Oral Answers to Questions

Kenneth Stevenson Excerpts

Tuesday 17th December 2024 Commons Chamber

[Kerry McCarthy]

I am aware of the excellent work being carried out at Lochwinnoch. We know that protecting and restoring our peatlands is essential for tackling the climate crisis. We are committed to restoring approximately 280,000 hectares of peatland. We are also looking at innovative ways of getting funding into those nature-based solutions so that they can thrive.

[Kenneth Stevenson (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab)]

13. What assessment he has made of the potential impact of Great British Energy on job creation in industrial communities.

[Andrew Pakes (Peterborough) (Lab)]

20. What assessment he has made of the potential impact of Great British Energy on job creation in industrial communities. [R]

[The Minister of State, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (Sarah Jones)]

Great British Energy will deliver well-paid jobs in industrial communities. It will own and invest in projects across the country, it will crowd in private investment, and it will develop those crucial supply chains that will make us more resilient as a country and deliver more jobs.

[Kenneth Stevenson]

I was delighted to see the Government’s commitment to reindustrialise our nation, creating thousands of jobs in the process. This is the difference that a Labour Government can make, cleaning up the mess of the Tories and putting this country back on track. My constituency of Airdrie and Shotts is at the heart of Scotland’s central belt. Once an industrial heartland, it is full of skills and potential waiting to be unlocked. Will the Minister work with me to ensure that the benefit of the significant job creation that the Government are undertaking will be felt in my constituency?

[Sarah Jones]

I will work with my hon. Friend on creating the jobs that we all want. It has been announced that Great British Energy will be located in Aberdeen, and there are two additional sites, one in Glasgow and one in Edinburgh. The national wealth fund has just announced a £20 million investment in XLCC, to support a world-leading factory in Hunterston producing cables. That will support 900 jobs. We have seen a £1.6 million investment by Sarens PSG to provide specialist equipment and skilled workers, and to set up a centre for excellence in Aberdeen. Those are the kinds of projects that we want across our communities, in his constituency and beyond.