Context
Susan Murray highlighted towns across Scotland and the UK that have been economically affected by the closure of coalmines, steelworks, dockyards, refineries, and chemical plants. She stressed the opportunity to revitalise these communities through a green transition in manufacturing.
Question
Across Scotland and the UK, towns that once powered our economy have been left behind, as coalmines, steelworks, dockyards and, as we are now hearing, refineries and chemical plants are closing down, taking generations of skilled workers with them. We now have a chance to revive those communities by rebuilding British manufacturing to supply the components for our green transition, as well as for the wider net zero economy. As the Government prepare to conclude their consultation on the future of the North sea, do the Government plan to invest in the factories of Britain and in upskilling our workforce to be the innovative and sustainable local supply chain that the North sea and our net zero economy need?
Answer from The Minister for Energy (Michael Shanks)
Yes. The hon. Lady touches on a number of points. The transition means building on the industrial strategy that we outlined as a Government, because are not agnostic about industrial policy—we care that things are built in this country again. That is why there is a £1 billion supply chain fund to ensure that we get the economic advantage of the clean power transition, as well as energy security. There is a broader question around building up the skills to ensure that there is a future workforce that can take advantage of that.
Not addressed: The Minister did not directly address the specific request for investment in British factories and upskilling workers for the North Sea economy, focusing instead on general industrial strategy and supply chain funding.
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