Oral Answers to Questions

Allison Gardner Excerpts

Tuesday 10th June 2025 Commons Chamber

[Lee Barron (Corby and East Northamptonshire) (Lab)]

3. What steps he is taking to support rooftop solar power projects.

[Dr Allison Gardner (Stoke-on-Trent South) (Lab)]

8. What steps he is taking to support rooftop solar power projects.

[Mr Connor Rand (Altrincham and Sale West) (Lab)]

15. What steps he is taking to support rooftop solar power projects.

--- Later in debate ---

[Ed Miliband]

I congratulate the pupils of Brigstock Latham’s primary school on their incredible spirit. Young people right across the country care about these issues. Also, they are pointing out something really important, which is that we have this free resource of the sun and we should use it. That is why putting solar panels on schools and elsewhere is big project for Great British Energy.

[Dr Gardner]

Happy birthday, Mr Speaker. In my Stoke-on-Trent South constituency, businesses such as the Bestway Group, which owns Well healthcare in Meir Park, and Goodwin International in Newstead are keen to invest in rooftop solar, but they cannot get national grid connectivity. In the case of Well healthcare, it will have to wait until 2032. Meanwhile, residents in my village areas are frustrated at the growth of solar farms on agricultural land when there are acres of empty flat roofs on industrial estates. Will the Secretary of State meet me to discuss the many challenges and opportunities for transitioning to clean energy that businesses in my constituency face?

[Ed Miliband]

My hon. Friend raises some important points. The first is on grid connections. With the grid reforms that we are doing, we are going to end this zombie queue where projects are taking up space when they are not going to connect or not going to connect in time. That will open up the future to projects such as hers. On the point about industrial estates, I can give her a sneak preview and tell her that this is part of the solar road map. She makes important points, and the Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, my hon. Friend the Member for Rutherglen (Michael Shanks) has volunteered to meet her.