Oral Answers to Questions

Chris Law Excerpts

Tuesday 12th November 2024 Commons Chamber

[Sarah Jones]

I thank my hon. Friend for his question and look forward to meeting him shortly to talk about tin among other things. We are looking at our critical minerals strategy; there is a big role to play in his neck of the woods for lithium and tin, and we will be pushing that as hard as we can.

[Chris Law (Dundee Central) (SNP)]

Ahead of the general election the Labour party was warned that its plans for the North sea in Scotland would lead to up to 100,000 Scottish job losses. Last week this became a reality when the US oil firm Apache said that it would end all its operations in the North sea by the end of 2029, citing this UK Government’s Budget and tax regime. Can the Minister explain why this UK Government sees the jobs and livelihoods of oil and gas workers in the north-east of Scotland as expendable?

[Michael Shanks]

I do not believe that at all. This Government are committed to a just and prosperous transition. The reality is that 100,000 jobs have been lost in the oil and gas industry in the past 10 years. If we do not recognise that there is a transition under way and put in place the measures to produce the jobs of the future, we will have more losses. The party that the hon. Member represents could have done something about that by supporting Great British Energy headquarters in Aberdeen but he failed to show up and vote for it.

Oral Answers to Questions

Chris Law Excerpts

Tuesday 27th February 2024 Commons Chamber

[Chris Stephens (Glasgow South West) (SNP)]

1. What recent assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of introducing a social energy tariff.

[Chris Law (Dundee West) (SNP)]

23. What recent assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of introducing a social energy tariff.

[The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Claire Coutinho)]

Energy prices are now at their lowest level for two years, with a typical bill set to drop by £238 by April. Our cost of living package totals over £104 billion, or £3,700 per household on average, over 2022 to 2025. We are supporting those most in need, with millions of vulnerable households receiving up to £900 in cost of living payments.