Parliament Workbench
Data: Motions & questions to 19 Nov 2026 · Votes to 12 Nov 2026

Motion For Debate · S6M-16171 · Session 6

Ensuring that Communities are at the Heart of the Electricity Consenting Process

Carried Lodged by Douglas Lumsden Con Lodged 20 Jan 2025 Debate 22 Jan 2025

The motion

That the Parliament opposes the UK and Scottish governments’ jointly proposed reforms to the consenting process under the Electricity Act 1989, which risk silencing the voices of communities by removing the right to a public inquiry on consent decisions; notes with concern that the Scottish Government has allowed pylons and other electricity infrastructure to be built without the consent of local communities; acknowledges that community groups often do not have the resources to oppose electricity infrastructure, and calls on the Scottish Government to consider how this could be addressed, and implores both governments to abandon these plans and to ensure that community voices are at the heart of the consenting process going forward.

What MSPs voted on: the motion as amended

The Conservatives’ motion was rewritten by an SNP amendment (S6M-16171.3) before this vote. A vote ‘for’ was a vote for the SNP’s wording.

That the Parliament
110 words removed by S6M-16171.3opposes the UK and Scottish governments’ jointly proposed reforms to the consenting process under the Electricity Act 1989, which risk silencing the voices of communities by removing the right to a public inquiry on consent decisions; notes with concern that the Scottish Government has allowed pylons and other electricity infrastructure to be built without the consent of local communities; acknowledges that community groups often do not have the resources to oppose electricity infrastructure, and calls on the Scottish Government to consider how this could be addressed, and implores both governments to abandon these plans and to ensure that community voices are at the heart of the consenting process going forward.
S6M-16171.3 SNP believes that communities must be at the heart of the renewable energy transition, and that it is vital that they share in the significant benefits that will be created, in contrast with how Scotland’s communities have been failed for decades under successive UK administrations’ energy policies; notes the ongoing representations by the Scottish Government to the UK Government around the need for energy market reform; further notes that Scotland has some of the most stringent environmental impact regulations anywhere in the world and that the planning and consenting system is designed to ensure that local communities have their say; notes that the proposed reforms have long been the established position in England, which the previous UK Conservative administration did not alter in its 14 years in office, and understands that the proposals would require developers to consult communities much earlier in the planning process, which will ensure that affected communities can more meaningfully influence the process of project development.

Final wording as read into the Official Report at Decision Time. The marked changes are worked out by this site from the amendment texts and match that wording.

Amendments

  1. S6M-16171.3 SNP Dr Alasdair Allan Agreed vote, 63–55
  2. S6M-16171.1 Labour Sarah Boyack Fell per the Official Report
  3. S6M-16171.2 Liberal Democrat Liam McArthur Fell per the Official Report

Vote

1 division
  1. 22 Jan 2025
    Ensuring that Communities are at the Heart of the Electricity Consenting Process
    S6M-16171as amended by SNP
    Carried
    83 for, 35 against, 7 abstained

Amendments

3
  1. S6M-16171.1
    Ensuring that Communities are at the Heart of the Electricity Consenting Process
    Sarah Boyack Lab Lodged 21 Jan 2025
    No recorded vote
  2. S6M-16171.2
    Ensuring that Communities are at the Heart of the Electricity Consenting Process
    Liam McArthur LD Lodged 21 Jan 2025
    No recorded vote
  3. S6M-16171.3
    Ensuring that Communities are at the Heart of the Electricity Consenting Process
    Dr Alasdair Allan SNP Lodged 21 Jan 2025
    Carried
    63 for, 55 against

Supporters

No MSP has added their name to this motion.

In the Official Report

4 contributions mention S6M-16171
  1. 22 Jan 2025
    Electricity Infrastructure Consenting
    Annabelle Ewing SNP Meeting of the Parliament

    The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-16171, in the name of Douglas Lumsden, on ensuring that communities are at the heart of the electricity consenting process. I invite members who wish to speak in the debate to press their…

  2. 22 Jan 2025
    Decision Time
    Alison Johnstone Meeting of the Parliament

    I remind members that if the amendment in the name of Alasdair Allan is agreed to, the amendments in the name of Sarah Boyack and Liam McArthur will fall. The next question is, that amendment S6M-16171.3, in the name of Alasdair Allan, whi…

  3. 22 Jan 2025
    Decision Time
    Alison Johnstone Meeting of the Parliament

    The question is, that motion S6M-16171, in the name of Douglas Lumsden, on ensuring that communities are at the heart of the electricity consenting process, as amended, be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No.

  4. 22 Jan 2025
    Decision Time
    Alison Johnstone Meeting of the Parliament

    The result of the division on motion S6M-16171, in the name of Douglas Lumsden, on ensuring that communities are at the heart of the electricity consenting process, as amended, is: For 83, Against 35, Abstentions 7. Motion, as amended, agr…