Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Green Industries: Supply Chain Jobs

Tuesday 15 July 2025 · 4 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 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Mary Glindon questioned the Secretary of State about the power cables over the Tyne, which pose a barrier to renewable energy projects and could affect potential economic benefits.
  • Wera Hobhouse raised concerns about the lack of green skills training for employees, with fewer than one in ten workers receiving dedicated green training according to a survey.
  • Dr Marie Tidball highlighted the importance of the Stocksbridge Speciality Steels plant in her constituency and the potential for attracting investors to support the green transition.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Mary Glindon Lab Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend
Climate Energy
Context

The power cables over the River Tyne are a barrier to businesses securing work for large renewable energy structures, potentially risking possible net GVA benefits of up to £1.2 billion. The removal of these cables is planned to be completed in 2032.

Question

The power cables over the Tyne are a barrier to businesses securing work for large renewable energy structures, risking possible net GVA benefits of up to £1.2 billion. It has been proposed that the removal of the cables will be completed in 2032. Will the Secretary of State help me push for it to be brought forward so that Tyneside is not held back in the global race for green jobs?

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

First, I congratulate my hon. Friend on being such a brilliant champion of the port of Tyne and what it offers, and she is right to draw attention to this important issue. Approval of any works to reroute the line is a matter for Ofgem, but we stand ready to engage with her and, indeed, Ofgem to try to bring this forward. I suggest that my hon. Friend the Energy Minister meets her to discuss this important issue.

Partly answered

How: Suggests Meeting With Minister, Acknowledges But No Concrete Timeline

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Q2 Wera Hobhouse Lib Dem Bath
Education Employment Climate
Context

According to an OVO Energy survey, fewer than one in 10 employees receive any dedicated green skills training despite the growing need for green jobs.

Question

Despite the growing need for green jobs—obviously, we are all in favour of making sure we have green jobs—fewer than one in 10 employees receive any dedicated green skills training, according to an OVO Energy survey. What can we do to support businesses, and what can the Government do to accelerate that important training programme in all businesses where we need green jobs?

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

The hon. Lady raises an important issue. Later this year, we will publish a clean energy skills plan to address precisely this question: how do we make sure we equip workers with the skills they need to take advantage of those jobs? That is being led by my right hon. Friend the Education Secretary in the work she is doing with Skills England, but there is a whole range of things we can do. For the first time, the Government will publish what the skills needs are for clean energy jobs and how we will meet them, which will be an important step forward.

Partly answered

How: Promises To Publish A Clean Energy Skills Plan, Acknowledges But No Immediate Actions

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Q3 Marie Tidball Lab Penistone and Stocksbridge
Taxation Employment Business & Trade
Context

Liberty Steel owns the Stocksbridge Speciality Steels plant, which is essential for national security and provides opportunities for net zero infrastructure. However, there has been uncertainty about the firm, leading to no pension contributions being paid to 600 local steelworkers for over a year.

Question

As people fly off for their summer holidays, the chances are that the steel in the aeroplane’s engine comes from the Stocksbridge Speciality Steels plant in my constituency. I am hopeful about the news that Liberty Steel, which owns the site, has attracted potential investors for this asset. The asset is essential for our national security and provides opportunities for net zero infrastructure, including wind turbines. However, uncertainty about the firm means that pension contributions have not been paid to the skilled workforce for 10 months, causing significant worry and anxiety for 600 local steelworkers. What reassurances can the Secretary of State provide to Stocksbridge steelworkers about how the outstanding pension contributions will be paid, including in any future ownership arrangements?

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

My hon. Friend raises an important issue about her constituency and the steel industry, and I would say two things. One is that what this Government have done, which I am afraid was not done previously, is set up a dedicated fund for steel so that we are able to make the green transition. We talked about this in opposition, and we are now delivering billions of pounds to help the steel industry transition. The other is that I will take up the specific pensions issue she raised with my right hon. Friend the Business and Trade Secretary.

Partly answered

How: Promises To Address Pension Issue, Acknowledges But No Immediate Resolution

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Q4 Andrew Bowie Con West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine
Scotland Energy
Context

The British oil and gas industry has been resilient but shocked when the Energy Minister claimed that there was no “material difference” between oil and gas imports and production from the North sea.

Question

The British oil and gas industry is a resilient sector—it has had to be, given this Government’s actions over the past year—and it takes a lot to shock it, but shocked it was when, on 2 July, sadly the Energy Minister claimed to the Scottish Affairs Committee that there was no “material difference” between oil and gas imports and production from the North sea. Might the Secretary of State take this opportunity to apologise and clarify those remarks, because thousands of workers in the energy industry supply chain in Aberdeen and across the UK are very worried that the Department has such scant regard for them, their work and this world-leading industry?

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

First of all, Mr Speaker, let me congratulate the hon. Gentleman on his promotion to shadow Secretary of State. [Laughter.] On the specific issue he raises, we will take no lectures from the Conservatives. Some 70,000 jobs were lost in the North sea on their watch. And here is the difference: we are building the future. The Acorn project was talked about for year after year by the Conservatives but nothing was done. This Government are delivering.

How: Denies Need For Apology, Deflects With Past Conservative Record

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