Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of how many jobs the Unity Contract with Rolls Royce will create in (a) Cardiff and (b) Glasgow.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Rolls-Royce Submarines Ltd estimate the Unity contract will create at least 200 new jobs in Glasgow and Cardiff providing the company with longer-term contractual security to plan and develop their existing and future workforce.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Landmark £9 billion contract for British business to boost jobs, growth and nuclear deterrent, published on 24 January 2025, how many of the jobs in (a) Cardiff and (b) Glasgow are already in existence working on elements of defence nuclear power.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Rolls-Royce Submarines Ltd indicate that at the end of January 2025 there are currently three posts filled in Cardiff with plans to recruit up to an additional 127 posts in the next 14 months. There are 64 posts filled in Glasgow with plans to recruit up to an additional 56 posts over the next 14 months.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what progress GB Energy has made on delivering community energy projects.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Great British Energy has as one of its key functions the delivery of the Local Power Plan which will provide funding and support to communities to meet the government's goal of 8GW of community energy by 2030.

The GBE Bill is still making its way through Parliament and the Autumn 2024 budget allocated £125m to set up the company in FY 25-26. We will have more to say on GBE's first investments in due course.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what progress he has made with Ofgem and energy suppliers on (a) understanding how energy costs will change for consumers following the switch from services relying on Radio Teleswitch and (b) ensuring consumers will have access to competitive tariffs when Radio Teleswitch Service meters are replaced.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Energy suppliers are best placed to advise on suitable tariffs for their customers, and to ensure that they inform affected customers of any changes to the cost of their energy.

Ofgem has been clear that suppliers must take all reasonable steps to ensure former RTS consumers stay on a closely equivalent tariff.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions she has had with Network Rail on the steps it is taking to ensure the health and wellbeing of neighbours impacted by rail maintenance.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

I am replying as Minister responsible. I am not aware of any discussions between the Secretary of State and Network Rail on this issue. The health and wellbeing of lineside neighbours is a key consideration for Network Rail in undertaking any essential rail maintenance work. These are reflected in Network Rail’s safety management system arrangements, which covers how they manage operations and connected activities to ensure that disturbance is minimised as far as reasonably practicable, whilst upholding their statutory duties on safety and performance.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance she has issued on the recourse available to neighbours to Network Rail maintenance and construction projects for disputes relating to planned works.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

While the Secretary of State has not issued specific guidance on this, there are options available for raising a dispute. Ahead of planned works Network Rail consults with communities affected, to address their concerns. Compensation for disruption will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Network Rail has a contact centre and webpage which details the process for making a complaint: https://www.networkrail.co.uk/communities/contact-us/making-a-complaint/.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent estimate he has made of the relative costs per km of (a) overhead, (b) underground and (c) offshore electricity transmission cables in the last 12 months.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government keeps abreast of the various technologies that can be used to help us achieve clean power by 2030, including the various means of laying cable, but has not yet made an estimate of the relative costs of cabling in the last 12 months.

Proposals to forcibly displace and ethnically cleanse Palestinians from Gaza

Martin Kennedy as NFUS President