Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Great British Energy

Tuesday 29 April 2025 · 3 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Chris Vince asked about opportunities for Harlow constituents in Great British Energy.
  • Sir Gavin Williamson inquired about job creation by Great British Energy in China.
  • Andrew Bowie questioned the reduction in employment projections for GB Energy.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Chris Vince Labour (Co-op) Harlow
Climate Energy
Context

Chris Vince questions the potential for his Harlow constituents to benefit from Great British Energy, a publicly owned energy company.

Question

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?

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

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.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q2 Gavin Williamson Con Stone, Great Wyrley and Penkridge
Employment Business & Trade
Context

Sir Gavin Williamson queries the potential job creation in China as a result of Great British Energy.

Question

What assessment has the Minister made of the number of jobs that Great British Energy will create in the People’s Republic of China?

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

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.

Not addressed: job creation in China

How: Gave A Political Critique Of Conservatives Instead

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q3 Andrew Bowie Con West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine
Employment Energy
Context

Andrew Bowie raises concerns about the revised employment forecasts for Great British Energy, citing a criticism from the GMB union.

Question

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.

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

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.

Not addressed: alternative policy suggestions

How: Criticised Opposition Instead Of Addressing Job Creation Figures

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)