Energy Sector Jobs Christian Matheson (City of Chester) (Lab) 1.
What steps his Department is taking to help protect jobs in the
energy sector. (905665) The Secretary of State for Business, Energy
and Industrial Strategy (Kwasi Kwarteng) The Government are
committed to protecting jobs across the energy sector, which
already employs over 700,000 people across the UK and is creating
thousands of new jobs through our net-zero strategy. Christian
Matheson...Request free trial
Energy Sector Jobs
(City of Chester)
(Lab)
1. What steps his Department is taking to help protect jobs in
the energy sector. (905665)
The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial
Strategy ()
The Government are committed to protecting jobs across the energy
sector, which already employs over 700,000 people across the UK
and is creating thousands of new jobs through our net-zero
strategy.
I refer to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial
Interests as a member of Unite the union, which tells me that OVO
Energy has a tangled web of companies into which £40 million has
been salted away without any clear indication of what the money
is or where it is coming from. Meanwhile, it is making 1,700 of
its employees—a quarter of its workforce—redundant and its boss
Stephen Fitzpatrick has said that they should keep warm by doing
star jumps and that he is doing them a favour by sacking them
because of the jobs market. Does the Secretary of State agree
that it is about time that OVO stopped threatening to sack so
many of its employees and opened up its books so that we can see
where all the money is going?
I agree with the hon. Gentleman. I speak to the operators of
energy suppliers the whole time, as does my right hon. Friend the
Minister for Energy, Clean Growth and Climate Change, and we have
had many concerns about the practices of some of these businesses
and are very mindful of some of the accusations being made
against OVO. I speak to Mr Fitzpatrick on a regular basis and I
will absolutely pass on the hon. Gentleman’s concerns to Mr
Fitzpatrick directly.
(Chingford and Woodford
Green) (Con)
The other day I noticed that the Government said they were going
to help and encourage people to invest more in the gas industry
and help to produce more, but then I heard a statement
contradicting that from my right hon. Friend’s Department. Will
my right hon. Friend clarify whether the Government are prepared
to see more gas extracted and greater licences?
I and my right hon. Friend the Minister for Energy, Clean Growth
and Climate Change have been very clear about the course we want
to pursue. We do not believe it is the right thing simply to
switch off the oil and gas sector. Unlike many Opposition
Members, we do not believe in simply an extinction of the oil and
gas sector; we think oil and gas is critical not only to energy
resilience but to developing new technologies such as carbon
capture and blue hydrogen production. We have maintained that
position consistently for the nearly three years I have been a
Minister in this Department.
(Aberdeen South) (SNP)
We have to admire the audacity of the Secretary of State in
talking about protecting jobs in the energy industry when of
course his Government have presided over the loss of some 35,000
jobs in Scotland’s North sea industry over recent years alone. It
gets worse, because this is the same Government who opted not to
fund carbon capture and underground storage in the north-east of
Scotland, costing some 20,000 new jobs. Can the Secretary of
State clarify why on earth the public should trust the Tories
when it comes to jobs?
I will make three points about that. Acorn was an excellent
project, and we want to see it developed very soon in the next
wave, which we want to accelerate. There is an extraordinary
arrogance in Members of the Scottish National party giving us
lectures about energy when they are not committed to nuclear and
are in bed with the Greens who simply want to flick the switch to
turn off oil and gas in their own country. I am very happy to
compare our record as job creators with the hon. Gentleman’s
Extinction Rebellion approach to the North sea.
I am afraid the Secretary of State does his reputation no good
whatsoever by propagating such unfounded garbage. If he wants to
talk about records, let us talk about records, because despite
energy being reserved to this place, it is the Scottish
Government who have delivered the £62 million energy transition
fund; it is the Scottish Government who have just delivered £30
million to Aberdeen South harbour; it is the Scottish Government
who have just delivered £15 million to the Aberdeen hydrogen hub;
and of course it is the Scottish Government who have just
delivered a £500 million just transition fund for the entire
north-east of Scotland. After taking out some £375 billion from
Scotland’s natural resources, when are the Tories going to give
back?
I am not going to take any lectures from the hon. Gentleman about
energy policy. His party is committed to a job-destroying
coalition with the Greens, who want to switch the lights off the
North sea. Everybody knows that; that is why investment is very
difficult to attract, and our job is to militate against their
Extinction Rebellion approach and encourage investment, as my
right hon. Friend the Member for Chingford and Woodford Green
( ) said, in our North
sea.
(Rugby) (Con)
Jobs in the energy sector depend on an effective market, and that
depends on consumers exercising their choice to change supplier,
but switching fell by 73% in the year just gone compared with the
previous year. What steps is the Secretary of State taking to
ensure that we get back to an effective energy market?
There has been a critical issue with very high wholesale prices,
which as I speak are about 200p a therm, whereas at the beginning
of last year they were 50p a therm or lower; there has been a
quadrupling of the price. The energy price cap has protected
consumers, but we are talking to Ofgem all the time about how we
can refine the cap to make it more sensitive to wholesale prices
in the market.
(Brighton, Pavilion)
(Green)
Today marks the start of International Energy Week, formerly
International Petroleum Week. The Secretary of State was billed
to open the event, and he will know that, despite the rebrand,
the lead sponsors include fossil fuel giant BP, which is
investing just 2.3% of annual capital expenditure into the
jobs-rich green energy sector. When will the Government end their
cosy relationship with the fossil fuel dinosaurs and replace the
outdated duty to maximise economic recovery with a duty to
minimise the extraction of North sea oil and gas and to maximise
clean, green jobs instead?
The hon. Lady will know that we have committed to the “Net Zero
Strategy”, which was lauded across the world as a world-beating
document. She also knows that, as I have said repeatedly and my
right hon. Friend the Minister for Energy, Clean Growth and
Climate Change has also said, we are committed to a transition,
not extinction. We have to work with fossil fuel companies and
the industry to transition to a net zero future, and that is
exactly what we are prepared to do.
Science and Innovation: Levelling Up
(Newcastle-under-Lyme)
(Con)
2. What steps he is taking to support the growth of science and
innovation through the Government's levelling-up agenda.
(905666)
(Don Valley) (Con)
12. What steps he is taking to support the growth of science and
innovation through the Government's levelling-up agenda.
(905677)
(Aberconwy) (Con)
16. What steps he is taking to support the growth of science and
innovation through the Government's levelling-up agenda.
(905681)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy
and Industrial Strategy ()
As part of our step-change increase in investment in science
research an innovation—an increase of 30% over the next three
years to £20 billion a year—we are putting levelling up at the
heart of our investment through clusters around the country. That
is why we are putting £200 million into the strength in places
fund for 12 projects across the UK; making the groundbreaking
pledge that 55% of BEIS funding will go outside the greater
south-east; launching three innovation accelerators in Glasgow,
Manchester and the west midlands; and extending eight freeports,
with two in Scotland.
I thank the Minister for his answer. In Newcastle-under-Lyme,
Keele University plays a substantial role in levelling up north
Staffordshire through its work with local authorities and its
Keele deals addressing economy, health, culture and social
inclusion. There is also the enterprise zone, including the
science and innovation park, which provides a home and support
mechanism for more than 50 companies, with more to come. Will the
Minister confirm that universities’ role in such work will be
supported as part of our levelling-up agenda, as we get more
money spent outside the south-east?
My hon. Friend makes an excellent point. I pay tribute to his
work and that of Keele. The enterprise zone is first
class—similarly, the work of Keele University. I confirm that we
are taking into account the very important role of universities
in innovation and levelling up. He will see that reflected in the
allocation of £40 billion to UK Research and Innovation and
Innovate UK in the next three years.
The advanced manufacturing research centre at Sheffield
University would like to open an innovation facility at Doncaster
Sheffield airport, which may bring the likes of Boeing and hybrid
air vehicles to Doncaster. It needs just £24 million to do that.
I have met the Minister on the subject before. Will he come to
Doncaster and meet all the stakeholders to see if we can get the
project moving forward and let the real levelling up begin?
I pay tribute to my hon. Friend, because this is the third time
that he has raised this matter with me. He makes in important
point. The Boeing interest in Doncaster Sheffield airport is part
of our plan to grow an aerospace cluster around the whole of the
UK. I very much welcome the opportunity to visit him and meet
Boeing and local stakeholders.
Last September, Llandudno in Aberconwy was identified as having
the fastest economic recovery in the UK and, last week, an
analysis of Companies House filings identified it as the start-up
capital of the UK. I pay tribute to the entrepreneurs and
businesses for making that happen. Will my hon. Friend the
Minister join me in Llandudno with some of those entrepreneurs to
see how we can nurture those green shoots, secure the growth and
turn Llandudno into a growth and enterprise hub for north
Wales?
With pleasure. My hon. Friend makes an important point: the Welsh
dragon is roaring not just on the rugby pitch and in tourism,
where Llandudno is the queen of Welsh resorts, but in the
science, research and innovation economy. With the north Wales
energy corridor, the south Wales life sciences cluster and plant
health at Aberystwyth, Wales is a science and innovation engine
that we intend to support. I pay tribute to his work in the area
and look forward to visiting the Llandudno cluster as part of our
work on supporting clusters around the UK.
(Westmorland and Lonsdale) (LD)
The Minister may be aware that many rural parts of the north feel
that levelling up does not really apply to them, but of course it
must and it should. The Minister may be aware of Cumbria’s energy
coast. We are a country with plenty of wind, plenty of water and
plenty of coast. We should bear in mind that, after Canada, the
UK has the second largest tidal range on planet earth and we are
making use of nearly none of it. Will he commit to making sure
there is a tidal, marine and hydro-energy hub in Cumbria, based
in Kendal where Gilkes is so wonderfully based?
I absolutely agree. As a rural MP, I do not need to take any
lectures from the Liberal Democrats on the importance of rural
innovation. I will address the specific point about tidal power:
we have just put £30 million into it. It would be good hear the
hon. Gentleman—and his party—applaud the nuclear industry, which
is an important part of that region.
(Strangford) (DUP)
I thank the Minister for his answers. With reference to
university places for those from low-income backgrounds, will he
consider greater financial aid for STEM subjects—science,
technology, engineering and maths—for students from any part of
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to find
their passion and long-term career?
The hon. Member makes a really important point that is at the
heart of our £100 million innovation accelerator pilot programme.
We have chosen the locations—Glasgow, Manchester and the west
midlands—for the initial tranche, because we want to invest in
places where there is strong world-class research and development
and innovation cheek by jowl with lamentable deprivation. I very
much hope that over the next few years we can extend it out to
areas, including parts of Northern Ireland, where that similar
pattern of excellence alongside deprivation is sadly still
present.
(Newcastle upon Tyne Central) (Lab)
Levelling up, really? The Campaign for Science and Engineering
has shown that the proposals in the White Paper simply freeze the
current proportion of regional science spend, with the golden
triangle of Oxford, Cambridge and London continuing to receive
the majority of public sector science spend. When it comes to
private sector science spend, London’s share has actually doubled
under Conservative Governments, because they will not give our
towns and cities the powers and investment they need to build
strong science economies. Will the Minister say whether the
proportion of public science spend going to the regions will
actually increase as a consequence of the levelling-up White
Paper, or is this just more broken promises from the department
for funny numbers?
I suggest the hon. Lady reads the levelling-up White Paper. If
she reads it, she will see that it is a very substantial document
that deals with precisely the points she has just made.
[Interruption.] I will deal with the specific question she asked
about devolution and extending investment around the country.
That is why we have made a pledge—a pledge that the Labour party
never made, by the way—to increase R&D spending outside the
greater south-east. Our Department, the Department for Business,
Energy and Industrial Strategy, which is responsible for 75% of
R&D, will move to being 55% outside the south-east. The point
she misses is that we do not level up this country by destroying
the golden triangle; we level up by building the clusters, moving
from a discovery economy to a development economy. As a Member
for the north-east, I thought she would be applauding the
phenomenal growth in the north-east as a result of our
policies.
(Rossendale and Darwen)
(Con)
Obviously, I welcome the targets to increase investment through
levelling up in our regions, but the thing that really matters is
not what the Government say in White Papers, but how the money
gets to those businesses, particularly in Rossendale, Darwen and
east Lancashire more widely. Will the Minister commit to
publishing an easy guide for local businesses to work out how,
through their innovation and their own R&D, they can access
some of that new funding? Trash-talking levelling up by those on
the Opposition Benches does not go down well in east Lancashire
or anywhere in the north, because we believe in this
programme.
My right hon. Friend makes a really important point. It was
surprising to hear the Opposition not mention the phenomenal
investment that is pouring in. In the end, levelling up will be
achieved by the businesses of this country investing in
partnership with us. I welcome the Bentley £2.5 billion
investment and the Aston Martin investment in Wales. That is
happening right now. My right hon. Friend’s point is well made.
As part of our significant increase in Innovate UK funding, we
are looking at how we can ensure small businesses find it easier
to access grant funding. We are dramatically increasing Innovate
UK funding. The key test will be whether small businesses around
the country can access it.
Climate Change
(Blaydon) (Lab)
3. What discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on
cross-departmental co-ordination on tackling climate change.
(905667)
The Minister for Energy, Clean Growth and Climate Change ()
Delivering our landmark net zero strategy is well co-ordinated
across Government. The Prime Minister chairs the Climate Action
Strategy Committee, which, along with the Climate Action
Implementation Committee, provide two ministerial forums to drive
co-ordinated action across Government.
The UK’s credibility as COP President over the next year rests on
demonstrable climate action at home, but the Government’s net
zero strategy has been torpedoed by the Treasury. Without the
scale of investment needed to support households and industry,
the Government cannot guarantee that they would put us on track
for their 2030 or 2035 targets. Labour would invest £28 billion
every year until 2030. What representations is the Minister
making to the Treasury to get us back on track to meet our
targets and deliver the benefits of a green transition?
I thank the hon. Lady for her question and for her engagement on
this, but the basis of her question is not quite right. Actually,
BEIS had more capital uplift in the spending review than, I
believe, any other Department. We have doubled the amount of
money going into international climate finance. My right hon.
Friend the COP26 President is working tirelessly to show UK
leadership in this space. In the time that we have had the
presidency, the amount of the world’s GDP covered by net zero
commitments has increased from 30% to more than 90%.
Hydrogen Sector
(Loughborough) (Con)
4. What steps he is taking to support the growth of the hydrogen
sector in the UK. (905668)
(East Worthing and Shoreham) (Con)
21. What steps he is taking to support the growth of the hydrogen
sector in the UK(905686)
The Minister for Energy, Clean Growth and Climate Change ()
We are delivering on the hydrogen strategy that was published
last August and will soon launch our £240 million net zero
hydrogen fund and the first £100 million allocation round for
electrolytic hydrogen projects and publish our sector development
action plan.
Intelligent Energy in Loughborough is keen to build a hydrogen
fuel cell gigafactory, hopefully in the east midlands freeport.
How will my right hon. Friend help to promote hydrogen fuel cell
technology and production in the UK so that we can lead the world
in that technology, harness green jobs and growth and avoid
having to play catch-up?
I thank my hon. Friend; it is always brilliant to get a question
about that great hub of innovation and science in Loughborough,
and it is brilliant to hear about Intelligent Energy’s plans to
build a hydrogen fuel cell gigafactory in the east midlands. That
is the kind of investment that will support highly skilled jobs
in the UK’s nascent hydrogen economy and the Government’s
levelling-up agenda. The Government provide support for fuel
cells through various funds, including the Advanced Propulsion
Centre and the automotive transformation fund, which have already
committed over £38 million to 16 projects with a total value of
almost £85 million.
Mr Speaker
I call Tim Loughton—not here.
(Caithness, Sutherland and
Easter Ross) (LD)
Onshore and offshore, my constituency has more wind turbines than
I can shake a stick at. Does the Minister not agree that we
should generate hydrogen where the electricity is being made?
Perhaps if he came to have a look at the wind turbines in my
constituency, he would get the same delicious scones that I
promised the Prime Minister when he comes to see the first space
launch.
I thank the hon. Gentleman for that question; I think I have an
existing commitment to go to his constituency. In fact, in my
five months in this job, I think I have been four times to
Scotland, and one of those visits was to the Whitelee wind farm,
just south of Glasgow, to look at precisely what he mentioned .
It is the UK’s largest onshore wind farm, which generates extra
energy to produce hydrogen on-site, which will hopefully power
Glasgow’s buses and dustcart fleet for years to come.
(North Antrim) (DUP)
Does the Minister believe that the best way to stimulate the UK
hydrogen strategy is to build hydrogen products that the public
ultimately use, such as buses, trains and heavy goods vehicles?
Will he commit to joining that up to the Department for Transport
and encouraging it to get on with hydrogen bus development that
will stimulate the entire economy?
The hon. Gentleman and I know that Northern Ireland has an
incredible capability and tradition in bus making. He is
absolutely right that hydrogen-powered buses have a big future. I
mentioned Glasgow City Council’s commitment to move to hydrogen
buses, thanks to the Whitelee wind farm; I imagine that we will
want to do something similar in Northern Ireland. I look forward
to further engagement with the Northern Ireland Executive on the
topic.
Nuclear Power
(Blackpool South) (Con)
5. What steps he is taking to deliver new nuclear power.
(905669)
(Fylde) (Con)
7. What steps he is taking to deliver new nuclear power.
(905672)
The Minister for Energy, Clean Growth and Climate Change ()
The Government have announced a £120 million future nuclear
enabling fund to support new nuclear and are aiming for a final
investment decision on at least one more large-scale nuclear
project in this Parliament, subject to value for money and
relevant approvals.
Springfields nuclear fuel manufacturing facility employs hundreds
of people on the Fylde coast. I thank the Minister for recently
visiting the facility and for his personal interest in protecting
the operations there. Will he commit to continuing to work with
colleagues to explore the opportunities for developing operations
at the site and protecting the hundreds of jobs that it
sustains?
My hon. Friend is a passionate supporter of local jobs in
Blackpool. He is right: in December, I visited Springfields,
which is just outside his constituency. It reminded me of the
strategic national importance of our fuel industry, which is why
we secured £75 million in the spending review to preserve and
develop the UK’s nuclear fuel production capability. That funding
will support the UK supply chain to power the reactors of today
and advanced nuclear in the future.
Mr Speaker
Let us go to the constituency that Springfields is in. I call
.
Thank you, Mr Speaker. Fracking has proven itself wholly
unsuitable for the Fylde coast, with seismic events in Fylde
twice forcing national moratoriums. Will my right hon. Friend
assure my constituents and me that he agrees that to deal with
the energy crisis, we need to look to technologies of the future
such as next- generation nuclear, powered by Fylde-manufactured
nuclear fuel?
My hon. Friend is the MP for Springfields, as you rightly point
out, Mr Speaker, and is a passionate backer of our nuclear
industry. New nuclear is crucial to our plans for a low-cost,
low-carbon resilient electricity system. On fracking, the
Government’s position is unchanged: fracking will not be allowed
to proceed in England unless compelling new evidence is provided
that addresses concerns about the prediction and management of
induced seismicity.
(Rutherglen and Hamilton
West) (Ind)
The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority has rejected proposals
aimed at increasing transparency and accountability. There is
wide disparity from plant to plant in engagement with local
communities on concerns about safety issues such as breakdowns.
What does the Minister make of the NDA’s rejection of increased
transparency? What steps is his Department taking to reassure
communities?
I am not aware of any rejection by the NDA of increased
transparency. I am happy to look at what the hon. Lady has to
say; my experience from quite a few meetings with the NDA is that
transparency is very good, but I am happy to engage with her if
she has a specific concern in relation to transparency in any
nuclear plant in or near her constituency.
(Bath) (LD)
To deliver the Government’s ambitious roll-out of renewables such
as solar—but also nuclear electricity, if that is what the
Government want—we need to proactively develop grid capacity. Why
have the Government still not reformed the remit of Ofgem, which
is a real barrier to increasing grid capacity?
The hon. Lady is right: we have to make sure that our grid
capacity is good for the big expansion of renewables, and indeed
for the big expansion of nuclear, which is what this question is
about. By the way, she might have a conversation with some of her
colleagues, two of whom have recently mentioned support for
nuclear— against Lib Dem party policy, it would seem. We and
Ofgem are looking very actively at grid capacity: a lot of
reviews are going on and there is a lot of action to ensure that
grid capacity is in place, not least for the quadrupling of our
offshore wind capacity.
Solar Energy: Agricultural Land
(Gainsborough) (Con)
6. What discussions his officials have held with their
counterparts at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural
Affairs on agricultural land being repurposed for solar energy.
(905670)
The Minister for Energy, Clean Growth and Climate Change ()
My officials have regular discussions with DEFRA about the
deployment of low-carbon solar photovoltaics on farms. Many solar
farms are constructed with raised panels that enable the
continued grazing of livestock. Solar energy can also help
farmers to increase their revenue streams from land less suited
to higher-value crop production.
A planning application has been submitted for a giant solar farm
around Gainsborough, with an area equivalent to 5,000 football
pitches. It is designed to be a so-called national infrastructure
project in order to bypass all local planning. Local people will
have no control; this development will enrich a few local
landowners, and some entrepreneurs in London. Is it not time for
an urgent discussion throughout Whitehall about how we can stop
these companies bypassing local planning and secure proper
community gain and the protection of agriculture, and, for
instance, ensure that there are buffer zones around villages?
As my right hon. Friend knows, I am unable to comment on
potential planning applications. Solar projects developed through
the nationally significant infrastructure project planning
process are subject to strict controls to protect local
communities and the environment, including requirements for
environmental impact assessments and public consultations. The
Government recognise the importance of preserving the most
productive farmland. Planning guidance is clear: where possible,
large solar farms should use previously developed land, and
projects should be designed to avoid, mitigate, and where
necessary compensate for impact.
(Walsall South) (Lab)
May I start by paying tribute to , who has sadly died? He
was a fantastic parliamentarian in the constituency next to mine,
and he was very kind to me when I first came here.
There is a plan to build a battery energy storage system on green
belt land. We appreciate that such a facility is needed to
provide capacity for green energy, but will the Minister give a
commitment that it will not be built on green belt land?
Let me first join the right hon. Lady in her tribute to . I share her sadness at
his passing, of which I was not aware. He and I used to overlap
with each other, and enjoyed a number of very productive times
together.
I do not know whether the right hon. Lady is referring to a
specific planning application, in which case it may be difficult
for me to comment on it. What I will do is agree to meet her to
discuss it, and if it does relate to a specific application in or
near her constituency, I will ensure that I have officials there
to hear what she has to say about the proposal.
(Grantham and Stamford)
(Con)
A large number of solar farm applications are being processed in
Lincolnshire. Some are comparatively small in scale, but others,
such as the Mallard Pass development, are significant and are
causing great concern locally. Can my right hon. Friend assure me
that the Government have a strategy to ensure that solar farms
will be spread evenly across the country, so that rural areas
such as mine do not see a disproportionate amount of
development?
We are committed to ensuring that solar developments are carried
out with local community support. That is the most important
consideration. We recognise that in some cases solar farms can
affect the local environment, which is why applicants must
complete an environmental statement as part of their planning
application, including assessments of the impacts on wildlife,
land use and biodiversity. However, well-designed solar projects
have been shown to enhance biodiversity.
Employment Legislation
(Lanark and Hamilton East)
(SNP)
8. What stakeholder engagement his Department has undertaken on
the Government’s forthcoming Employment Bill. (905673)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy
and Industrial Strategy ()
We have engaged extensively with stakeholders, both formally and
informally, on a range of reforms to our employment framework,
and will continue to do so in order to ensure that they deliver
on our plan to build a high-skill, high-productivity, high-wage
economy.
May I first express my thanks for the Minister’s kindness to my
partner and me when our son was born last month?
This week the Northern Ireland Assembly gave a commitment to
legislate for miscarriage leave, and the Scottish Government have
given a commitment to introduce three days’ paid leave in the
public sector. Will this Government give a commitment to
introducing paid miscarriage leave in the Employment Bill?
I congratulate the hon. Member and her partner on their fantastic
news. It was a pleasure to meet her to discuss her private
Member’s Bill on the subject that she has raised. We recognise
that losing a baby at any stage is incredibly difficult, and we
encourage employers to be compassionate. There is no statutory
entitlement to leave for women who lose a baby before 24
completed weeks of pregnancy, but those who are unable to return
to work may be entitled to statutory sick pay, and women are
protected against workplace discrimination due to any
pregnancy-related illness, including illness caused by
miscarriage. That protection extends to two weeks after the end
of the pregnancy.
(Basingstoke) (Con)
The Government have already taken important steps to stop the
abuse of non-disclosure agreements in universities. Will my hon.
Friend look at how he can take this forward in his Employment
Bill by talking to organisations such as Can’t Buy My Silence,
which are doing important work on ensuring that non-disclosure
agreements are not misused in the workplace to cover up criminal
allegations?
I congratulate my right hon. Friend on her work in this and many
other areas. I would happily meet her and that organisation to
continue our conversation on NDAs.
(Ellesmere Port and Neston)
(Lab)
I wonder if the Minister has done any stakeholder engagement with
the new Minister for Brexit Opportunities and Government
Efficiency, the right hon. Member for North East Somerset (Mr
Rees-Mogg). I ask that question because in The Times at the
weekend the new Minister said:
“Sometimes the employer would think they need more protection
from the employee.”
That view is wrong. Too many people are in precarious employment
and do not have strong workplace rights, and the Employment Bill
is a chance to begin to address that. Does the Minister agree
with us that it is employees who need more protection, or does he
agree with his colleague that it is the employers who need more
help?
We will bring forward changes to the employment framework in due
course. While we are working on that, and when parliamentary time
allows, we are working on employment. That is why we have record
numbers of people on payroll—men and women and people from all
backgrounds, abilities and situations.
Flexible Working
(Hampstead and Kilburn)
(Lab)
9. If he will make it his policy to make flexible working the
default. (905674)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy
and Industrial Strategy ()
The Government strongly support flexible working. Only by
championing a flexible and dynamic labour market will we grow our
economy. I would like to thank the hon. Member for her response
to the consultation we closed in December and I look forward to
publishing our response in due course.
I have listened carefully to what the Minister has said and I am
pleased that the Government are talking about making flexible
working the default, but their proposal merely makes the existing
right to request flexible working available from day one in the
job. I am sure the Minister knows that that will do nothing to
address the fact that a third of all requests for flexible
working are rejected, which puts single parents and carers at a
considerable disadvantage in the workplace and affects the
recruitment process as well. What legislation will the Government
undertake to address the fact that unscrupulous employers can
pick on a range of often pathetic, unfair and broad reasons when
they want to reject a request for flexible working? Will the
Government be introducing any actual legislation, because that is
what the Opposition want to support?
The hon. Member has reflected her consultation response in her
questions. The consultation stuck to the principle that there is
no one-size-fits-all approach to flexible working. We support the
“right to request” framework, which facilitates an informed
two-sided conversation but ensures that employers have the right
to refuse requests that are unworkable within their business
operations. Clearly, that will need to be robust if they feel
that they need to reject a request because of the business
situation.
Small Businesses: Energy Costs
(North Tyneside) (Lab)
10. What recent steps he has taken to support small businesses to
meet rising energy costs. (905675)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy
and Industrial Strategy ()
We recognise the impact that rising energy prices will have on
businesses of all sizes. To understand the challenges that they
face and explore ways to protect consumers and businesses, Ofgem
and the Government are in regular contact with business groups
and suppliers.
Given that the Federation of Small Businesses has said that small
business confidence in the north-east is now at minus 64%, can
the Minister say what consideration he is giving to the measures
put forward by the FSB to support small businesses in the energy
crisis, including scrapping the planned national insurance
contributions increase and extending the household rebate to be
matched by an equivalent business rate rebate?
I met representatives of the FSB and other organisations
yesterday, when we touched upon energy for businesses. We will
always listen to those representative organisations. Clearly we
want to ensure that the £408 billion of support in the last two
years to protect businesses, livelihoods and jobs will help us to
shape the recovery, with ongoing support from this Government—the
Government for business.
Energy Price Cap: Prepayment Meter Customers
(Makerfield) (Lab)
11. Whether he is taking steps to support prepayment meter
customers following the increase in the energy price cap through
the energy bills rebate. (905676)
The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial
Strategy ()
We are working hard to design this scheme at pace. We acknowledge
that delivering the bill reduction for this payment mechanism
will require a special focus, and that is why we are engaging
with consumer groups and Ofgem to work out how best to design the
mechanism.
People on prepayment meters will see their bills rise by £708,
which is £46 more than for those who pay by direct debit. How
will the Secretary of State ensure that people do not
self-disconnect, leaving them without heat and means to cook? How
will that be monitored? What thought has been given to private
renters so that they do not lose out on the rebate due to the
frequent tenancy changes in that sector?
We are constantly engaging with Citizens Advice, Ofgem and a huge
range of stakeholders about how to protect the most vulnerable
consumers. The package announced by my right hon. Friend the
Chancellor only a couple of weeks ago includes £350, which goes
halfway towards addressing the increase that the hon. Member for
Makerfield () describes. The warm home
discount is being extended from 2 million people to 3 million
people, and the uplift will be to £150.
(Southampton, Test)
(Lab)
The 4 million pre-payment meter customers in this country will be
profoundly unimpressed by the Secretary of State’s answers this
morning. Not only are they paying far more than the £693 increase
on the price cap for customers with accounts, but it is uncertain
whether they will have access to the £200 Government scheme to
lend customers their own money, as they do not have accounts
through which to do this. Indeed, many of them will miss out on
the council tax rebate, too.
Would it not have been much more straightforward and fairer for
prepayment meter customers if we had levied a windfall tax on
companies that are profiting from high gas prices and provided
those customers with a direct and non-refundable discount on
their bills through their meter?
That is why we have £155 million that can be applied
discretionally, particularly to protect these vulnerable
consumers. Labour’s whole approach to energy security has been
woeful. Labour destroyed the nuclear industry we had, without any
progress, and it has created massive uncertainty in energy supply
through its proposed windfall tax, which is not the way to
produce energy supply that secures low-cost energy for our
people.
Parkinson’s Disease
(Ealing, Southall)
(Lab)
13. What steps his Department is taking to support research into
Parkinson’s disease. (905678)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy
and Industrial Strategy ()
I am grateful for the hon. Gentleman’s question on the importance
of research into neurodegeneration and Parkinson’s, a cause I was
proud to champion as Minister for life sciences. We are investing
£20 million a year, including £14.8 million through UK Research
and Innovation and another £6 million through the National
Institute for Health Research. We continue to fund the UK
Dementia Research Institute, and in the autumn we announced
another £375 million for neurodegenerative diseases over the next
three years.
Mr Sharma
More than 150,000 people in the UK will have Parkinson’s by 2030.
Parkinson’s UK is clear that, to accelerate the search for a
cure, research must be supported by improved infrastructure,
including the use of digital technology and better clinical trial
design. Will the Minister meet me and Parkinson’s UK to discuss
how its proposal for a challenge fund could help to defeat
Parkinson’s?
Yes, I would be delighted to meet the hon. Gentleman. He makes an
important point. The truth is that the next frontier in
neurodegenerative science will be a mixture of neural pathways,
neural mapping, digital science and deep-tissue phenomic and
genomic science, which is why I was recently in Switzerland at
the institute of neuroscience in Lucerne to see whether we can
establish a collaboration.
Automotive Sector
(Blyth Valley) (Con)
14. What steps he is taking to help support the growth of the
automotive sector. (905679)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy
and Industrial Strategy ()
The Government support growth by offering the automotive sector
certainty, by making clear statements about our intentions
regarding petrol and diesel vehicles and by supporting
investment, innovation and a resilient supply chain via a
taxpayer subsidy through the automotive transformation fund and
the Advanced Propulsion Centre.
Following the recent announcement of £100 million of Government
funding for Britishvolt in Northumberland, does my hon. Friend
agree that this is only the beginning of the transition to a
clean, green economy and that my constituents in Blyth Valley, as
well as many others across the north, can look forward to a
bright and prosperous future?
I pay huge tribute to my hon. Friend for all the work he has done
on Britishvolt, as a passionate advocate for his constituency.
This will bring new skills, jobs and opportunities to Blyth
Valley, and I congratulate him on it.
(Sefton Central) (Lab)
Yesterday, the Prime Minister said that he wanted British workers
to be more like German workers. Let us be more like Germany: it
has increased the number of manufacturing jobs by 1 million since
2010, whereas this Government have presided over a fall of 93,000
jobs. The difference is that this Conservative Government do not
have a plan, whereas in Germany there is a plan for
manufacturing. The Labour party has a plan in our country, too,
so if Ministers really want to support manufacturing, why do they
not use Labour’s plan to make, buy and sell more in Britain?
I am not sure that Members on these Benches will take any lessons
from a Labour party that decimated manufacturing between 1997 and
2010. Before the pandemic in 2019, we had seen an increase in
employment in manufacturing, and the expansive and multiple
investments in manufacturing announced in just the past few
months—at Nissan, Stellantis and Britishvolt—demonstrate this
Government’s commitment to manufacturing for the long term.
Topical Questions
(Broxtowe) (Con)
T1. If he will make a statement on his departmental
responsibilities.(905654)
The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial
Strategy ()
As we all know, rising energy bills are a cause for concern for
people up and down this country, but we have stepped in to give
families some breathing space, with our energy bills rebate and
council tax discount. Our supply of gas is secure; unlike many
European Union countries, we are not dependent on Russian gas.
Much of our supply comes from British territorial waters and from
reliable import partners, such as Norway. The UK is the fastest
growing economy in the G7, unemployment is down to record low
levels and wages continue to rise. There are challenges ahead,
but Britain is bouncing back from the pandemic.
Will the Secretary of State outline what steps the Department is
taking to help low-income households in my constituency deal with
the energy crisis?
My hon. Friend will appreciate the excellent statement made by my
right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer a couple of
weeks ago. There was a range of measures totalling £9.1 billion,
which included the council tax rebate for bands A to D and a £200
reduction in energy bills, totalling £350 to reduce bills. As I
alluded to earlier, there was also an extension of the warm home
discount.
(Feltham and Heston)
(Lab/Co-op)
The Secretary of State omitted to mention that inflation is now
at its highest level for 30 years. Energy costs are spiralling
and the private sector has yet to recover to pre-pandemic levels.
Does he acknowledge that the Chancellor’s very large rise in
national insurance, coming in April, will make a bad situation
for British businesses even worse?
I am delighted to hear Members from the Opposition parties so
bullish about our economy, given that we are the fastest growing
economy in the G7! The hon. Member for Sefton Central () mentioned Germany; I was
very struck by the Bundesbank saying that Germany was facing
recession, but we do not hear about that. We are creating more
jobs, we have announced record investment and the Government’s
plan is working in terms of bouncing back better from the
pandemic.
The Secretary of State did not answer the question, because he
knows that this is a high-tax Government because they have
created a low-growth economy. May I also raise his recent claim
that fraud is not something that affects people day to day? Fraud
is estimated to cost the British economy as much as £52 billion a
year, so will he accept that he has got this wrong? Will he
apologise to the 4.6 million people who are victims of fraud each
year, and tell the House today what steps he will take to do
better?
I will tell the hon. Lady exactly what steps I will take to do
better. I will constantly and always fight against Labour’s
socialism, its windfall tax, its inability to plan ahead and its
total lack of remorse for the fact that it destroyed
manufacturing jobs in the time it was in government.
(Wantage) (Con)
T2. My right hon. Friend the Minister will know that I am the
promoter of the Local Electricity Bill, which is supported by
just under 300 Members of this House, and I will be chairing a
new all-party parliamentary group on community energy to promote
it. Does he agree that community energy can play a key role in
reaching our net zero goal? Will he work with us to remove the
barriers to local suppliers of renewable energy?(905655)
The Minister for Energy, Clean Growth and Climate Change ()
I thank my hon. Friend for his long-standing and passionate
interest in community energy. I was delighted to meet him and
colleagues just before the recess. Through the introduction of
UK-wide growth-funding schemes such as the towns fund, the
Government are enabling local areas to tackle net zero goals. We
intend to publish an updated retail energy market strategy in due
course.
Peter Dowd (Bootle) (Lab)
T4. Less than 24 hours ago the Prime Minister said:“SAGE is
certain that there will be new variants, and it is very possible
that those will be worse than omicron.”—[Official Report, 21
February 2022; Vol. 709, c. 44.]What practical steps has the
Department taken to ensure the maintenance of the infrastructure
needed to develop second-generation covid vaccines and to build
the pandemic-readiness resilience to which the Prime Minister
referred?(905657)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy
and Industrial Strategy ()
I will happily talk to the hon. Member offline about the
extensive vaccine pipeline that we are in the process of
procuring. It includes next-generation mRNA vaccines for both flu
and the next phase of covid. We are ahead of the curve on the
next phase, as we were during the pandemic.
(Newcastle-under-Lyme)
(Con)
T3. May I draw the Minister’s attention to the plans, due to be
published tomorrow by Midlands Connect, to significantly improve
and invest in the A50/A500 east-west corridor? It runs from the
M6 to the M1 and is home to many of the UK’s leading
manufacturers, including JCB, Toyota, Rolls-Royce and Bentley,
and it is also a hotspot for the development of hydrogen
technology by businesses and by universities such as Keele
University in Newcastle-under-Lyme. The opportunities for skilled
jobs, innovation and green growth are huge if the Government can
help to unlock the infrastructure, so will the Minister meet me
and local stakeholders to discuss the opportunities?(905656)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy
and Industrial Strategy ()
My hon. Friend highlights the amount of opportunities that are
coming to constituencies such as his in Staffordshire. I would be
delighted to meet him to talk more about them.
(Edinburgh South West)
(SNP)
T7. Community schemes such as Harlaw Hydro in my constituency
provide 11% of Scotland’s renewable energy production. Our
current energy crisis underlines the need to diversify energy
production, so I was a bit disappointed when the hon. Member for
Wantage () asked about his Local
Electricity Bill and the Government were not able to give it
their full support. Will the Government now state for the record
their full support for measures such as that Bill to make proper
and full use of community energy projects like the one in my
constituency?(905660)
I assure the hon. and learned Lady that we fully support the
transition in the North sea transition deal and the oil and gas
sector, whereas her party and the Greens are seeking to destroy
it and destroy jobs. That is the fact that I want to raise
here.
Antony Higginbotham (Burnley) (Con)
T5. The fact that global energy prices continue to be very
volatile is a big concern for my constituents in Burnley and
Padiham. One reason for that volatility is the weaponisation of
energy by countries such as Russia, highlighting how we need not
to rely on hostile state actors. Will the Secretary of State or
the Minister set out what we are doing to ensure security of
supply, not just now but for decades to come?(905658)
Energy security is an absolute priority for the Government. Our
exposure to global gas prices underscores the importance of not
only our own UK North sea gas production but building a strong
renewables sector to reduce our reliance on energy imports in the
first place. To that end, we recently published both a
comprehensive net zero strategy and the North sea transition
deal.
Luke Pollard (Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport) (Lab/Co-op)
T9. Does the Secretary of State agree that Afghan families who
have come to the UK want to participate fully in our economy?
Will he therefore help to establish a funded scheme so that
Afghan refugees can set up their own businesses and contribute
fully to our economy?(905662)
The hon. Gentleman will appreciate that issues of settlement and
asylum are ably dealt with by my right hon. Friend the Home
Secretary. I engage with her constantly in respect of employment
schemes for people who wish to come into this country.
(Vale of Clwyd) (Con)
T6. Is my right hon. Friend aware of Rolls-Royce SMR’s plans to
set up small modular reactor factories here in the UK? Does he
agree that the high-skilled, long-term jobs in such factories
could significantly help to level up north Wales and contribute
to both net zero and a global Britain that exports more around
the world?(905659)
As the current energy Minister and the former exports Minister, I
agree entirely with my hon. Friend on the export potential of the
Rolls-Royce SMR technology, which has the potential to provide
levelling-up jobs precisely in areas such as north Wales, as he
so ably urges.
(Lewisham East) (Lab)
Last week was the ninth anniversary of the death of Ella
Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, a nine-year-old girl who died following an
asthma attack brought on by toxic air on a busy road on the South
Circular. Our towns and cities need low and non-carbon transport
solutions. We all know that electric cars are expensive, but
second-hand electric cars are seldom available, which means that
each car needs to be purchased from new. The current maximum
Government grant for part-purchasing a new electric car is just
not enough.
The death of the hon. Lady’s young constituent bears heavily on
all of us as London Members of Parliament. I remind her that the
principal responsibility for air quality in London rests with the
Mayor of London. On the action that we are taking to encourage
more low-carbon and zero-carbon vehicles, we have announced: the
phasing out of petrol and diesel-driven cars; a big investment in
our electric vehicle charging infrastructure; and a big move to
hydrogen-powered vehicles. Work in these areas will see low and
zero-carbon vehicles become the future of urban transport in this
country.
Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon) (Con)
T8. While I welcome the establishment of the digital markets
unit, does my hon. Friend agree that it is essential that it
should be given statutory backing if it is to set a level playing
field between publishers and platforms? Can he confirm that it is
still the Government’s intention to introduce that legislation
early in the next Session?(905661)
My right hon. Friend makes an important point, which I would be
keen to talk to him about. Although that is a Department for
Digital, Culture, Media and Sport lead, we are tightening up on
the intellectual property provisions, and we are minded to
proceed with that legislation.
(South Shields) (Lab)
Unscrupulous employers have used the pandemic to slash their
loyal workforce’s terms and conditions and threaten them with the
sack. Court cases have been lost by Uber and more recently by
Tesco, yet all we have from this Government are platitudes. They
have done absolutely nothing to stop brutal fire and rehire
practices. Will the Government’s much-fabled Employment Bill
finally ban them once and for all?
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy
and Industrial Strategy ()
This Government have been really clear that such practices should
not be used as bully-boy negotiating tactics. Employers should
refer to the strengthened ACAS guidance that sets out that
dismissal and re-engagement should be considered only as an
option of last resort.
(South East Cornwall)
(Con)
T10. Cornwall is famous for its creativity and its
inventions—whether it be Richard Trevithick’s steam engine,
Cornishman Richard Lower, who did the first blood transfusion, or
Sir Humphry Davy’s lamp. What assurance can the Government give
that research and development funding is getting to
Cornwall?(905663)
My hon. Friend is an outspoken advocate for the Cornish cluster,
which is growing fast. In addition to our groundbreaking pledge
to increase investment in R&D outside the golden triangle to
55%, we are specifically investing in the South West Centre of
Excellence in Satellite Applications, the Newquay Spaceport and
work with the University of Exeter and Virgin Orbit. This is an
exciting time for the Cornish economy.
(Middlesbrough) (Lab)
Yesterday, the Prime Minister said that workers in the UK should
learn from Germany, where workers do not have a habit of going
into work when not well. Will the Minister learn from the German
Government and bring in statutory sick pay that covers 100% of
workers’ salaries instead of the measly 90% that is covered in
the UK, which leaves so many workers in the terrible position of
having to do the responsible thing of isolating while being sick
and not being able to put food on the table? On that point, will
the Minister take this opportunity—
Mr Speaker
Order. Mr McDonald, I gave you the privilege of getting in.
Questions are meant to be brief. There are two other people who
have to come in as well; it is not just about you.
During isolation, we made it easier to claim statutory sick pay.
We also changed universal credit to make it easier to claim and
more generous. We continue to support people as this pandemic
becomes endemic.
(High Peak) (Con)
Last year I organised the first ever High Peak jobs and
apprenticeships fair, working with organisations such as Buxton
& Leek College and fantastic employers such as Tarmac,
Breedon Group and Ferodo. It was a huge success, with hundreds
attending and many reporting that they had found jobs as a
result, so I am delighted to announce the second High Peak jobs
and apprenticeships fair, and I would love to invite the Minister
to attend.
I am very grateful to my hon. Friend and will be delighted to
attend if I can.
(West
Dunbartonshire) (SNP)
The Government hate a monopoly, so can the Minister come to the
Dispatch Box and tell my constituents who are former employees of
Together Energy why his Government are using the energy crisis to
create an energy monopoly by the big players, as opposed to small
and medium-sized providers?
As I have maintained on a number of occasions, the hon.
Gentleman’s party is a jobs destroyer in the energy sector,
refusing to countenance any investment in the North sea, and in
alliance with the Greens, who want to destroy jobs in the sector.
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