Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Great British Energy

Wednesday 2 April 2025 · 2 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 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Great British Energy will operate across the United Kingdom to reduce reliance on imported gas and lower energy bills.
  • The UK Ministers and Great British Energy are collaborating with Northern Ireland's Department for the Economy to explore clean energy opportunities.
  • Wind farms and solar power offer significant opportunities for Northern Ireland, but the placement of wind farms will follow standard planning processes.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Mary Glindon Lab Newcastle upon Tyne East
Northern Ireland Energy
Context

The Labour MP is concerned about the impact of Great British Energy's funding on Northern Ireland, referencing the party's net zero target and advocating for collaboration between the Labour Government and the Northern Ireland Executive.

Question

What assessment has been made of the potential impact of Great British Energy funding on Northern Ireland? Does the Minister agree that Northern Ireland can gain from a Labour Government working with the Northern Ireland Executive on transitioning to clean power?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Fleur Anderson)

Great British Energy will operate across the whole of the United Kingdom, helping to reduce reliance on imported gas and bring down energy bills. The UK Ministers and GB Energy are working with Northern Ireland’s Department for the Economy to explore opportunities to increase clean energy deployment by 030, starting with £1.6 million of funding to the Executive for sustainable energy.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not directly address the specific question about the assessment made on the impact of Great British Energy funding in Northern Ireland.

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Q2 Sammy Wilson DUP East Antrim
Climate Northern Ireland Energy
Context

The DUP MP is concerned about the potential detrimental effects of GB Energy's projects, particularly a proposed massive wind farm near the Giant’s Causeway, which is a world heritage site and major tourist attraction.

Question

Will the Minister commit to ensuring that Great British Energy does not support a project that would have a negative impact on tourism in Northern Ireland?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Fleur Anderson)

Wind farms and solar power offer huge opportunities to Northern Ireland. However, the positioning of wind farms will be subject to normal planning processes. Net zero is the future; reliance on expensive oil and gas is the past. Bills will come down and jobs will grow with new technologies.

Not addressed: The Minister did not commit to ensuring that GB Energy does not support projects detrimental to tourism in Northern Ireland.

How: Reliance On Expensive Oil And Gas Is The Past

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