Vote · 18 Apr 2012

Project TransmiT

Amendment Motion S4M-02623.3 Lodged by Mary Scanlon Con

Defeated by 87

14 For 101 Against 0 Abstained 13 Did not vote

What this amendment would do

This vote was on a Conservative amendment (S4M-02623.3) to the SNP’s motion (S4M-02623). It was defeated, so it did not change the motion. The final vote on the motion was carried 100–15.

If agreed, the motion would read:

That the Parliament

224 words removed by S4M-02623.3

opposes the current locational charging approach, which levies the highest charges on electricity generators across Scotland, including the areas of the best renewable energy resource, and acts as a barrier to renewable projects that can benefit local communities and contribute to Scottish, UK and EU renewable energy and carbon-reduction targets; continues to support the Scottish Government’s call for significant change to the existing charging regime, recognising that there remain strong arguments for change to a flat rate of charging for all generators; recognises and supports Project TransmiT, the independent review of transmission charging by Ofgem called for by the Parliament in April 2010; supports a transparent, thorough and effective assessment for improvements in the charging regime; welcomes the emerging outcomes for both renewable and conventional generators on the mainland, which will move away from the current status-quo approach by reducing the scale of the variance in charges currently faced by generators in mainland Scotland; urges Ofgem to deliver effective change quickly; supports calls for Ofgem to deliver a pricing structure that does not penalise the development of renewable energy in the Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland, and further urges Ofgem to recognise that the significant renewable energy resources of these island groups have potential benefits for both Scottish and UK consumers that will be best met by their integration with the wider GB market.

S4M-02623.3 Conservative notes the current approach taken by Ofgem following its extensive consultation under Project TransmiT; recognises Ofgem’s concerns that the introduction of a flat rate of charging for all generators would lead to an increase in fuel poverty for the most vulnerable; further recognises concerns that the development of wind energy in the Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland will depend on having affordable transmission charges, and urges Ofgem to continue to engage with stakeholders to find a satisfactory solution to the issue of transmission charging.

Worked out by this site by applying the amendment to the motion as lodged. It is not an official text.

The amendment as lodged

leave out from “opposes” to end and insert "notes the current approach taken by Ofgem following its extensive consultation under Project TransmiT; recognises Ofgem’s concerns that the introduction of a flat rate of charging for all generators would lead to an increase in fuel poverty for the most vulnerable; further recognises concerns that the development of wind energy in the Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland will depend on having affordable transmission charges, and urges Ofgem to continue to engage with stakeholders to find a satisfactory solution to the issue of transmission charging."

All amendments to S4M-02623

S4M-02623.2 Labour Ken Macintosh Defeated vote, 31–70
S4M-02623.3 Conservative Mary Scanlon Defeated vote, 14–101
S4M-02623.1 Liberal Democrat Liam McArthur Not put to a vote (worked out by this site: never called at Decision Time: not selected or not moved)

How the parties split

Every party voted as a bloc

Party	For	Against	Absent	Majority
SNP	0	64	3	✗ Against united
Lab	0	29	8	✗ Against united
Con	14	0	1	✓ For united
LD	0	5	0	✗ Against united
Green	0	2	0	✗ Against united
Ind	0	1	1	n/a

Party is the MSP's party on the day of the vote. Majority is how most of the party's voting MSPs voted.

Every MSP

128 MSPs

For (14)

Con 14

Against (101)

SNP 64

Lab 29

LD 5

Green 2

Ind 1

Bill Walker

Did not vote (13)

SNP 3

Lab 8

Con 1

Margaret Mitchell

Ind 1

Margo MacDonald

Against their party

Nobody. Every MSP who voted sided with their party's majority.

Context

Amends the main motion, S4M-02623 (carried)
The motion, its supporters and amendments
Watch on Scottish Parliament TV (that day's meetings)
All votes on 18 Apr 2012 (3)

Other votes that day (2)

Project TransmiT S4M-02623
Carried 100–15
Project TransmiT S4M-02623.2
Defeated 31–70

How this is worked out

Vote type, bill stage, free votes and key votes are worked out by this site from titles, dates and how each party split. They are not the Parliament’s own classification.

Kind and stage come from the motion title and reference (".1" references are amendments) and, for bills, the bill’s stage dates.
Bill links are shown only when the title matches a bill’s name and the vote falls within that bill’s passage.
Free vote means two or more parties each split by 15% or more, with ten or more MSPs off their party line. Parties rarely announce free votes in the data, so this is a likely sign, not a record.
Key vote means a bill’s Stage 1 or final vote, a budget vote, a likely free vote, or a result decided by three votes or fewer.
Against party line counts MSPs whose vote differed from the majority of their own party (independents excluded).