Question
The Minister saw for herself this summer the opportunities being developed around marine renewables in my constituency at the European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney. Next month we will hopefully get the report from the taskforce commissioned by other Government Departments. Will the Minister engage with that and ensure that we get marine energy across the line and, as a consequence, win a home-grown supply chain in Scotland for her reindustrialisation policies?
Answer
I greatly enjoyed my visit to the right hon. Gentleman’s beautiful constituency. He is right about the opportunities that we have for clean power in Scotland, which our Government are already taking advantage of. I saw for myself what is happening in Orkney with tidal, wave and wind power, and I will pay significant attention to the report that he mentions.20% vibes
Verdict: RED (22/100)
The reply responds to the question about the forthcoming taskforce report, but only by committing to "pay significant attention" to it, with no concrete action or timing. It partly addresses the question on whether marine energy will be taken through to completion, describing existing clean-power activity in Scotland and Orkney without committing to that outcome. It does not address the question on a domestic marine energy supply chain or Scottish industrial capacity at all. Overall the reply is mostly hedged and leaves the main points unresolved, so the person who asked would likely need to return with a follow-up for specifics.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Will the Minister engage with the forthcoming report from the cross-departmental marine energy taskforce? | Addressed | Hedged | The reply directly responds to the forthcoming taskforce report with a commitment to engage with it, but "pay significant attention" names no concrete action, timing, or mechanism. |
| Will the Minister ensure that marine energy is taken forward to completion, or 'across the line'? | Partially Addressed | Hedged | The reply describes existing clean-power opportunities in Scotland and activity in Orkney, which speaks to progress, but it never addresses the question of whether the Minister will see marine energy through to completion or commit to that. |
| Will the Minister ensure that a home-grown marine energy supply chain in Scotland is secured as part of the Government's reindustrialisation policies? | Not Addressed | Generic | Nothing in the reply mentions a domestic marine energy supply chain, Scottish industrial capacity, or reindustrialisation policy; the closest statement only refers generally to clean-power opportunities in Scotland. |