Oral Answers to Questions

Mary Kelly Foy Excerpts

Tuesday 14th October 2025 Commons Chamber

The Secretary of State was asked—

[Mary Kelly Foy (City of Durham) (Lab)]

1. What steps he is taking to ensure scientific evidence is used to support his net zero policies.

[The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Ed Miliband)]

This Government’s approach is founded on the bedrock of the best scientific evidence, which, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, says that net zero by 2050 is essential to limiting global warming to 1.5°. That is why we supported Baroness May’s decision to put net zero by 2050 into law; that was based on advice from the Climate Change Committee. That decision was right for the climate, for energy security, and for the jobs and growth that it can bring to our country.

[Mary Kelly Foy]

This Government’s mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower is not only delivering against climate targets, but delivering jobs and investment in places like Durham and the wider north-east, where around 500 renewable energy companies already employ around 17,000 people in good-quality jobs—a figure that is set to rise to 24,000. Those who take a stand against climate action would put that growth at risk. Does the Secretary of State share my concerns that the fearmongering by some in this House about the cost and safety of renewables is not only misguided, but fundamentally against our national interests, and will he work with local teams to provide suitable knowledge and education, as suggested by Retrofit Reimagined?

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I think the Secretary of State has got it.