Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Topical Questions

Tuesday 4 February 2025 · 9 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 5 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • John Lamont questioned the Secretary of State about the impact of pylons on the Scottish Borders' countryside, expressing concerns about the destruction of scenic areas.
  • Oliver Ryan inquired about the benefits of green energy for Burnley, Padiham, and Brierfield, emphasizing the importance of home-grown renewables for security and self-sufficiency.
  • Vikki Slade raised the issue of empty properties in Shapwick, highlighting the need for a comprehensive plan to upgrade various types of buildings, including solid-wall and thatched homes.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 John Lamont Con Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
Scotland Energy Environment
Context

The Scottish Borders has ongoing issues with the construction of massive pylons by ScottishPower Energy Networks. Local communities are strongly opposed to these plans.

Question

The Scottish Borders has some of the most beautiful countryside in the whole of the United Kingdom, but it is going to be destroyed by the massive pylons being built by ScottishPower Energy Networks in pursuit of Scottish Government and UK Government policy. Does the Secretary of State think it is right to charge ahead with these plans, which are firmly opposed by local communities?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Ed Miliband)

I say to the hon. Gentleman, and I have said it throughout this Question Time, that local communities should have a say, but we have a decision to make as a country. Do we build the clean energy infrastructure to protect us from volatile fossil fuel markets, or do businesses, families and the public finances—£94 billion was spent during the energy bills crisis—remain exposed? I know what I would choose: we protect ourselves.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific local concerns about the pylons

How: Working On

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Q2 Oliver Ryan Labour (Co-op) Burnley
Economy Climate Energy
Context

There is a need to ensure that local communities benefit from the transition to green energy through new job opportunities.

Question

Green energy is the economic opportunity of the 21st century, and in an ever more unstable world, home-grown renewables are critical to our security and self-sufficiency. What will the Secretary of State do to make sure that Burnley, Padiham and Brierfield, and places like those, benefit from new green jobs growth?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Ed Miliband)

My hon. Friend asks a really important question. The whole point of our clean industry bonus is to incentivise British manufacturing. That is so important for the country, and it was not done by the last Government. We are determined that his constituents and constituents across the country will benefit.

Answered
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Q3 Marie Tidball Lab Penistone and Stocksbridge
Energy Business & Trade
Context

There is a need to leverage local steel manufacturing capabilities for the development of new net zero energy infrastructure.

Question

Stocksbridge Speciality Steels in my constituency has world-leading specialist capability to produce high-grade steel parts currently used in aerospace. I am proud of this Government’s steel strategy, which will ensure we buy British for new infrastructure, and Great British Energy provides an ambitious opportunity to bring down bills and ensure energy security. Will the Secretary of State meet me to discuss the potential for using specialist steel capacity at Liberty Steel in Stocksbridge for new, net zero energy infrastructure?

Answer from The Minister of State, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (Sarah Jones)

South Yorkshire has a proud history of steelmaking, as I saw for myself when I was at Sheffield Forgemasters last week. We saw a huge reduction in steel production in this country on the last Government’s watch, and we want to turn that around, which is why we are delivering a steel strategy. As ever, I would of course be delighted to meet my hon. Friend to talk about how we can make this work.

Answered
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Q4 Ruth Jones Lab Newport West and Islwyn
Economy Scotland Energy
Context

There is a need to ensure that the existing grid can support future growth projects such as semiconductor facilities and data centers.

Question

In my constituency of Newport West and Islwyn, we have ever-expanding semiconductor facilities and data centres. The primary mission of this Government is growth, but that growth could be stifled if there is not sufficient grid capacity alongside these exciting innovations. What is the Minister doing to make sure that south Wales has sufficient grid capacity to support these advances and facilitate much-needed growth?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Michael Shanks)

My hon. Friend makes a very important point. Although we are clearly on the sprint to deliver clean power by 2030, demand for electricity in this country is likely to double by 2050. Our reforms around connection to the grid are important—they will make sure that there is space for demand projects, such as data centres, to connect—but so is building the grid for the future, so that we have capacity in our network to deliver on our growth aspirations.

Answered
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Q5 Harpreet Uppal Lab Huddersfield
Climate
Context

The UK submitted its Nationally Determined Contribution to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change last week.

Question

When I visited Birkby junior school, I saw that tackling climate change and pollution is one of their key priorities. Does the Minister agree that setting a strong nationally determined contribution at COP29 and committing to an ambitious clean power target is important in demonstrating that the Government are intent on tackling climate change, especially at a time when other global leaders are not?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Kerry McCarthy)

Last week, the UK formally submitted its NDC to the United Nations framework convention on climate change. It is a world-leading, ambitious target that we hope will demonstrate ambition to other countries. In that NDC, we have a youth clause for the first time, and I am very keen to talk to Members across the House about how we can better engage with schools, communities and young people to bring them on board with us as we seek to achieve our ambitions.

Answered
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Q6 Vikki Slade Lib Dem Mid Dorset and North Poole
Housing Energy
Context

In Shapwick, a village in Mid Dorset and North Poole constituency, 20% of properties have been lying empty due to the high cost of bringing them up to energy efficiency standards.

Question

In the village of Shapwick in my constituency of Mid Dorset and North Poole, 20% of properties have been lying empty because their owners, Aster housing association and the National Trust, cannot afford to bring them up to standard. National Trust homes are typically solid-wall, thatched, not on mains gas, and listed. What plans are there to support the owners in achieving energy efficiency, so that we can get those properties occupied?

Answer from Ed Miliband

Let us be frank: the big prize that has eluded past Governments for a long time is a proper plan to upgrade all types of buildings, not just residential properties. The Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, my hon. Friend the hon. Member for Peckham (Miatta Fahnbulleh), and I are working on that closely with colleagues from across Government. It is part of a bigger version of the warm homes plan, which is also about buildings. We will definitely take away the experience that the hon. Lady raises.

Answered
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Q7 Josh Babarinde Lib Dem Eastbourne
Energy Environment
Context

The £80 million swimming pool support fund is facing a significant underspend before it expires. The question relates to the need for urgent action to unlock this underspend and help Eastbourne borough council fund solar panels and pool covers at Eastbourne Sovereign centre.

Question

Will the Minister urgently meet Eastbourne borough council, Better, and me to discuss unlocking this national underspend to help fund solar panels and pool covers at Eastbourne Sovereign centre?

Answer from Ed Miliband

I am massively in favour of solar panels on swimming pools and lidos—I am an occasional lido user myself—so I am fully on board with the hon. Gentleman’s point. I will pass it on to colleagues in government.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to a specific meeting or action plan

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Q8 Darren Paffey Lab Southampton Itchen
Housing Energy
Context

The question relates to the poor insulation of Victorian and inter-war homes in Southampton Itchen, which makes them expensive to heat. The hon. Member criticizes the Conservative party for not investing in clean or affordable energy.

Question

What steps is the Minister taking to improve the insulation and energy efficiency of my constituents’ homes?

Answer from Ed Miliband

This is hard, partly because of the fiscal backdrop, but we are working on a comprehensive plan so that we can help not just the poorest—we want to help those in fuel poverty—but people across the income spectrum through a more universal offer. If we can get funding for up-front investments, there will be massive paybacks; that is the chance. We all know that. It is a hard nut to crack, but we are doing our best to do so.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide concrete steps or timeline for insulation improvements

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Q9 Richard Tice Reform Boston and Skegness
Energy
Context

Energy suppliers predict a 5% rise in the energy price cap in April, making for a total of 16% since last summer. The hon. Member challenges the Government's commitment to addressing rising energy costs.

Question

Will the Secretary of State tell the House when bills will come down—or will net stupid zero mean that they will only ever go up?

Answer from Ed Miliband

It is a particular pleasure to end with the hon. Gentleman. Here it is: a decision for all Members of the House to make. We are on the rollercoaster of the fossil fuel markets; we have no control over them. The mission of this Government is to take back control with clean, home-grown power. I urge him and Members across the House to support taking back control.

Not addressed: Changed subject to a general principle about moving away from fossil fuels rather than addressing the specific issue of rising energy costs

How: Changed Subject

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