Claire Coutinho Portrait

Claire Coutinho

Conservative - East Surrey

7,450 (15.1%) majority - 2024 General Election

First elected: 12th December 2019

Shadow Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero

(since July 2024)

Claire Coutinho is not a member of any APPGs
1 Former APPG membership
Sustainable Finance
Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
31st Aug 2023 - 5th Jul 2024
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
27th Oct 2022 - 31st Aug 2023
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
21st Sep 2022 - 27th Oct 2022
Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Bill [HL]
19th Jan 2022 - 27th Jan 2022
Local Government (Disqualification) Bill
24th Nov 2021 - 1st Dec 2021
National Insurance Contributions Bill
16th Jun 2021 - 22nd Jun 2021


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Claire Coutinho has voted in 11 divisions, and never against the majority of their Party.
View All Claire Coutinho Division Votes

Debates during the 2024 Parliament

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Sparring Partners
Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat)
Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Transport)
(2 debate interactions)
Caroline Nokes (Conservative)
(2 debate interactions)
Bernard Jenkin (Conservative)
(2 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Legislation Debates
Great British Energy Bill 2024-26
(3,094 words contributed)
View All Legislation Debates
View all Claire Coutinho's debates

Latest EDMs signed by Claire Coutinho

2nd September 2024
Claire Coutinho signed this EDM as a sponsor on Thursday 29th August 2024

Social Security

Tabled by: Rishi Sunak (Conservative - Richmond and Northallerton)
That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty, praying that the Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment Regulations 2024 (S.I., 2024, No. 869), dated 22 August 2024, a copy of which was laid before this House on 22 August 2024, be annulled.
81 signatures
(Most recent: 10 Sep 2024)
Signatures by party:
Conservative: 75
Independent: 3
Democratic Unionist Party: 2
Scottish National Party: 1
View All Claire Coutinho's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Claire Coutinho, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.

MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.


Claire Coutinho has not been granted any Urgent Questions

Claire Coutinho has not been granted any Adjournment Debates

1 Bill introduced by Claire Coutinho


To make provision about licences to search and bore for and get offshore petroleum.

Commons Completed
Lords - 60%

Last Event - Committee Stage
Tuesday 23rd April 2024
(Read Debate)

Claire Coutinho has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting


Latest 10 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
30th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what budget he has allocated for legal costs in the event of legal action from businesses following from his decision not to issue new oil and gas licences.

We do not intend to issue new licences to explore new fields and will share more details on our plans in due course. We do not speculate on possible future legal costs.

Michael Shanks
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
30th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what is his expected timetable for GB Energy to cut household energy bills by £300 per year.

The Government's mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower is a sustainable, long-term plan to protect billpayers for good. That’s because in an unstable world, the only way to guarantee our energy security and protect billpayers permanently is to speed up the transition away from fossil fuels and towards homegrown clean energy.

The exact impact and timetable of Great British Energy’s interventions will be determined by detailed development and design of the organisation’s functions which will follow in the coming months.

Michael Shanks
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
30th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether GB Energy will operate energy infrastructure.

Yes. Great British Energy will own, manage, and operate clean energy projects across the country; which could include energy infrastructure. As set out in the Founding Statement, Great British Energy will have five key functions. This means the exact role of Great British Energy will vary from project to project, providing important flexibility to ensure Great British Energy works collaboratively with private companies, local authorities, and communities already operating in the energy space. To meet immediate needs, Great British Energy will initially focus on project development and investment.

Michael Shanks
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
30th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether GB Energy will produce energy.

Yes. Great British Energy will invest in and own clean power generation assets, which will produce clean, cheap and homegrown energy and make Britain energy secure. Great British Energy will not be simply an investment vehicle; it is a publicly-owned energy company that will take stakes in the projects it owns, manages and operates.

Michael Shanks
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
30th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate he has made of the increase in quantum of energy that GB Energy will generate; and by what timeline.

Great British Energy will invest in, own and operate energy projects which will produce clean, cheap and homegrown energy and make Britain energy secure.

The exact impact and timeline of Great British Energy’s interventions will be determined by detailed development and design of the organisation’s functions.

Michael Shanks
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
24th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of his policy on decarbonising the grid by 2030 on the cost of constructing Hinkley Point C.

Hinkley Point C is not a government project and therefore construction costs are a matter for EDF and its development partners on the project.

Michael Shanks
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
24th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of his policy on decarbonising the grid by 2030 on the cost of constructing Sizewell C.

The capital costs for Sizewell C are commercially sensitive, and subject to ongoing development. We cannot comment further on the cost at this time, but we are committed to Sizewell C, which with other new nuclear projects will play an important role in the Government’s vision for achieving energy independence, lowering consumers’ bills, and securing thousands of good, skilled jobs. Work continues at pace to secure a final investment decision.

Michael Shanks
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
30th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people received the Winter Fuel Payment in each constituency in the last financial year.

This Government is committed to pensioners – everyone in our society, no matter their working history or savings deserves a comfortable and dignified retirement.

Given the substantial pressures faced by the public finances this year and next, the government has had to make hard choices to bring the public finances back under control.

The relevant latest statistics can be found at: Winter Fuel Payment statistics for winter 2022 to 2023 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) (Winter Fuel Payment statistics, Great Britain, European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland: winter 2022 to 2023).

Emma Reynolds
Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
30th Jul 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of ending the investment allowance within the Energy Profits Levy on investment in the (a) economy and (b) energy transition.

In July, the Government announced its intention to remove the Energy Profits Levy’s (EPL) 29% main investment allowance. Further details of final policy and impacts will be announced at Budget.

A key outcome of the government’s clean energy mission will be greater energy security and independence. The government will achieve a phased and responsible transition by taking a proportionate approach that ensures the oil and gas sector continues to play a role whilst contributing more towards our clean energy transition.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)