts. This assessment included consideration of system balancing and constraint management costs and resulted in Ofgem’s minded to decision on projects to support through window one, which includes 3.9GW of Pumped Storage Hydro in Scotland.

Long duration electricity storage (LDES) allows excess renewable generation to be stored and then used at peak times, helping to maximise the use of low-cost homegrown energy and reduce reliance on expensive global gas markets. New LDES will be built for the first time in over forty years under the cap and floor policy brought in by this government.

Ofgem is the independent regulator and decision maker for the cap and floor scheme appointed by government to deliver the policy. It assessed all projects through its Multi Criteria Assessment framework, with analytical support from NESO on whole system impacts. This assessment included consideration of locational factors.

The interference that onshore wind turbines can cause to seismological monitoring stations was a priority area of focus for the Onshore Wind Industry Taskforce. In the recent Onshore Wind Taskforce Strategy my Department committed to working with Scottish Government and the Ministry of Defence to consult on new policy and guidance, aiming to unlock 3-6GW of onshore wind capacity around the Eskdalemuir Seismic Array.

The interference that onshore wind turbines can cause to seismological monitoring stations was a priority area of focus for the Onshore Wind Industry Taskforce. In the recent Onshore Wind Taskforce Strategy my Department committed to working with Scottish Government and the Ministry of Defence to consult on new policy and guidance, aiming to unlock 3-6GW of onshore wind capacity around the Eskdalemuir Seismic Array.

Defence is an engine for growth, as demonstrated by the recent deal this Government signed with Türkiye for 20 Eurofighter Typhoons, worth £8 billion to the UK economy and supporting a key NATO ally. This deal secures thousands of skilled jobs for the UK, including those workers in Warton and Samlesbury who I had the pleasure of meeting recently.

Poverty scars the lives and life chances of our children.

Tackling child poverty is at the heart of this government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and give every child the very best start in life.

In December, we set out our ambitious and comprehensive Child Poverty Strategy. It sets out the steps we are taking to reduce child poverty in the short-term, as well as putting in place the building blocks we need to create long-term change across the UK. Our decision to lift the two-child cap alone will benefit 95,000 Scottish children.

Grassroots sports are the backbone of Scottish communities, and that is why we are investing a further £8.6 million this year in sports facilities across Scotland.

Through this scheme, almost 100 facilities across Scotland, including in our island and rural communities, have been built or upgraded and with this new funding, we can look forward to many more.

This scheme will increase participation, improve health and help people of all ages to enjoy the benefits of sport.