Great British Energy 2025-04-29
2025-04-29
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Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
Chris Vince questions the potential for his Harlow constituents to benefit from Great British Energy, a publicly owned energy company.
I welcome the £300 million of investment for GB Energy announced last week. I think we all recognise the opportunities of the green energy transition, but what opportunities are there for my Harlow constituents to be part of that publicly owned energy company?
My hon. Friend is absolutely right to point out that, with Great British Energy and our clean power mission, we are trying to create the jobs that will deliver that transition here in the UK, which is something that the Conservatives failed on for many years. We expect that funding, and much more that will come from Great British Energy, to mobilise more than £1 billion in private investment in domestic supply chains, driving forward manufacturing and industry here in the UK and the good jobs that go with it.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Sir Gavin Williamson queries the potential job creation in China as a result of Great British Energy.
What assessment has the Minister made of the number of jobs that Great British Energy will create in the People’s Republic of China?
I think the right hon. Gentleman gives the game away there. Although the Conservative party did not particularly care where the supply chains were, we in the Labour party are committed to delivering good, well-paid jobs in this country.
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Assessment & feedback
job creation in China
Gave A Political Critique Of Conservatives Instead
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
Andrew Bowie raises concerns about the revised employment forecasts for Great British Energy, citing a criticism from the GMB union.
When GB Energy was first proposed, we were told it would employ 1,000 people and create 650,000 jobs. Fast-forward to February this year and that number has been revised down to 200 to 300, with a vague commitment to 1,000 at some point in the next 20 years. As the general secretary of the GMB said yesterday, “they are going to open a shiny new office…on a high street full of charity shops because they are closing” the city of Aberdeen down. GB Energy is a white elephant. If the GMB can see it, why cannot the Minister? Surely he agrees that the way to deliver jobs, growth and energy security and to protect communities such as Aberdeen is to lift the ban on licences, replace the energy profits levy as soon as possible and declare the North sea open for business.
I am not quite sure which one of the variety of parts in that speech the hon. Gentleman would like me to respond to. As usual, he steamrolls through his question faster than he ran the marathon— I congratulate him on that. He happens to be the only person in Aberdeenshire who is against investment in his community. When Labour Members voted to deliver investment through Great British Energy—not through jobs in the headquarters but through the investment it makes in supply chains and innovation in his city—he voted against it, and he will have to answer to his constituents for that.
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Assessment & feedback
alternative policy suggestions
Criticised Opposition Instead Of Addressing Job Creation Figures
Response accuracy