Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Green Industrial Jobs

Wednesday 9 December 2020 · 6 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Tony Lloyd questioned the Minister about discussions with Cabinet colleagues on promoting green industrial jobs in Scotland, expressing concern over insufficient actions.
  • Rachel Hopkins inquired about discussions with Scottish Ministers regarding protecting jobs at BiFab and developing a green supply chain, highlighting the abandonment of workers by both SNP and Tory parties.
  • Ian Murray, while congratulating the Scottish football team on qualifying for Euro 2020, criticized both Governments for abandoning good clean jobs and the risk of a no-deal Brexit impacting Scottish jobs.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Tony Lloyd Lab
Economy Climate Scotland
Context

There have been discussions about the need for more green industrial jobs to support economic development and environmental goals.

Question

What recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on promoting green industrial jobs in Scotland. He is concerned that there are not enough actions being taken towards this goal.

Answer from David Duguid

The Secretary of State for Scotland meets Cabinet colleagues regularly to discuss all matters of importance to Scotland. This Government are committed to levelling up across the whole United Kingdom, and that is why the Prime Minister has set out his ambitious 10-point plan for our green industrial revolution, which will support up to 250,000 jobs.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specifics of recent discussions with Cabinet colleagues about promoting green industrial jobs in Scotland.

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Q2 Rachel Hopkins Lab Luton South and South Bedfordshire
Scotland Energy Business & Trade
Context

The Scottish Government has withdrawn support for the manufacturing company BiFab, which is crucial for green industrial jobs. This move contradicts their previous statements on encouraging green job growth.

Question

What discussions he has had with Scottish Ministers about protecting jobs at BiFab and developing a green supply chain in Scotland to facilitate the expansion of its offshore wind capacity. She highlighted that both the SNP and Tory parties have abandoned workers at BiFab, despite claims of wanting to encourage green industrial jobs.

Answer from David Duguid

After exploring all options, both the UK and Scottish Governments have concluded that there is currently no legal right to provide further financial support to BiFab in its current form. A joint working group will be formed between the Scottish and UK Governments to consider ways to strengthen the renewables supply chain in Scotland and to secure future possibilities and opportunities.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not specify concrete actions or commitments for protecting jobs at BiFab beyond forming a joint working group.

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Q3 Tony Lloyd Lab
Scotland Energy Business & Trade
Context

When the only manufacturer of steel cases for offshore wind turbines, BiFab, went into administration, both Edinburgh and London Governments stopped providing financial support. This is seen as a contradiction to their green job creation goals.

Question

The Minister's seeming disinterest belies the whole problem. His original words were fine. The reality is that when BiFab, the only manufacturer of the steel cases for these turbines, went into administration, the Edinburgh Government and the London Government walked hand in hand away from that situation. What does that say about the ambition to be the Saudi Arabia of offshore wind production, and what does it say to the workers and the skills base at BiFab when the Government simply abandon them?

Answer from David Duguid

The situation at BiFab is a culmination of a number of issues, the main one being the unwillingness of the parent company and majority shareholder, JV Driver, to provide working capital, investment or guarantees for the company. We are determined to secure a new future for the yards in Fife and the Western Isles, and we will explore options for the future of these sites and, through the new working group, work with the Scottish Government to strengthen the renewables and clean energy supply chain.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide concrete actions or commitments beyond exploring options through a working group.

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Q4 David Mundell Con Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale
Climate Scotland Energy
Context

The SNP Scottish Government opposes nuclear power despite it being a major source of zero carbon generation in the UK recently. The refusal to consider replacing Chapelcross power station is seen as depriving the area of high-quality green jobs.

Question

Does my hon. Friend share my disappointment at the SNP Scottish Government's continued dogmatic opposition to nuclear power, despite the fact that in recent weeks it has been the leading source of zero carbon generation in the UK? Does he agree with me that the refusal to contemplate a replacement of the Chapelcross power station at Annan in my constituency is depriving the area of the high-quality green jobs from which it has benefited from the last 60 years?

Answer from David Duguid

It will come as no surprise that I do share my right hon. Friend's disappointment. This Government believe that nuclear has an important role to play in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Nuclear power stations provide the dependable, low-carbon power that is required to complement renewable energy to ensure a low-cost, reliable, diverse generating mix to meet our net zero ambitions for 2050.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not address the specific concern about high-quality green jobs being lost due to lack of nuclear power replacement.

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Q5 Ian Murray Lab Edinburgh South
Economy Scotland Business & Trade
Context

The decision by both the UK and Scottish Governments to stop providing support for BiFab has resulted in potential green job losses, despite promises of a 10-point plan for green jobs.

Question

Mr Speaker, this is the first Scottish questions since the Scottish football team qualified for Euro 2020, so I am sure you will allow me to pass on my congratulations to Stevie Clarke and his team. The decision by both Governments has resulted in the loss of highly skilled green jobs in Scotland. Can the Minister inform the House how many current and potential green jobs will be lost following the Scottish and UK Governments' joint decision?

Answer from David Duguid

I share the hon. Gentleman's enthusiasm for football. The UK Government are equally bound by state aid rules, at least for the moment, and therefore there is no legal way for either Government to intervene at this stage. We understand from the Scottish Government that there is no commercial way forward compatible with state aid.

Not addressed: Did not provide any information on job losses or numbers of potential green jobs lost.

How: Changing Subject To Football

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Q6 Ian Murray Lab Edinburgh South
Scotland Brexit
Context

The UK Government's decision regarding BiFab is seen as unnecessary abandonment of good clean jobs. The Prime Minister's broken promise of an oven-ready Brexit deal raises concerns about the potential impact on job losses in Scotland.

Question

Both Governments are unnecessarily abandoning good clean jobs, and this Government are risking a disastrous no deal Brexit which will further decimate jobs. So I ask the Minister this: the Prime Minister has broken his promise of an oven-ready Brexit deal, so how many jobs will be lost in Scotland as a result of the Tories delivering a no deal Brexit?

Answer from David Duguid

I have already discussed this Government's commitment to the 10-point plan and the up to 250,000 jobs across the whole of the UK. That is still in play but this is obviously a disappointing situation, and the recent revelation that a private firm bought a majority stake in BiFab for just £4 before it went into administration raises serious questions about how the SNP Scottish Government could pour tens of millions into a company without securing that yard's future.

Not addressed: Did not provide any information on potential job losses from no deal Brexit.

How: Referring Back To Previous Statements About Green Jobs

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