Question
Economic growth in the north-east of Scotland and our green transition rely on the carbon capture and storage project at Peterhead. Would the Minister make clear what assessment the UK Government have made of whether it will still go ahead, given their massive cuts to the project?
Answer
I reassure the hon. Lady that we continue to support the Acorn project. The initial grant funding that this Government are providing until the end of 2026 remains in place, and we are exploring delivery through private investment and Government loans or equity investments in the future.
Verdict: AMBER (55/100)
The reply sets out the Government's continued support for the Acorn carbon capture project linked to Peterhead, notes that grant funding runs through the end of 2026, and points to private investment, loans or equity as routes beyond that. It gives a substantive view on the project's future. It does not clearly state that the project will go ahead, and it does not directly address the specific cuts the question raised, so someone who asked this would likely need to press for a firmer answer.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| What is the Government's assessment or view of whether the Peterhead carbon capture and storage project will still go ahead, given the cuts to the project. | Addressed | Direct | The reply states the Government's position that it continues to support the Acorn project (the CCS project linked to Peterhead), points to existing grant funding through end-2026, and names alternative routes (private investment, loans or equity) for the future, which together give a substantive view on whether the project will proceed. It does not say explicitly that the project will definitely go ahead, and it does not directly address the specific cuts, so confidence is moderate. |