Question to the Scotland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of (a) increases to the Energy Profits Levy and (b) the abolition of the investment allowance on future trends of private investment in north east Scotland.

At Autumn Budget 2024, the government confirmed that from 1 November 2024, the Energy Profits Levy (EPL) rate would increase by 3 percentage points to 38%, the EPL investment allowance would be abolished and the EPL decarbonisation allowance rate would be adjusted to 66%. The government also confirmed an extension to the period the levy applies from 31 March 2029 until 31 March 2030. To support investment and jobs in current and future industries, the government decided to make no additional changes to the availability of capital allowances in the EPL.

The government has carefully considered the impact of the removal of the EPL’s investment allowance. HM Treasury publishes impacts in summary form for tax measures in tax information and impact notes (TIINs) alongside the Finance Bill. The summary of impacts from these changes to the EPL can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/energy-profits-levy-reforms-2024

The UK Government recognises that oil and gas will continue to have a role in the UK’s energy mix for decades to come. Nonetheless, public and private investment must be driven towards cleaner energy, including in the north east of Scotland. Money raised from changes to the Energy Profits Levy will be used to support the transition to clean energy, enhance energy security and provide sustainable jobs for the future.