Climate Change: International Leadership Harpreet Uppal
(Huddersfield) (Lab) 1. What steps he is taking to establish
international leadership on climate change.(901214) The
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net
Zero (Kerry McCarthy) Today, the Secretary of State for Energy
Security and Net Zero, my right hon. Friend the Member for
Doncaster North (Ed Miliband), is already at COP29 in Baku, where
he will be leading climate...Request free trial
Climate Change: International Leadership
(Huddersfield) (Lab)
1. What steps he is taking to establish international leadership
on climate change.(901214)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security
and Net Zero ()
Today, the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero,
my right hon. Friend the Member for Doncaster North (), is already at COP29 in Baku, where he will be
leading climate negotiations. He sends his apologies. The Prime
Minister is also at COP29 and will be speaking at the global
leaders summit, announcing our ambitious 1.5°C-aligned nationally
determined contribution and showing that the UK is truly back on
the international stage. A written statement will also be made
later today.
I welcome the leadership the Government are showing, in
particular on NDCs, as my hon. Friend mentions. The news that
this year is likely to be the hottest on record across the world
is deeply concerning and reminds us that climate breakdown is a
global challenge that we must all face. Does the Minister agree
that we must have ambitious plans at home, so that we can go to
COP and challenge other world leaders to do more to tackle
climate change?
I completely agree with my hon. Friend. There is a direct link
between taking action to protect the British people at home and
leading on climate action abroad. If we want to protect our
country from future energy shocks and the runaway cost of climate
chaos, we must work with other countries to protect our planet.
We now have the credibility to do that because of the action we
have taken since entering government, as was apparent when I
attended pre-COP meetings in Baku last month and as the Prime
Minister will demonstrate in Baku today.
(Bristol Central) (Green)
I warmly welcome the new Government target to cut carbon
emissions, and I know the Secretary of State and the Minister
thoroughly understand the importance of joined-up action on
climate justice. Can she tell us whether every single Government
policy across every Government Department will now be assessed to
check whether it is compatible with 1.5°? What steps are the
Government taking to ensure the global south is properly
compensated for climate loss and damage?
On the second point first, at this COP we want to ensure that we
fully operationalise the loss and damage fund, so we then start
getting money into it and channelling money to developing
countries. We also want to do that through the new collective
quantified goal, which we hope will be ambitious and
multi-layered.
On the question of looking at our policies across the piece, that
is very much my job. We will be responding soon to the Committee
on Climate Change's report, which the hon. Lady will know was
quite critical of the previous Government's action. We will be
setting out our plan to implement the NDC and looking at the next
carbon budget. All those things require effort share across
Departments to ensure we actually meet them. It is about not just
setting ambitious targets, but making sure that, unlike the
previous Government, we have a strategy to get us there.
Several hon. Members rose—
Mr Speaker
I call . Are you standing?
(St Austell and Newquay)
(Lab)
indicated dissent.
Mr Speaker
Okay, I call . Here's a man who is ready to
go!
Mr (Chesterfield) (Lab)
I am ready to go, and so is the Prime Minister—it is great to see
him in Baku showing leadership. The recent Cali conference was a
disappointment. Ultimately, nations were not able to reach
agreement. Alongside the positive steps the UK Government are
taking, what conversations are we having with international
partners to recognise the necessity of an agreement that brings
all western nations together in showing equal ambition?
I thank my hon. Friend for that question. I know he was at Cali.
There was some progress on such issues as digital sequence
information, but more needs to be done. We are very seized of the
need to join up action on the nature and climate crisis. When I
head out to COP29 tomorrow, Members will hopefully hear more from
us on our efforts to protect forests and on the support we are
giving to countries at risk of deforestation. We are also looking
at nature-based solutions to climate change. The nature
Minister—the Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and
Rural Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Coventry East
()—will be out there as well, and
we will have more to say, but I entirely agree with my hon.
Friend the Member for Chesterfield (Mr Perkins) that we cannot
deal with one crisis in isolation from the other.
(Chichester) (LD)
For the UK to be an international leader on climate change we
need to bring the business community with us. The Summer Berry
Company in my constituency recently invested £8 million in
ensuring it is carbon neutral, but it was then quoted a further
£3 million to be able to feed its excess energy into the grid.
What is the Minister doing to make additional grid connections
affordable and accessible for green businesses?
The energy Minister—the Under-Secretary of State for Energy
Security and Net Zero, my hon. Friend the Member for Rutherglen
()—is very much involved with
that issue. We have also set up the energy superpower mission
board, headed by Chris Stark. I had a conversation with him
yesterday about what we can do to ensure grid capacity and grid
connections in the right places. If the hon. Lady has a specific
issue to raise and would like to write to me, I will make sure it
is passed on to him.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Minister, whom I welcome to the Front
Bench.
(Beaconsfield) (Con)
When I asked the Secretary of State about the appointment of
Rachel Kyte as his international climate envoy during our last
questions session, he failed to say whether Quadrature Capital's
£4 million donation to the Labour party had been declared to the
Department before her appointment, and I have still not received
a reply to my letter of 17 October. Will the Minister tell me
whether the Secretary of State declared those interests to the
Department before Rachel Kyte's appointment, and whether
Ministers have ever met directors of Quadrature Capital or
Quadrature Climate Foundation?
I am sure that the shadow Minister will receive a reply to her
letter in due course, but I can tell her that Rachel Kyte is
extremely well respected, and that her appointment as our special
representative has been welcomed across the board.
Clean Energy by 2030
(Derby North) (Lab)
2. What progress he has made on achieving clean energy by
2030.(901216)
(Sefton Central) (Lab)
3. What progress he has made on achieving clean energy by
2030.(901217)
(Derby South)
(Lab/Co-op)
16. What progress he has made on achieving clean power by
2030.(901231)
(Hexham) (Lab)
20. What progress he has made on achieving clean power by
2030.(901235)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security
and Net Zero ()
In just four short months, we have made rapid progress on
achieving our mission for clean power by 2030. We have set up
Great British Energy and announced its headquarters in Aberdeen,
secured a record-breaking 131 renewables projects, and consented
to record amounts of solar. We are getting on with delivering
lower bills, energy security, good jobs and climate action.
(Derby North) (Lab)
Rolls-Royce in Derby is an international leader in research on
and the development of small modular reactors, and it is
fantastic that the Government have acknowledged the role that
SMRs will play in clean power generation, energy security and
green jobs. In the Budget, we heard that the final decision on
Great British Nuclear's SMR competition will conclude next
spring. Does the Minister agree that it is important for this
opportunity to be seized as soon as possible?
I agree with my hon. Friend that nuclear will play a central role
in our clean power mission, and will continue to be a critical
part of our energy mix as we progress towards 2030 and far
beyond. Great British Nuclear is continuing to drive forward the
competition on small modular reactors, with bids currently being
evaluated by the Department, and I look forward to having more to
say about this in due course.
Mr Speaker
I call the Chair of the Energy Security and Net Zero
Committee.
The last Government held a consultation on electricity market
arrangements, but despite having said that that was their
flagship policy in this area, they did not publish the results of
that consultation. Does my hon. Friend agree that electricity
and, indeed, energy market reform is crucial to achieving the
Government's stated 2030 clean energy targets and to reducing
bills, and can he say whether this Government will publish the
results of the last Government's consultation and if so,
when?
I congratulate my hon. Friend again on his appointment as Chair
of the Select Committee—he brings a huge amount of knowledge and
experience to the role—and I agree with him about the importance
of reviewing electricity market arrangements. We are building on
the last Government's consultation, and we will have more to say
in the months ahead. This is a crucial element of how we achieve
clean power by 2030 and ensure that our energy system of the
future is fit for what will be a different way of managing energy
throughout the country. We will have more to say about that in
the months ahead.
Last week a report published by the National Energy System
Operator noted that although the programme to roll out new small
modular reactors was being developed for the mid-2030s, a 2030
roll-out date would in fact be possible. Given that SMR
technologies hold exciting and significant potential for
investment in jobs and infrastructure in constituencies such as
mine, has the Minister considered the value of bringing the
roll-out forward to 2030?
My hon. Friend is right to say that nuclear will play a vital
role, and that it not only delivers on our energy security but
creates good, well-paid jobs. Unlike the last Government, who in
14 years did not deliver a single nuclear project—there were many
consultations and processes, but not a single nuclear power
station was built—this Government are getting on with delivering
a nuclear future.
Last week's report from the National Energy System Operator
showed that not only is clean power by 2030 achievable, but it
can lead to lower bills and more secure systems. Does the
Minister agree that the only way to protect bill payers
permanently is to go as far and as fast as possible towards our
clean power mission by 2030?
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. The report published by the
independent National Energy System Operator laid out not only
that reaching our clean power mission is entirely achievable, but
that it will bring down bills. The importance of the report is
that it set the course for how that is possible. The reality,
which the Conservative party refuses to accept, is that the only
way to get us off the rollercoaster of high bills is to deliver
at pace the clean energy that we know will deliver energy
security and climate leadership, and bring down bills for people
right across the country.
(Tonbridge) (Con)
I am delighted that the Minister is setting out that the report
promises an extra £40 billion of investment a year in the energy
sector and, presumably, the taxes to go with it, which will of
course come from the businesses that are paying for everything
else in the Budget that has just gone by. Is there anything at
all in his proposals that will actually bring down the cost of
energy and not be replaced by taxpayer funding? It appears at the
moment that there is nothing, and energy prices are already going
up.
I would encourage the right hon. Gentleman to read the NESO
report, because it sets out in great detail not only that clean
power is achievable by 2030, but that it will lead to lower
bills. What he says about investment misses the point: in the
last few weeks, we have announced billions of pounds of private
sector investment in these projects; indeed, Scottish Power has
announced today that it will provide £1 billion. Companies are
choosing to invest in this country, whereas they did not under
the Conservative party. The reality is that once upon a time, the
Conservatives recognised that the drive to net zero was
important. They have abandoned that commitment now.
Sir (Harwich and North Essex)
(Con)
I thank the Minister for agreeing to meet the OffSET—offshore
electricity grid taskforce—group of MPs later today; we are very
much looking forward to the meeting. Does he recognise that
achieving the 2030 deadline set out in the NESO report requires
an acceleration of the process, which, in turn, is dependent on
much higher levels of public consent?
I recognise the hon. Gentleman's point, and I am looking forward
to meeting him and his colleagues this afternoon to discuss the
particular issues in his area. We need to build more network
infrastructure across the UK to make this endeavour a reality,
but he is right: we want to bring communities with us on this
journey. That is why we have said that we are looking again at
what community benefits will look like, building on some of the
work that the previous Government did in consulting on this
issue. Crucially, however, if want to bring down bills and
deliver energy security, we will have to build the
infrastructure, and that is what this Government are committed to
doing.
(Bath) (LD)
The Minister knows well the Liberal Democrats' commitment to
community energy. Will the Government establish a clean community
energy scheme, look at the barriers that currently face community
energy projects and look at supporting the National Grid to
deliver community energy?
The hon. Lady and I have had a number of conversations, and I
recognise her commitment on this issue. We have committed in the
local power plan to delivering investment in community energy
across the country. Importantly, we want not only to invest in
schemes, but to deliver across Government the mechanisms needed
to make it more possible for communities to deliver such schemes.
That will build capacity in communities so that we can see more
community energy.
Sir (New Forest West) (Con)
What is the beef behind the Government's reluctance to embrace
with enthusiasm locally generated community energy? Why did they
vote against the amendment tabled to the Great British Energy
Bill by the hon. Member for Bath ()?
I think the right hon. Gentleman thinks that was a “gotcha”
question, but, of course, the Conservative party did not vote for
the Bill at all. Amendment or not, I do not think he can really
speak about what Great British Energy might deliver, because,
despite it being one of the most popular policies at the last
election, the Conservatives failed to bother to vote for it.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Secretary of State.
(East Surrey) (Con)
Last week, the National Energy System Operator published a full
systems cost analysis of the Secretary of State's flagship
project to carbonise the grid by 2030. This morning, the
Secretary of State said on several media outlets that the report
shows that his plans will lower bills. I remind the House that
the report assumes that gas prices are 40% higher than the
Department's own estimates, that the price of carbon price is at
least double what it is now, that the Government can commission
more offshore wind in the next two years than in the last six
combined without moving prices, and that they can build the grid
at a pace we have never seen before in this country, without any
delays. Even if all that is achieved, page 78 of the report shows
that the cost of the system will be higher. For clarity, would
the Minister like to repeat at the Dispatch Box the Secretary of
State's claim that the NESO report shows that Labour's system
will lead to a lower cost of electricity?
What the shadow Secretary of State has just outlined quite
coherently is that the Conservatives have no ambition in this
space whatsoever, but we do. I am very happy for the right hon.
Lady to outline where our ambition is. We will build faster than
the previous Government, although I have to say that that would
not be difficult. The shadow Minister sitting next to her, the
hon. Member for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine (), said quite clearly at their
conference that the previous Government had built infrastructure
far too slowly, and their former Energy Minister, the right hon.
Member for Beverley and Holderness (), said that their onshore
wind ban was “always mad”. We are quite happy to pick up where
they left off and deliver the clean power that this country
needs.
This is the ministerial team who told the electorate they were
going to cut their bills by £300, without doing any homework to
find out how those plans would work. They voted against our
amendment to hold them to account on their own pledge just two
weeks ago, and now they are trying to claim that the NESO report
shows that their approach will lower bills when in fact it shows
in black and white that the system will be much more expensive.
Does the Minister not see that if they follow this plan, we will
be a warning, not an example, to the rest of the world and that
the British people will be colder and poorer as a result?
Time and again, the Conservatives run away from their record on
this in office. The reason why people right across this country
are paying more on their energy bills is that the Conservatives
did not get us off the rollercoaster of fossil fuel markets, but
we are now moving at pace. The right hon. Lady may want to keep
us in the vulnerable state where we are reliant on international
gas markets, but we are determined that we will not do that. We
will bring down bills and deliver energy security. I am not
ashamed to say that we will move with great ambition to deliver
what this country needs and to deliver the good jobs that go with
it.
Great British Energy
McAllister (West Dunbartonshire)
(Lab)
4. What steps he is taking to establish Great British
Energy.(901218)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security
and Net Zero ()
We are moving at pace to set up Great British Energy. So far we
have appointed the start-up chair, Jürgen Maier, we have
announced that the headquarters will be in Aberdeen and we have
progressed the Bill through the House of Commons. This builds on
the first partnership announced for Great British Energy, with
the Crown Estate, and on a recent new deal to collaborate with
Scottish public bodies. We are getting on with the job of
delivering 21st-century public ownership for the British
people.
McAllister
Every family and every business in my constituency paid the price
of 14 years of Conservative failure with rocketing energy bills
because the last Government failed to invest in clean energy. The
Opposition continue to oppose Great British Energy. Does the
Minister recognise the absurdity of their argument that they are
quite happy with foreign public ownership as long as it is not UK
citizens who own our energy?
My hon. Friend makes a good point. It is important to remember
that, despite what the Conservatives might have us believe, Great
British Energy is overwhelmingly popular with the British people.
That includes the people in Scotland, because of course it was
not just the Conservative party who did not vote for Great
British Energy; surprisingly, the Scottish National party also
failed to vote for a publicly owned champion in our energy space.
We are getting on with delivering jobs and growth, delivered with
public ownership through Great British Energy.
(Harborough, Oadby and
Wigston) (Con)
Before the election, Labour said that Great British Energy would
cut electricity bills by £300. After the election, the Labour
Government voted against writing that into law and instead took
away people's winter fuel payments and made their bills more
expensive. The Institute for Fiscal Studies has now said that
their policies are fundamentally raising prices for consumers to
the tune of £120 per household, and we know from the NESO report
that this will get worse. Even if they triple the pace of wind
roll-out, double the pace of grid connection and make other
heroic assumptions, all of this is going to bump up costs
further, is it not? We are doing this from the basis of having
the high electricity prices in Europe. What assessment has the
Minister made of the impact on British industry?
Question after question from the Conservatives shows that they do
not recognise the part they played for 14 years in why we are
paying higher bills than ever before. We are the only party with
an ambitious plan to get us off the volatile fossil fuel markets.
The Conservatives used to believe that, in our drive to net zero,
we should build this infrastructure for the long term. They are
now opposing it, but they will have to tell their constituents
why they want to leave them exposed to rising bills.
Fusion Power Plants
(Bassetlaw) (Lab)
5. Whether he plans to support the development of fusion power
plants connected to the grid.(901219)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security
and Net Zero ()
We agree that fusion could be a globally transformative green
energy solution. The UK Government's fusion programme continues
to lead the world in the development of fusion energy, and our
ambition is to continue to do so.
Two weeks ago, the Budget announcement that the first fusion
power plant will be built in Bassetlaw was welcome news. Can the
Minister provide greater detail on this commitment, alongside the
funding support being made available for the next financial
year?
My hon. Friend is a great champion for her constituency, and I
was pleased to meet her to talk about this issue and to hear her
Westminster Hall debate. I look forward to visiting her
constituency later this month to see the fusion café and to visit
West Burton, the site of the STEP project, after which I hope to
be able to share more detail on how we will support fusion.
(Caithness, Sutherland and
Easter Ross) (LD)
Dounreay, in my constituency, was the site of the UK's first
fission reactor. Today, we have a highly skilled workforce, a
licensed site and a local population that warmly supports the
industry. Will the Government seriously consider involving
Dounreay as we bring fusion to its wonderful fruition?
I think fusion has huge potential, and so many companies stand to
benefit. It is not just about the ultimate goal of fusion energy;
it is also about all the technological advances we will discover.
I have spoken to fusion companies which are, for example, finding
uses for cancer treatment. I am very interested to hear what the
hon. Gentleman has to say about the possibilities of fusion in
his constituency. We want to see this proceed. If he drops me a
line, I will be happy to explore the opportunities in his
patch.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Minister.
(West Aberdeenshire and
Kincardine) (Con)
We have spoken a lot about the Conservative party's record in
government, and I am very proud of our record on fusion. We
launched the Fusion Futures programme to provide up to £55
million of funding to train more than 2,000 people, we became the
first country in the world to regulate fusion as a distinct
energy technology, and we launched the process to build the
spherical tokamak for energy production—I cannot say that as
quickly—at what will be the first fusion power plant at West
Burton in Nottinghamshire. [Hon. Members: “Hear, hear.”] Members
are very welcome. Will the Minister confirm that it is still the
Government's intention, as it was ours, to have fusion power on
the grid by 2040?
As I mentioned, I am very much looking forward to visiting West
Burton soon. The Budget announced significant support for fusion
energy in 2025-26 and, yes, we remain as ambitious as the
previous Government for the potential of fusion energy.
Having confirmed that 2040 is still the ambition, which does the
Minister think will come first: fusion on the grid or the final
investment decision on Sizewell C?
The final investment decision on Sizewell C, as I understand it,
is expected soon. We will hear more about support for that in the
next spending review. Fusion energy has huge potential, not just
in the long term but from the innovation we are already seeing in
that sphere, which I very much welcome.
Carbon Capture and Storage
(Aberdeenshire North and
Moray East) (SNP)
6. What plans he has to support the development of carbon
capture, utilisation and storage projects at Acorn.(901220)
Dame (Hackney South and Shoreditch) (Lab/Co-op)
7. What recent steps his Department has taken to support carbon
capture and storage.(901221)
The Minister of State, Department for Energy Security and Net
Zero ()
On 4 October, the Government announced £21.7 billion over the
next 25 years to launch the UK's carbon capture, utilisation and
storage industry. We will provide further details on the next
steps for CCUS, including track 2 projects such as Acorn, in the
coming months.
I thank the Minister for her encouraging answer. Acorn, including
the St Fergus site in Aberdeenshire, not only has a significant
role to play in achieving net zero in Scotland, but has the
capacity to accept carbon from mainland Europe. This project
could help the UK and Europe to achieve their net zero goals, and
is significant not only for the port of Peterhead in my
constituency, as the Minister knows, but for the local power
station, which shares the same integrated ambitions. Acorn
presents very significant opportunities, representing hundreds of
millions of pounds in new investment, new jobs and economic
growth for the north-east, for Scotland and for the UK. Can the
Minister accelerate the decision making on the Acorn project, and
will she commit to funding in 2025?
We are committed to track 2, and I recognise the huge advantages
of Acorn that the hon. Gentleman has highlighted. Our record
£21.7 billion investment demonstrates our long-term commitment
and gives industry the certainty it needs. The ups and downs of
CCUS under the previous Government did not provide the certainty
that people required, and certainty is what we are looking to
deliver. We understand that people want clarity, and we will be
making further announcements in the coming months.
Dame
The path to carbon capture and storage is littered with failure:
three previous projects never got off the ground, despite lots of
taxpayer money going into them. What precisely are the Government
going to do to ensure that this project delivers?
Mr Speaker
If the hon. Lady would look towards me a little bit, I will be
able to hear the question.
We realise that CCUS is an emerging industry, but it is also one
that we can lead on internationally, thanks to the unique
geography of the North sea. We will do all we can to help
industry scale up in this technology, which we believe will play
a crucial role in our mission towards clean power.
National Grid: Energy Mix
Dr (South West Wiltshire)
(Con)
8. Whether he has had recent discussions with National Grid on
diversifying the energy mix of its network.(901222)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security
and Net Zero ()
The Government regularly meet stakeholders to discuss the
development of our energy infrastructure. Last week, the
Government received advice from the National Energy System
Operator outlining its advice on the pathway towards clean power
by 2030. Later this year we will publish our 2030 action plan,
which will set out details on the future of our energy mix.
Dr Murrison
Offshore wind has been a real positive for our energy security
and grid independence, but unfortunately not when the wind does
not blow. Given the election of a President who tells us he is
going to “drill, baby, drill,” what revision does the Minister
anticipate to his timetable towards net zero?
As I said in my previous answer, later this year we will outline
our action plan on how we will deliver on the 2030 target; there
is no change to our timetable in that regard. The right hon.
Gentleman raises a good point about what happens when the wind
does not blow and the sun does not shine, and about ensuring we
have a mix in our energy system. That is why we remain supportive
of nuclear and why we have recently announced investment in
long-duration energy storage, to ensure we can capture energy and
use it when we need it.
(Suffolk Coastal)
(Lab)
I was delighted by Ofgem's announcement this morning that it now
recommends that the proposed Nautilus interconnector should be
located at the Isle of Grain, not on the Suffolk coast. Since I
have been elected, I have made firm representations to the
Minister and Ofgem, including via its consultation, that the
Suffolk coast should not have been considered and brownfield
sites should have been considered first. Will the Minister meet
me to discuss other National Grid projects in my
constituency?
Ofgem has announced today decisions on a number of
interconnectors. Those are decisions for Ofgem and not for the
Government. We have recently announced the launch of a strategic
spatial energy plan, to ensure that we plan such projects
holistically, across the whole of the United Kingdom, and take
into account a number of schemes when planning future energy,
such as those my hon. Friend mentions in her constituency. I will
continue to have discussions about that with Members from across
the country.
(West Suffolk) (Con)
China's largest offshore floating wind turbine company, Ming Yang
Smart Energy, plans to build its first manufacturing plant
outside China in Scotland. Ming Yang benefits from huge subsidies
in China, but there are serious questions about energy security
and national security. The Secretary of State says he wants to
end reliance on foreign autocrats, but when he was asked about
this on the radio this morning, he had no answer. Will the
Minister rule out allowing any turbines that might be controlled
by hostile states?
We are encouraging investment in the UK to build the
infrastructure that we need in the future. Just today, we have
announced the clean industry bonus that will give as much support
as possible to companies to build their supply chains here in
this country. We will continue to look at supply chains and, of
course, we take seriously the companies, across the range of
business projects, that are investing in this country. There is a
series of processes already under way across Government. Whenever
anybody wants to invest in this country, those processes will be
followed in the usual manner.
Ms (East Thanet) (Lab)
Mr Speaker, will you and the Minister give the House an
opportunity to celebrate the £1 billion of investment announced
today in offshore wind in this country? It will provide jobs
across the country, as promised by this Government, which the
British people are not used to after the past 14 years. Will the
Minister meet me to discuss the infrastructure required to
connect that clean, secure energy to our homes, in particular the
Sea Link project that could have an impact in my
constituency?
My hon. Friend is right to highlight the fantastic announcement
today by ScottishPower of £1 billion of investment here in the
UK, building the infrastructure that we need, and delivering jobs
and skills in this country as well. It is one of a number of
announcements that we expect, because we are not agnostic in this
Government on delivering the industrial strategy that we need. My
hon. Friend the Minister for Industry is working on that at the
moment. We will deliver the jobs in this country to build the
clean power of the future. We will deliver good, well-paid jobs
and the energy security we need.
Renewable Energy: Job Creation
(Peterborough) (Lab)
9. What steps she is taking to support job creation in the
renewable energy sector.(901224)
The Minister for Industry ()
Delivering good jobs is the driving force behind our growth and
clean energy missions. Great British Energy and the national
wealth fund will crowd in private sector investment to spread
jobs across the country through investment in clean energy. I am
delighted that the Prime Minister has today launched the clean
industry bonus, which will incentivise developers to invest in
the UK's industrial heartlands, coastal areas and oil and gas
communities, boosting jobs and delivering on another of our
manifesto promises.
I am also delighted with my hon. Friend's commitment to
delivering clean energy jobs. It is important to constituencies
such as mine in Peterborough, which could be the King's Cross for
a new core hydrogen network—as recommended by the National
Infrastructure Commission—thanks to National Gas's Project Union.
National Gas has its hydrogen-ready gas compression site in our
city and we are about to open a new green technology centre to
develop new green jobs and apprenticeships. Will the Minister
commit to working with local authorities such as mine, colleges,
and businesses such as National Gas, to deliver new jobs across
the supply chain and in all parts of the country?
I completely agree with my hon. Friend's sentiment and commend
the work that he is doing in his constituency. Low carbon
technology will of course play a critical role in our future,
from hydrogen to carbon capture and to renewable energy. I am
pleased that, in the Budget, we saw the funding of 11 hydrogen
projects, which will drive jobs and growth. I am really keen to
talk to him about his plans for Peterborough becoming the King's
Cross for a hydrogen network and applaud the work that is going
on in his constituency around green jobs.
(Strangford) (DUP)
rose—
(Westmorland and Lonsdale) (LD)
rose—
Mr Speaker
I call Jim Farron.
Me or him, Mr Speaker? [Laughter.]
Mr Speaker, perhaps if I start, the hon. Member for Strangford
() could finish.
In order to safeguard renewable jobs and to create new ones, will
the Minister consider a specific project that has hydro-turbine
manufacturers such as Gilkes in Kendal, and many others around
the country, working alongside our farmers to make use of
streams, becks and rivers that go through farmland to create
renewable industry and, indeed, new jobs?
We are ambitious to create all the jobs that we want to see in
the green technologies of the future. I would be very interested
to hear more about what the hon. Gentleman has to say. The
Climate Change Committee estimates that up to 750,000 net jobs
could be created by 2030. Opposition Members have decided that
they do not support that path. The question is: why are they
objecting to all these new jobs that we will be creating across
our country?
Warm Homes Plan
(Bracknell) (Lab)
10. What steps he is taking to introduce a warm homes
plan.(901225)
(North Somerset) (Lab)
13. What steps he is taking to introduce a warm homes
plan.(901228)
(Shipley) (Lab)
19. What steps he is taking to introduce a warm homes
plan.(901234)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security
and Net Zero ()
We are committed to an ambitious warm homes plan, which will
upgrade homes across the country, making them warmer and cheaper
to run, by installing new insulation and rolling out low carbon
heating such as solar and heat pumps. As a first step, the
Government have committed an initial £3.4 billion over the next
three years towards upgrading homes. We have already hit the
ground running with the roll out of our warm homes local grant,
and our warm homes social housing fund. We will set out more
details in due course.
Too many of my constituents are living in poorly insulated social
housing. New mother Dionne, for instance, had the insulation from
her flat removed last year by her social landlord because it was
full of mould and mildew. She is now facing her second winter
without insulation. Will the Minister confirm that the warm homes
plan will introduce tough new standards to ensure that social
housing providers get on and insulate their housing stock?
Yes, absolutely. Raising standards in the social housing sector
will be a critical part of our warm homes plan. We have already
announced plans to lift 1 million renters out of fuel poverty by
raising the minimum energy efficiency standard in both the
private and the social-rented sector, which will ensure that
renters no longer have to live in cold, drafty homes. We will
also unlock £1 billion-worth of investment to the national wealth
fund in partnership with leading banks to upgrade more social
homes, and we will set out more detail to build on that in due
course.
I thank the Minister for her commitment to the warm homes plan.
Many of my constituents in North Somerset have written to me in
recent weeks, detailing their concerns that the scheme does not
take sufficient account of higher energy usage due to long-term
illnesses. Will the Minister share whether the Department has any
plans to look into uplifting the warm home discount for
participants with relevant long-term illnesses?
We recognise that many vulnerable people, including those with
high energy usage, often bear the greatest burden when energy
prices increase. That is why we are doing all we can, including
by working with energy companies, to make sure that we are
providing additional support this winter and beyond. I will take
my hon. Friend's point away and follow up with him in due
course.
Given that 64% of homes in Shipley have an energy performance
certificate rating of D or below, I very much welcome the
Government's commitment to the warm homes plan. The charity
Groundwork provides a “warm homes healthy people” scheme across
Bradford district, installing energy-efficiency measures, and
offering advice and support on energy bills. Does the Minister
agree that local charities need support to continue to help those
who are most in need this winter?
It is a national scandal that so many homes across the country
have an EPC rating that is below C—a failure of the last
Government to deliver the scale of home upgrades that we need. We
are determined to end the injustice of people living in cold and
draughty homes. I completely agree that we must do everything we
can to support vulnerable households with their energy bills this
winter. That is why we are providing 3.3 million households with
the warm home discount, why we are working with energy suppliers
to provide additional support, including through charities, and
why we have extended the household support fund.
Mr (East Londonderry)
(DUP)
Does the Minister agree that we particularly need a comprehensive
warm homes plan in rural areas in order to identify very old
homes and ensure that insulation is targeted to maximise
reduction in their energy usage?
We will ensure that we see upgrades in every part of the country;
we will be working with combined authorities, local government
and the devolved Administrations to make sure that we are
delivering the scale of upgrades needed across the country.
(Harrogate and Knaresborough)
(LD)
In the light of the warm homes plan, is the Minister aware of
challenges faced by homeowners who used the green homes grant for
spray foam insulation? Many now find their homes unmortgageable,
and face significant costs for removal and repair. Will the
Minister consider measures to support such homeowners as part of
the warm homes plan?
I am aware that many households have had upgrades that have not
gone to plan. It is critical that we build confidence, because in
the end we need to persuade consumers up and down the country to
have these upgrades. There were schemes under the last
Administration that were not regulated and did not have the
correct standards, and we are working hard to make sure that we
raise standards across the piece.
(Angus and Perthshire Glens)
(SNP)
We are going to need a warm homes plan, because with the snow and
ice coming in on a cold front, Scotland is seeing a “sum front”
heading north from this Labour Government: a £600 cut to the
winter fuel payment and the pensioners' cost of living
payment—for winter weather that is here now. That was not in the
manifesto. What was in the manifesto was a £300 cut to fuel
bills, but those costs are now up by £450. When will this
Government do a single thing for people facing fuel poverty?
We will work across the country to tackle fuel poverty, but I
remind the hon. Member that fuel payments are devolved. The
Scottish Government have been given the biggest budget, and it is
time to get on with the job and fix the situation.
Mr Speaker
I call the Liberal Democrat spokesperson.
(South Cambridgeshire)
(LD)
Homes in the UK are among the least energy-efficient in Europe,
with unparalleled health, productivity and carbon emission costs
to society, as a result of the last Government's failure to act.
I agree with the Minister: it is a disgrace that this is
happening in one of the largest economies in the G7. We welcome
the news of the warm homes plan coming next year, but does the
Minister agree that an emergency home insulation programme this
winter, with free insulation for people on low incomes, is
necessary so that people in South Cambridgeshire do not have to
face the choice between heating and eating?
Let me assure the hon. Member that we are hitting the ground
running with home insulations. We are rolling out our warm homes
local grant and our warm homes social housing fund, to target
people this winter—this year—because we need to deliver the
biggest ever upgrade.
Decarbonisation: Public Sector Bodies
(Telford) (Lab)
11. What steps he is taking to support public sector bodies to
decarbonise.(901226)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security
and Net Zero ()
As the first step towards the warm homes plan, we have committed
an initial £3.4 billion. That includes £1 billion towards public
sector decarbonisation, because we know that we have to ensure
that our schools and hospitals reduce their energy bills.
Decarbonising the public sector is good for our net zero target,
but it also releases money for more teachers, nurses and street
cleaners, so that savings benefit our communities rather than
energy giants. Schools across Telford are crying out for that
investment. Will the Minister do all she can to decarbonise the
public sector in the years to come?
I completely agree; decarbonising our public sector will not only
reduce emissions but lower bills. We estimate that the £1 billion
that we have allocated to public sector decarbonisation will
reduce bills by about £40 million per year. That is a big step
forward, but there is more work to do.
(Strangford) (DUP)
It is clear that there is a role for all schools across this
great United Kingdom to play in public sector decarbonisation.
They also have a role in educating the children in their
classrooms, who we want to be the pioneers of tomorrow. What has
been done to ensure that the good things that happen on the
mainland of the United Kingdom are shared with regional
Administrations such as the Northern Ireland Assembly?
We will work on that with the devolved Administrations across the
United Kingdom. Good practice is happening across local
government and regional government. We will ensure that everyone
can learn from it, and we will deliver the biggest upgrade in a
generation.
Great British Energy: Job Creation
(East Kilbride and Strathaven)
(Lab)
12. What assessment he has made of the potential impact of Great
British Energy on job creation.(901227)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security
and Net Zero ()
The energy transition presents an incredible opportunity for job
creation right across the UK, particularly in our industrial and
coastal communities. Through Great British Energy, we will build
on Scotland's reputation as a world leader in energy and secure
long-term, well-paid jobs in the industries of the future.
I recently had the privilege of opening an extension to the Kype
Muir wind farm in my constituency. The extension alone will
generate enough power for 53,000 homes for 30 years. My
constituency is also home to part of Whitelee, the largest
onshore wind farm in Europe. However, not one of those turbines
was manufactured in the UK, let alone locally. What steps is the
Minister taking to develop UK manufacturing capacity in that
area?
I know well my hon. Friend's constituency—it is next door to
mine—and both wind farms she mentions. She says quite rightly
that, for all the expansion in those technologies over recent
years, very few of those jobs, particularly in manufacturing,
have been in this country. We will do everything we can, through
Great British Energy and the clean industry bonus we have
announced today, to grow our domestic supply chains, build
industry in this country and win jobs for Britain.
(Gordon and Buchan)
(Con)
Last week, just days after the Budget, Apache announced that it
would exit the North sea by 2029. It said:
“The onerous financial impact of the energy profits levy…makes
production…beyond 2029 uneconomic.”
What assessment have the Government made of the impact of those
policies on current jobs in north-east Scotland, and how will
Great British Energy compensate for the loss of those jobs?
We are working with industry in the north-east of Scotland to
ensure that this is a just and prosperous transition. We have
announced our next steps of responding to court judgments, and a
consultation is open at the moment. We will have more to say
about that in the months ahead. The hon. Lady must recognise that
if she wants to see investment from Great British Energy, she
might actually have to support its creation in the first place.
The Conservatives cannot have it both ways; either they want a
public energy company to invest in the jobs of the future—
(Tonbridge) (Con)
We don't.
Or they do not, as her right hon. Friend has just confirmed from
the Back Benches. She cannot have it both ways.
Topical Questions
(Edinburgh West) (LD)
T1. If he will make a statement on his departmental
responsibilities.(901238)
The Minister of State, Department for Energy Security and Net
Zero ()
The Budget was a major step forward, paving the way for
investment in clean, home-grown power, creating jobs and
delivering energy security. Last week, the National Energy System
Operator provided definitive evidence that our clean power
mission is achievable and can give us greater energy security and
lower energy costs. The Conservatives have spent the past year
arguing for a system that would keep the British people locked
into energy insecurity and higher costs. While they are locked in
arguments about the past, we are getting on with delivering lower
bills, energy security and good jobs for the British people.
The price cap rise, winter fuel payment cuts, higher standing
charges and lower temperatures are all things that my
constituents in Edinburgh West—particularly my pensioners—are
coming to me with concerns about. What is the Secretary of State
planning to do to work with Ofgem and the energy companies to
come up with a fairer set of circumstances for my constituents
and others in similar situations?
We are looking to bring down standing charges. The hon. Lady has
mentioned a lot of cases where people are struggling; we
appreciate that, and we are doing what we can. The Budget set out
how we are going to protect the most vulnerable people and ensure
that people are supported in the way they need to be. We have a
lot to do after 14 years of Conservative Government; we are
trying to unravel that and support people. Our push for clean
energy by 2030 will lead to lower bills, and that is what we will
be working on.
(Weston-super-Mare) (Lab)
T2. Following on from the exciting announcement of the £1 billion
investment in wind power, it would be remiss of me not to mention
the Severn estuary to the west of Weston-super-Mare, with its
transformative potential for the generation of clean, renewable
energy. The potential of domestic energy has been neglected for
far too long in a world where global energy markets and the cost
of living are turbulent. Does the Minister agree that the
Conservative party appears to have learned absolutely nothing
during its time in office, presiding over the worst cost of
living crisis in generations and failing to act—(901239)
Mr Speaker
Order. Topical questions should be short and punchy. I am sure
you are going to get to the end of your question any minute
now.
Can I urge the Minister to go further and faster in delivering
clean power for our communities, which the NESO report so clearly
stated would lead to lower bills and energy security?
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security
and Net Zero ()
My hon. Friend is right; there are good projects right across the
country that we hope to invest in in the lead-up to delivering in
2030. The NESO report clearly set out that our aim is achievable.
The Conservative party wants to continue having the arguments of
the past; we are determined, with ambition, to deliver on the
arguments of the future.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Secretary of State.
(East Surrey) (Con)
The Prime Minister is set to announce at the conference of the
parties that he is making the UK's already stringent carbon
emission targets even higher. That is despite the fact that we
contribute only 1% of global emissions, while the leaders of the
world's highest-emitting countries—making up over 60% of
emissions—are not attending. The Climate Change Committee has
said that this target will require, for example, an accelerated
shift away from meat and dairy, less travel and a gas boiler ban
for the British people, yet the Government's approach would see
our reliance on imports from China—which is 60% powered by
coal—go through the roof. Does the Minister agree that an
approach that is asking for more sacrifice and hardship from the
British people, in return for more goods from one of the world's
largest carbon emitters, would mean fewer jobs in Britain and
more carbon in the atmosphere?
Mr Speaker
Too long.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security
and Net Zero ()
I think the shadow Secretary of State needs to seek a debate if
she wants to elaborate on these issues. Having attended COP last
year as part of a cross-party delegation, I found it incredibly
depressing to see the way the UK was received. It is really
important that we are stepping up and showing global ambition.
Reaching net zero in this country and getting to clean power by
2030 is a massive opportunity, not a cost.
(Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy)
(Lab)
T4. Some 824 former miners in Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy are
rightly delighted that our Government have returned over £1
billion from the mineworkers' pension scheme to those who powered
our country for decades. Does the Minister have plans to deliver
similar justice to the 290 members of the British coal staff
superannuation scheme in my constituency and, indeed, all those
affected across the UK?(901242)
I am proud that we have finally ended the injustice of the
mineworkers' pension scheme. Miners across the country powered
our economy for decades, working in the toughest environments;
they should not have had to fight for so long for a fair pension.
I travelled to Barnsley with the Secretary of State to meet
former mineworkers and talked about the difference that the
Labour Government have made. Of course, we will look at any
suggestions that the BCSSS comes forward with.
Mr Speaker
I call the Liberal Democrat spokesperson.
(South Cambridgeshire)
(LD)
The US President-elect, Donald Trump, has repeatedly called
climate change “a hoax”. I share the concerns of young people in
South Cambridgeshire that these views represent a threat to our
efforts to tackle climate change. The global community is meeting
right now at the international climate summit in
Azerbaijan—COP29. Does the Minister believe and share with me the
view that the UK must rebuild its leadership by getting back on
track with our climate and nature targets?
I agree that it is now more important than ever that the UK shows
global leadership, and that is exactly what the Prime Minister,
the Foreign Secretary and the Energy Secretary are doing with
their presence at COP today—I will be heading out there tomorrow.
I am very keen to work with the hon. Lady cross-party on these
issues. Working with young people is very important as well.
(Exeter) (Lab)
T5. I am proud that Exeter is already a global leader in climate
research. Does the Minister agree that this Government's mission
on clean power will deliver lower bills, energy security and
allow this country to enter COP29 as a world leader when it comes
to climate action?(901243)
As I have said, showing domestic leadership gives us the
credibility to show international leadership too. We will be
doing both.
(Ashfield) (Reform)
T3. Forests in North America are being chopped down to supply
wood to burn at Drax power station, at a cost of £2 million a day
in subsidies, while pensioners will perish this winter. Does the
Minister agree that it is time to end this net zero madness and
admit that fossil fuels are “a gift of the God?”(901240)
It perhaps will not surprise the hon. Gentleman or the House that
I am not going to agree with his final point. Net zero is
incredibly important to deliver climate leadership, lower bills
and the jobs of the future. But on biomass, we rightly expect
full compliance with all regulatory obligations on biomass, and
consumers rightly recognise the high standard of accountability
from generators.
(Doncaster East and the Isle
of Axholme) (Lab)
T6. In my constituency there are nearly 1,500 members of the
mineworkers' pension scheme. I congratulate my hon. Friend the
Minister on the superb decision made in the Budget to return the
investment of the reserve to them. I understand that this will
mean a 32% rise in their weekly pension. Can the Minister confirm
that this is correct?(901244)
That is correct. It will mean, on average, an extra £29 a week,
putting right a wrong that has persisted for far too long.
Although the money is important and a key part of it, we have
done the right thing—and about time too. Some 112,000 members
across the country will benefit.
(North Bedfordshire)
(Con)
Thank you, Mr Speaker, for permitting me to raise this important
constituency matter from the Back Benches. On 2 July this year,
during the installation of a ground source heat pump in a
constituent's back garden, a gas field was struck and gas was
released. On 19 October there was an explosion, which resulted in
the deaths of two of my constituents and the continuing
evacuation of 50 households. Matters related to the period
between 2 July and 19 October are subject to investigation. I am
advised that this is the first such instance of gas being
encountered, but given that ground source heat pumps are expected
to play a significant role in decarbonising home heating, will
the Minister undertake to review the regulations covering the
installation of ground source heat pumps, and will she arrange a
meeting for me with the relevant Minister to discuss these
matters further?
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security
and Net Zero ()
I am sorry to hear about the incident that the hon. Gentleman has
raised. We absolutely need to ensure, as we roll out all
low-carbon technology, that standards are at the highest level. I
undertake to meet him to understand the specific circumstances
and see what we can do in terms of reviewing regulation.
(Erewash) (Lab)
T7. The Joint European Torus fusion experiment in Oxfordshire has
been delivering fantastic scientific results, standing at the
forefront of UK science and the fusion experiment
internationally. As JET begins to be decommissioned as we move
forward to our next large experiment in Bassetlaw, can the
Minister comment on how we will retain all the excellent science
expertise that has been built up in JET over the past
decade?(901245)
I got to see the JET project when I visited Culham. There is huge
potential for a cluster there. Many more companies are being
attracted to that sector. My hon. Friend is right that we need to
maximise the skills that are there, but I am confident, having
spoken to companies that have been attracted to Culham, and
having spoken to international companies too, that we will
continue to do so.
(North Shropshire) (LD)
Many homes in my constituency are off grid, which means that
their owners have to fill up the tank at the beginning of winter
to keep warm. The pensioners who have lost the winter fuel
payment are struggling with that up-front amount. Will the
Minister review the level at which the winter fuel payment is
removed, because the most vulnerable are struggling?
We are doing everything we can to help the households that will
struggle with bills this winter. We have had a big push to
increase the uptake of pension credit and we are working with
energy suppliers to provide additional support this winter,
alongside our warm home discount, which will provide a rebate of
£150 to households in fuel poverty. We have also extended the
household support fund.
(Kensington and Bayswater)
(Lab)
T8. I have worked for many years with London School of Economics
academic and UK resident Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu, who has been
arbitrarily detained in Azerbaijan since July 2023 for uncovering
corruption in the fossil fuel industry, despite a severe medical
condition. During COP29, will Ministers meet their Azerbaijani
counterparts to urge them to drop the charges and to release
him?(901247)
I understand that the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development
Minister has raised the case with the Azerbaijani Foreign
Minister and urged allowing Dr Ibadoghlu to travel overseas for
specialist medical care if required. We will continue to use our
diplomatic channels to raise our concerns about the protection of
freedom and human rights in Azerbaijan, including for my hon.
Friend's constituent.
(Grantham and Bourne)
(Con)
Conservative Members will never stop holding the Government to
account for their pre-election promise to cut energy bills by
£300. Have civil service officials conducted any modelling
whatsoever that can legitimise that figure?
We arrived at the figure through independent analysis. We stand
by the reality that the only way to bring down bills is to commit
to our 2030 target. The National Energy System Operator backs
that, but the Conservative party fails to support that action.
The hon. Member therefore must explain what the Conservative plan
is for reducing bills for people who are paying more than they
have ever paid.
(Macclesfield) (Lab)
My constituents understand that tackling the climate crisis and
getting lower bills go hand in hand, and they are excited about
Great British Energy. Will GBE invest in community energy
projects in places such as Macclesfield?
My hon. Friend is right to make a point about community energy.
The local power plan that we are committed to will deliver
community energy projects throughout Great Britain. I am sure
that Macclesfield has some fantastic projects that Great British
Energy will look at. We want to unleash the potential of
community energy across the country.
Greg (Mid Buckinghamshire) (Con)
National Grid's rationale for rebuilding East Claydon substation
is based on speculative applications, not consented real schemes.
Will the Minister therefore meet me to find a way to get National
Grid more grounded in reality rather than speculation?
I am happy to look at specific cases, but the Secretary of
State's role as final decision maker on some planning
applications means that I cannot comment on them. However,
generally speaking, the hon. Member makes an important point
about looking at how we plan projects holistically throughout the
country. That is why we have announced the first ever spatial
energy plan for the whole of Great Britain.
(Leeds East) (Ind)
The devastating scenes of flooding in Spain remind us all of why
urgent investment is needed to deal with the deadly consequences
of climate change. Does the Minister agree that that investment
should be paid for by the polluting companies that have caused
the climate crisis?
We hope that, at COP29 in the coming weeks, we can settle on a
figure for a new ambitious goal, which will not just bring in
finance from donor countries, but mobilise private sector
finance. We will use all the mechanisms we can to ensure that we
get money to developing countries as quickly as possible. As my
hon. Friend said, it is more urgent than ever to act.
Mr Speaker
Order. I have got to get all Members in, and Ministers have got
to help me and work with me.
(Mid Sussex) (LD)
Bolney in Twineham parish in my constituency hosts the Rampion
windfarm substation, which leads to several battery energy
storage solution applications. What reassurance can the Minister
give my constituents about the adequacy of the regulatory
framework?
Batteries will play an important role in our energy mix in the
short duration storage that we need. We will continue to look at
whether the regulatory arrangements are sufficient. Obviously, we
want all the applications to be for safe projects. The
regulations are in place to ensure that. If we need to do any
more work, we will happily look at that.
(Truro and Falmouth)
(Lab/Co-op)
We had a very successful all-party group meeting last week on
floating offshore wind in the Celtic sea. I know the Minister is
supportive and ask him to consider mechanisms such as ringfencing
contracts for difference and investment in ports to kickstart the
investment in the Celtic sea.
My hon. Friend is right to raise the important potential of the
Celtic sea in our green energy transition. I will be in Wales
tomorrow to speak at a green energy conference on exactly that
question. There is huge potential in floating offshore wind. We
want to bring the manufacturing jobs in the supply chain to this
country as well, which is why we launched today our clean
industry bonus to bring that investment here to build the
factories of the future and deliver the good, clean jobs of the
future.
(Rutland and Stamford)
(Con)
The wind industry has rightly agreed a standard compensation
package for rural communities with big wind plants. The solar
industry, however, is, unsurprisingly, busy whitewashing Uyghur
slave labour in its supply chains rather than doing that. If it
will not act, will the Government step forward and recognise that
they must support rural communities by creating a standardised
compensation programme?
The hon. Lady has pursued this and several other issues to do
with the solar industry for a long time. We are currently looking
at all the options, particularly around community benefits, to
ensure that they are at a scale—following on from the previous
Government's consultation on whether they should be
compulsory—that genuinely benefits communities.
Dr (Ealing Central and Acton)
(Lab)
My constituent Konnie Huq, with Arts Council and Lottery funding,
has compiled a kids' climate guide, with Jamie Oliver among the
contributors. Will Ministers join forces with her to get it out
there, preferably to every school in the country, because we have
got to start young?
I would be more than happy to meet with my hon. Friend and her
constituent, who sounds rather familiar, to discuss what more we
can do to support climate education among children, including in
our schools.
(Central Suffolk and North
Ipswich) (Con)
I met with National Grid yesterday and communicated my concerns
about the Norwich to Tilbury line but we remained constructive
and talked about community benefit schemes. Unfortunately, it
told me that the Government were dragging their feet on defining
community benefit schemes. Can the Minister update the House on
when they will bring forward guidance, and can he promise that a
community benefit scheme is a real, positive economic benefit for
my residents who are impacted by the pylons?
Clearly I cannot speak for National Grid but I can speak for this
Government and in four months we have moved as quickly as
possible on what a community benefit scheme will look like for
network infrastructure as well as for generation projects. The
Conservative party had 14 years to put in place a different
scheme and did not; in four months we are moving as quickly as we
can.
(Camborne and Redruth)
(Lab)
As Ministers know, the European powerhouse of critical minerals
is Cornwall, including its vast quantities of lithium, essential
for our transition away from fossil fuels. Will the Ministers
agree with the industry's call for a target of 50,000 tonnes of
lithium?
I thank my hon. Friend for his question and look forward to
meeting him shortly to talk about tin among other things. We are
looking at our critical minerals strategy; there is a big role to
play in his neck of the woods for lithium and tin, and we will be
pushing that as hard as we can.
(Dundee Central) (SNP)
Ahead of the general election the Labour party was warned that
its plans for the North sea in Scotland would lead to up to
100,000 Scottish job losses. Last week this became a reality when
the US oil firm Apache said that it would end all its operations
in the North sea by the end of 2029, citing this UK Government's
Budget and tax regime. Can the Minister explain why this UK
Government sees the jobs and livelihoods of oil and gas workers
in the north-east of Scotland as expendable?
I do not believe that at all. This Government are committed to a
just and prosperous transition. The reality is that 100,000 jobs
have been lost in the oil and gas industry in the past 10 years.
If we do not recognise that there is a transition under way and
put in place the measures to produce the jobs of the future, we
will have more losses. The party that the hon. Member represents
could have done something about that by supporting Great British
Energy headquarters in Aberdeen but he failed to show up and vote
for it.
(St Austell and Newquay)
(Lab)
I declare an interest as a chair of the all-party parliamentary
group for critical minerals. Domestic supplies of copper and, of
course, Cornish tin are critical to the UK's energy security.
What consideration has the Minister given to ensuring that copper
and tin are recognised as critical minerals?
The process in terms of what is on the list of critical minerals
is independent, but I have a strong interest, as does my hon.
Friend, in ensuring that we produce as many critical minerals
here as we can and that the supply chains around the world are
working for us. I am looking at a critical minerals strategy,
which will come forward in due course.
Point of Order
12.39 pm
(East Surrey) (Con)
On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Ministers have repeatedly said
today that the NESO report shows that their plans will lower
energy bills, but page 78 of the report makes it clear that no
such thing will happen. If Ministers read their own report and
realise that they have misled the House, would it be appropriate
for them to come back and apologise?
Mr Speaker
I am not responsible for Ministers' answers, but I am sure
Ministers will have heard that point of order, and if they wish
to correct the record, they can do so.
|
