Commons Chamber

Tuesday 19th May 2026

(began 3 weeks, 1 day ago)

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None Portrait Q3. How he plans to work with the Prime Minister's Adviser on Women and Girls to help tackle violence against women and girls through the criminal justice system. (900003)
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Robin Swann thank you, Mr. Speaker. In March, the Prime Minister agreed to meet with
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None Portrait Q6. What assessment he has made of the potential impact of proposed changes to jury trials on the criminal justice system. (900006)
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and reform can we turn the tide around. Gregory Stafford thank you, Mr. Speaker. On the Secretary of State's watch, the courts backlog
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David Lammy Portrait Rt Hon David Lammy MP, The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Tottenham, Labour)
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And the and the truth. And the truth is we are determined to bring

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down the backlog. And that is why. Order! Order! Order! Mr. Turner, I took the question. I want you to

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I took the question. I want you to expect you to hear the answer as well. We are determined to bring down

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We are determined to bring down the backlog. He knows that all governments of stripes stand by our governments of stripes stand by our jury system. Stand by the Magna Carta. We are not scrapping jury trials. I know he gets excited

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trials. I know he gets excited about this, but he should recognise that. Jess Brown-Fuller Liberal Democrat spokesperson.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I come with good news. With increased funding from the government, funding from the government, uncapped sitting days and improved disposal rates, backlogs in the Crown courts are falling at the Old Bailey. In 2025. The backlog fell by a quarter. In Chelmsford, it by a quarter. In Chelmsford, it fell by 10% and Maidstone saw a 5% reduction. The truth is that properly funding our courts and properly funding our courts and uncapping sitting days is bringing down the backlogs.

But the government is choosing to ignore that data and persist with taking a sledgehammer to jury trials, which won't deliver shorter wait times for victims. So why won't the Ministers trust those in the justice system that want to deliver for those victims, using their increased funding and resource that he has delivered for them?
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None Portrait Q8. What progress he has made with Cabinet colleagues on the Government's knife crime strategy. (900008)
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Laura Kyrke-Smith thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I welcome the government's knife crime strategy with its ambitious goal to cut
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None Portrait Urgent question: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the Government’s approach to redacting or withholding documents within scope of the Humble Address agreed by the House on 4th February 2026.
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Secretary Jones. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I've set out to this House on previous occasions, the government is working to comply with the motion working to comply with the motion passed in February. I can reassure the House that this remains the case and can provide the following
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Darren Jones Portrait Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Bristol North West, Labour)
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represented all of the documents in scope of the motion where the government believed that publication would be prejudicial to UK national security or international relations. The government has repeatedly assessed all of the documents it has collected to make sure that all of those that need to be referred to the ISC are referred to the committee as part of this quality control process. The government identified a small number of further documents that it felt should be reviewed by the ISC, and immediately submitted these documents to the committee.

As Friday's statement from the committee set out, it has now considered all of these documents. As I have previously said to the House, the government will be publishing a second tranche of material. This is currently being finalised and will be one of the largest government publications ever laid in this House. This is reflective of the breadth of the motion, and also the government's commitment to transparency in responding to it. It constitutes a very significant disclosure exercise involving sensitive material from across government.

The government has taken seriously its obligations to comply with the Humble Address in full, while also upholding other public interest issues, such as our duty of care to carried out this work according to a robust process, with assurance from an independent KC, given the house is due to rise on Thursday, Mr. Speaker, and given the length of the publication. The second tranche will now be published after Whitsun recess to give to give the House sufficient time to review the material and to be able to ask me and the government questions.

Mr. speaker, it could have been published this Thursday, Mr. Speaker, but I felt that the House would deem that to be inappropriate, given it will be such a significant publication. Mr. speaker, I just refer back to my previous comments. This will be the largest publication, other than, I think, the Chilcot inquiry report ever published to the House. When the government publishes the second tranche of documents, we will also publish a methodology confirming the process we have followed, and it will be clear from the published information the basis on which content has been redacted, the targeted redactions made to the material beyond those made relevant to national security or international relations have been made in line with clear precedent set by previous administrations.

In responding to humble addresses. As I said outside the House on the 23rd of February, and again when we published the first tranche of material on the 11th of March, we have taken the normal approach to redacting junior officials names, contact details like telephone numbers and email addresses, the personal data of third parties, where this is not in scope of the motion and where relevant, legal professional privilege. This has been done using the principles set out in the Freedom of Information Act, and in line with the Ministerial code and the resolutions on ministerial accountability passed by both houses in 1997, which state that Ministers should be as open as possible with Parliament and not provide information only when disclosure would not be in the public interest, which should be decided in accordance with relevant statute.

I am sure members across the House will recognise there is no public interest in the government publishing the names and contact details of junior officials or their telephone numbers. Mr. speaker.

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Order. I don't know how long we've been here. Quite, but it's three minutes. We're over 3.5 three minutes. We're over 3.5 minutes now, and I wasn't given notice of extra time needed. And obviously other people would need obviously other people would need to know that. Please. I did set out rules of the House. We should adhere to them once again. We've

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broken them. We've only been back a few days. Sarah Jones forgive me, Mr. Speaker. In that case, I will sit down and answer further detail in

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down and answer further detail in answer to questions from members of the House. The next Bath, sir Jeremy Wright. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, and thank you for granting this urgent question. Thank you to the Ministers for what he has said. But as you and the House know, the Intelligence and Security Committee has been considering redactions, documents on the grounds that, if unredacted, those documents may prejudice national security or international relations. But it has become become apparent to us that the government also intends to redact documents for other reasons not specifically permitted in the Humble Address or, in some cases,
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Jeremy Wright Portrait Rt Hon Sir Jeremy Wright KC MP (Kenilworth and Southam, Conservative)
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to withhold those documents altogether. Now, as the Ministers says, the government did issue a list of further grounds on which it intended to redact, along with the first tranche of documents that it published, including, as he says, published, including, as he says, email addresses and phone numbers and what's described as personal data. Though there is, of course, data. Though there is, of course, no mechanism for the House to confirm that those redactions are limited to only what is necessary. limited to only what is necessary.

But I want to ask the Ministers about material that the government intends to withhold for yet further reasons. For example, due to commercial confidentiality or to protect the monarch. The government also intends to withhold some documents related to vetting in their entirety. Now, Mr. Speaker, I make it clear that my committee has considerable sympathy with the substantive arguments the government may make for withholding information beyond that currently justified in the Humble Address. There are, for example, valid concerns about the disclosure of information given in a vetting process inhibiting future subjects of vetting, or those who are asked about them from being as open and forthcoming as they need to be for vetting to be effective.

But we cannot accept that the government is entitled to ignore or to unilaterally alter the terms of the Humble Address. So does the Ministers accept that if the government wants to argue that the Humble Address is too broad as drafted and needs to be refined, it must come to this House and make that argument and get the House's consent for any alteration. Does he further accept that without doing so? When the next set of documents is published, with information withheld, then the government will not succeed in persuading this House or the wider world that this matter is closed.

And finally, does he accept that if the government takes it upon itself to redact or withhold information contrary to the terms of the Humble Address it agreed to be bound by in February? That would be an issue not just of process, but of parliamentary sovereignty.

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Yeah. Gerald Jones thank you, Mr. Speaker. In relation to the questions from the right hon. Gentleman about compliance with the Gentleman about compliance with the Humble Address, I refer him to the statement I made previously in relation to the principles set out in legislation and the motions of in legislation and the motions of this House as I set out. I think he's asking me specifically about he's asking me specifically about personal data that was collected as part of the security vetting process.

And as I think he alluded process. And as I think he alluded to in his answer, the raw data that is collected as part of those investigations, which, for example, might relate to how much money you have in a particular account or who you may have had a personal relationship with in the past. That relationship with in the past. That raw data would never be published, because if we did so, people would feel unable to answer those questions honestly and frankly in questions honestly and frankly in any UK security vetting investigation in the future, which would undermine the very basis of our national security system.
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Neil O'Brien Portrait Neil O'Brien MP (Harborough, Oadby and Wigston, Conservative)
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documents entirely from the ISC is an extremely serious matter that completely undermines what this completely undermines what this House agreed. There may be legitimate reasons the government does not want to play certain things in the public domain, but if things in the public domain, but if the Humble Address motion does not allow for redaction on those grounds, the government can't just grounds, the government can't just unilaterally decide to ignore the will of this House. And sadly, this pattern of backsliding fits a pattern of backsliding fits a pattern of behaviour.

The Prime Minister's chief of staff had to resign over the Mandelson scandal, but now he's apparently back advising the Prime Minister. Already we forced the government to hold an inquiry into the grooming gangs. Then they sabotaged it and they dragged their feet for a whole year. We said it needs to be harder to get ILR. Home Secretary said she'd do it. Labour backbenchers didn't like it. And so now it's not in the King's Speech again and again. As soon as the attention moves elsewhere, they start backsliding.

So we now expect the government to discuss its approach to the Humble Address constructively and would welcome such discussion. So I ask the Ministers, now that the government has reviewed all the documents, the ICS reviewed the documents, when is the government going to release all the rest of the Mandelson fouls? The Ministers says after Whitsun, when, after Whitsun, will the government return to the House to ask permission for the redactions that they clearly wish to make, which go beyond the scope of the Humble Address? And would the Ministers brief opposition members on Privy Council terms about these broader redactions that the government clearly wishes to make? Mr.

speaker, members opposite voted for a cover up when they voted against referring the Prime Minister to the Privileges Committee over this. They don't like it, but it's true. This House and the people of this country deserve better than yet another

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cover up here. Sarah Jones.

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Mr. Speaker, I take these matters very seriously, as I'm sure members across the House would recognise. I will not, though, for recognise. I will not, though, for one instance, countenance the idea that there is, as loud as you may want to shout it, a cover up. If there was any suggestion of a cover up, Mr. Speaker, I would not be standing at this Dispatch Box to standing at this Dispatch Box to defend the process, I would resign. That has not been the case, and I would suggest to the hon.

Gentleman that he might want to focus on the substance of the matter at hand, on the questions that he's put before me. I've answered them in the statement and in my answer to the co-chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee, and I refer to my previous answers. my previous answers.
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Emily Thornberry Portrait Rt Hon Emily Thornberry MP (Islington South and Finsbury, Labour)
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and we cannot know that those that lessons have been learned unless they are checked. And the committees in this House, my committees in this House, my committee and the ISC are trying our best to get to the truth of this, and we are having obstacles this, and we are having obstacles put in our way. And for that reason, I believe that with proper redactions, it should be that the redactions, it should be that the ISC are allowed to look at this, at this file, to understand why it was that mitigations could be put in

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that mitigations could be put in place in order to make us safe. When it came to the appointment of Peter Mandelson. Secretary Jones.

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To confirm, Mr. Speaker, the documents that related to the recommendation put to the Foreign recommendation put to the Foreign Office and the Foreign Office's decision to appoint Peter Mandelson, irrespective of the recommendation irrespective of the recommendation that was put to them. These documents have been referred to the Intelligence and Security Committee. Intelligence and Security Committee. What has not been referred was the raw data collected as part of interviews undertaken with Peter Mandelson, which in any circumstance we wouldn't share in any in relation to any appointment, and to confirm that neither I, nor any decision maker in this process have seen that level of personal detail, because it is kept so detail, because it is kept so securely to ensure that when people go through this process, they feel able to give full and frank answers able to give full and frank answers without a wide range of politicians or others seeing their deeply personal information.

spokesperson. spokesperson.
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Lisa Smart Portrait Lisa Smart MP (Hazel Grove, Liberal Democrat)
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deserve justice and the public deserves answers, not redactions. The point is not that any member of this House wants a junior civil this House wants a junior civil servants public date personal data to be published. It's that it's not the government's decision to make where the line is to be drawn. Mr. speaker, given that documents on speaker, given that documents on Andrew Mountbatten, Windsor's trade envoy role, are also due to be laid before this House shortly, will the

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Ministers confirm that he will personally ensure that those will say. Here.

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And on the first part of the hon. Lady's question around the assumptions of the government withholding information that it withholding information that it shouldn't, I'm just afraid, Mr. Speaker, that is incorrect. This is the most extensive disclosure of the most extensive disclosure of information, I think, ever in relation to a Humble Address. The sheer the sheer depth of the document when it's published, will document when it's published, will illustrate to the point that the government has gone to great lengths to ensure that it's complying with the Humble Address.

That's why we've established the process with the Intelligence and Security Committee and the Public Administration Committee, with independent KC oversight, to assure that this process is being done properly. In relation to her question about the motion in question about the motion in relation to Andrew Windsor, that Humble Address is being administered by the Department for Business and Trade, and I Business and Trade, and I understand it's due to be published very shortly.
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John Hayes Portrait Rt Hon Sir John Hayes MP (South Holland and The Deepings, Conservative)
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Now, the hon. Gentleman may feel that that's justified, but the Humble Address doesn't permit it. The point is that he is confusing The point is that he is confusing scrutiny with disclosure. The ISC is well used to making judgements about what's made public. That's the why. That's why the House chose the ISC as the mechanism to deal with these matters. Will the hon. Gentleman confirm that in line with the Humble Address, all material will be submitted to the ISC and in particular, will he confirm that there was no document or any communications, emails and so on related to mitigation of any risks associated with Peter Mandelson's

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appointment? Thank you. All documents that are in the scope of the Humble Address will be scope of the Humble Address will be published in the normal way, in relation to this question about the work of the Intelligence and Security Committee, any redaction that had any relationship with international relations or national security have been submitted to the Committee for their consideration. Committee for their consideration. As he knows, as I confirm to the House, that process has concluded. I think he's asking me again about personal data, and I refer him to my statement, which makes the point that compliance with the Humble Address sits within the context of the Freedom of Information Act.

The ministerial code and motions passed by both houses about how to comply with that statement. And as I said, all further information will be published in due course. published in due course.
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David Davis Portrait Rt Hon David Davis MP (Goole and Pocklington, Conservative)
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requirements of the motion for return passed on the 13th of November 2018. It should be noted that that motion was passed by this that that motion was passed by this House. Yeah, we just debated an area where the government may potentially be in contempt of the House. Indeed, the obfuscation we've heard looks like that. It's important to the House. And indeed, the government knows that the precedents in this area. And I give notice, Mr. Speaker, that if after we've received the next tranche of documents, the Humble Address has not been met in full, or indeed, that we haven't been told the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

I will seek to bring such a motion in the future. Yeah,

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yeah, yeah. But let me just try and deal with this one. Look, what I don't want to is continue the debate. So want to is continue the debate. So this might be a bit of advice for others that's trying to catch my eye. A very experienced member like eye. A very experienced member like Sir David won't leave it here. I know he will pursue it through many other avenues that will be other avenues that will be available to him, and I suggest that it will be coming back at some point.

And just to say to the House, point. And just to say to the House, I've also had a letter from the ISC, and at some point I will also need to respond to that. So it isn't quite the end as we see yet. I'm coming round. Doctor Kieran Mullan.
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Heidi Alexander Portrait Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP, The Secretary of State for Transport (Swindon South, Labour)
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the delivery of HS2 means for the civil service and wider public sector. This was a Cabinet Secretary investigation commissioned by the Prime Minister last year. I would also like to last year. I would also like to take this opportunity to update hon. Members on the latest stage of hon. Members on the latest stage of the HS2 reset. But, Mr. Speaker, if I may, let me remind the House of I may, let me remind the House of the litany of failure we inherited in July 2024.

Costs soared by £37 billion under the previous government alone, billions of taxpayers money was sunk into phase two work for the sections north of Birmingham before they were abruptly cancelled. Huge contracts were handed out without improvement in price. Despite the Oakervee review's recommendation to negotiate a better position. Instead of signalling the country's ambition, HS2 became a symbol of this country's decline and after more than five years of construction and over £40 billion spent, the country was no closer to having an operational HS2 railway than when construction first began.

That is the shocking legacy of the previous government and I'm afraid it gets worst. I can today confirm the previous government spent most of his Budget without laying a single metre of its track. Today is about ending that era of neglect. New CEO Mark wild and chair Mike Brown have an almost impossible task on their hands. As Mark put it to me recently, it's like changing the engine of an aeroplane mid-flight. However, the new leadership team at HS2 is turning things around.

Six major construction milestones were reached earlier than planned in the past year. The organisation is more focussed on the things that matter, with 300 back office roles removed, HS2 limited is reviewing its supply chain contracts and the incentives within them to ensure we finish the job at the lowest reasonable cost, and it is managing those contractors properly now to make sure supplier performance is up to scratch. Finally, we are seeing improved oversight, with HS2 leadership now receiving real time updates, helping to prevent delays and keep construction to time.

But there is no getting away from the fact, Mr. Speaker, that the vast majority of Hs2's previous Budget was blown on, completing around a third of the entire project. And over the past year, Mark Wild and HS2 limited have worked closely with me and my department to assess the remaining work to be done. They have now provided me with updated costs and timescales which I can share with the house. It gives me no pleasure to say the expected cost of completing HS2 is now between 87.7 billion and £102.7 billion, priced in 2025.

Two thirds of this increase is down to past misunderstanding of the work required. Underestimation and inefficiency issues within the control of HS2 limited, some of its suppliers and previous governments. The remaining third is linked to inflation, which was not factored into previous cost estimates regularly enough on timings. I said last year that I see no route by which trains could be running by 2033. We now expect first services to run from Old Oak Common to Birmingham Curzon Street between May 2036 and October 2039, and we're.

The previous government could not say when the full HS2 scheme between Houston and Handsacre junction would be delivered. I now expect that will happen between May 2040 and December 2043. Lessons have been learned from the Stewart review, meaning hs2's cost and schedules are now built on more solid foundations, with credible estimates published as ranges to ensure they better stand the test of time. Colleagues may feel that they have heard all of this before, and I understand that scepticism, but it is different this time.

HS2 limited have now used the same experts and methods behind the successful Crossrail reset. They have priced future work against what we've learned so far, and their homework has been checked by an independent panel of experts. But Madam Deputy Speaker, if this seems like an obscene increase in time and costs, it is because it is. And if it seems like I'm angry, it is because I am. I am angry on behalf of taxpayers and affected communities who have been swindled by the failures of successive conservative governments.

I am angry on behalf of the thousands of rail and construction workers giving their all on this project, who do not deserve to have their industry tarnished in this way. And I am angry on behalf of passengers who continue to wait for the new services and new opportunities they deserve. Madam Deputy Speaker, despite this sorry situation, we are determined to claw back as much time and money as possible. Not only does the Lovegrove report corroborate the Stewart Review's damning assessment of the decision making environment under the previous government, but it also talks about the original gold plating of HS2.

It talks about the focus, and I quote, on the highest possible speeds, resulting in bespoke and highly engineered design. Madam Deputy Speaker, to translate, it was a massively overspent folly, with the prospect of the fastest trains anywhere in the world tickling the fancy of conservative Ministers. If we were the. If we were a country the size of China, I could understand it. But we are not. Passengers just want reliable trains that turn up when they're supposed to. More services and more seats.

They want a common sense approach that gets them the railway they deserve. Not a vanity project with trains so fast that proper testing could not be done until track and railway systems were complete. So, Madam Deputy Speaker, I asked Mark Wilde to remove the gold plating and complexity from this project. Today, I have accepted his recommendation to align HS2 speeds already delivered with already, with speeds already delivered on other European high speed networks. That still means we will run some of the fastest trains in Europe, with speeds reaching 320km/h.

But crucially, it lowers the cost of testing. It makes delivering the project less risky, and it could realise savings of up to £2.5 billion and could save at least a year in delivery time. Yes, now I realise that there will be those who will say this is all too much and we should just cancel the whole thing. However, I can confirm today that it could cost almost as much to cancel the line as it would to finish it, while delivering none of the benefits.

With half finished structures strewn across the English countryside, a relic to what could have been. And so this Labour government is clear we will deliver HS2 to completion because this country can build big things. We just need competent people at the helm to deliver them. Prime Minister's Cameron May, Johnson, Truss and Sunak created the world's. I'm sure the Secretary of State did not mean to use the honourable right hon. Member for Richmond and Northallerton name. Heidi Alexander. My apologies, Madam Deputy Speaker.

Previous Prime Ministers, in my view, created the world's most expensive slow motion car crash and they barely batted an eyelid. Under this government, we've rolled up our sleeves and done the hard yards, put in the right team in place, and being honest about the scale of the challenge. Madam Deputy Speaker, I understand that this statement today will be met with cynicism and anger, but I say with genuine pride and conviction that I believe we are finally starting to see real delivery tunnelling.

Tunnelling machines are currently working under Londoners feet to make HS2 to Euston a reality. Birmingham skyline is changing before our eyes, with new film studios, a sports quarter and housing all being built around the new Curzon Street station. This is national renewal in action. Madam Deputy Speaker, when I last worked with Mark wild and Mike Brown, we took the delayed and overbudget Crossrail project and turned it into the Elizabeth line, which has now served more than half a billion passengers.

We've done it before. We'll do it again. And I commend this statement to the House. Shadow Ministers

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Jerome Mayhew. Thank you very much, Madam. Deputy Speaker, and. I'm very grateful to the Secretary of State for giving me Secretary of State for giving me advance sight of her statement. The Secretary of State's comments today Secretary of State's comments today demonstrate not only the challenges faced in the past, and the reasons action was taken to reduce the action was taken to reduce the scope of HS2, but also the significant challenges ahead if it is finally to be delivered. And
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Jerome Mayhew Portrait Jerome Mayhew MP (Broadland and Fakenham, Conservative)
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is finally to be delivered. And it's true that the early years of the HS2 project were beset with delays and cost overruns, with HS2 limited failing to maintain tight control of the Budget and, frankly, Department for transport allowing them to get away with it. It was for this reason that the previous government appointed Mark wild OBE as the new chief executive of HS2 limited, with the clear instruction to get a grip of costs and robustly oversee this project. And it's apparent from today's statement that Hs2's leadership under Mark wild is taking those steps to try and achieve this, where there are actions that can reduce costs in the long run, then this side of the House will clearly support them.

But given concerns about trust in the project, I hope the government and HS2 limited will set out in detail how they believe these measures will save money and deliver even on this new extended timetable. In addition, we have to acknowledge the deep seated infrastructure challenges that we face in this country. When the Prime Minister was campaigning during the last general election, we heard a range of promises about housing and infrastructure goals that have completely founded when they have come into contact with reality.

That's why on this side of the House, we propose substantial changes to environmental legislation to give us the freedoms needed to cut environmental red tape, both for business but also for large infrastructure projects. Even the Prime Minister does not support regulations that lead to a £100 million bat tunnel, does she? This must be addressed because the Secretary of State has made a number of strong statements. And if she's angry, as she says she is, those statements must be backed up by consequential legislative changes that stop these cost overruns from occurring in the future.

Turning to the specific. I wish to press the Secretary of State on matters on which those in the sector already have indicated that they want assurances. For example, Madam Deputy Speaker, what does the new project cost figures include? Does it include all the rolling stock under the new plans? To what extent is Euston funding included in these new estimates and does it include signalling. Does the government intend to set out precisely what is being funded and when the various elements will be delivered under their new timetable? And can the Ministers also explain what steps the government has taken to improve HS2 Limited's performance when it comes to settling claims with those impacted by construction? Since she herself has separately highlighted that this is an area that requires improvement.

Of course, HS2 doesn't operate in a vacuum. On the same day that this statement is being put before the House, it's been announced that the government pressure will result in 1 in 7 rail services being cut on one of Avanti West Coast routes, following a government request to reduce expenditure. And given the comments made about the project, is it appropriate that the services on the West Coast will offer fewer services to passengers? Ultimately, the government is right to take steps to reduce costs on this project.

Errors were made and should be rectified, and I'm glad that the government continues to support Mark wild and his team as

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they work towards opening HS2. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.

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Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I'm grateful to the Shadow Rail Ministers for his questions and Ministers for his questions and indeed for the tone in which he presented his case. He's not. He wasn't quite as bombastic at the wasn't quite as bombastic at the despatch box as he normally is, and so I can only assume that perhaps, so I can only assume that perhaps, perhaps he was considering making an apology for the dreadful mess
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Heidi Alexander Portrait Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP, The Secretary of State for Transport (Swindon South, Labour)
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that the previous government left this project in. I didn't hear one. this project in. I didn't hear one. But look, I accept the the the manner in which he made his points. I do also, though. Question where I do also, though. Question where the Shadow Secretary of State is today. This is not the first time, today. This is not the first time, Madam Deputy Speaker, that the Shadow Transport Secretary has run scared from an oral statement, and scared from an oral statement, and I can only assume that's because he's frankly embarrassed by his party's abject record when it comes to transport.

He talked about the appointment of the new CEO, Mark wild, under the previous government. I do have to say to him gently that it's a bit like an arsonist demanding praise for calling the fire brigade, because let me quote what Mark wild said about what he had inherited when he spoke to the Public Accounts Committee just days after he started in his job. We are in a completely unacceptable position. We have to acknowledge that HS2 has failed in its mission to control costs.

Madam Deputy Speaker, the hon. Gentleman asked me a number of specific questions and I will answer them directly. He asks how reducing the speed to 320km/h will save money and ensure delivery. To be clear, Madam Deputy Speaker, this will mean that trains on HS2 are running as fast as bullet trains in Japan. We're making three scope changes in this announcement today one reducing the speed, two reducing automatic train operation and three ensuring that the signalling that we put in on HS2 is aligned with the e t system that is being rolled out on the TransPennine route upgrade and across the Network Rail system more broadly, we will depend on proven technologies.

We are not taking a punt on world firsts. I think that is the way to reduce risk in the delivery of this programme and potentially reduce cost as well, by up to £2.5 billion. He asked me about bat tunnels. Well, I can tell him we are building no more bat tunnels on HS2 and that this government has changed legislation through the Planning and Infrastructure Act, which could mean a different approach to protected species in future. And I gently say to him who was overseeing this project when HS2 took the decision to proceed with the bat tunnel, it wasn't this government, it was his government.

And we've taken actions to ensure that regulations in future do not get in the way of building the homes and infrastructure that this country needs. He asked me specific questions about whether the revised cost ranges include a number of different areas, and I can confirm that on Euston that there is provision within this range for the delivery of Euston, although we've also gone out to market to attract private investment. Given that in the ten year infrastructure strategy, we set out our ambition to deliver the new HS2 station through a public private partnership.

The. The signalling costs are also included in these cost ranges. He asked me rightly about what action HS2 is taking to improve its performance when it comes to settling claims on land and property. I know that there were very many hon. Members in this House whose constituents will have experienced frustrations in this regard and in the the letter I recently wrote to the chair of HS2 setting out his priorities for the year, I was clear that I wanted greater attention on this area.

And finally he asked me about some of the minor changes that Avanti West Coast have made recently to their summer timetable. They came to me with a proposition to better optimise their service pattern to meet the demand in the summer months, when actually, if we can save money because we're not moving trains around the country with half empty carriages. As a responsible government, I think it's reasonable for us to look at that. What I would also say to him in the timetable that was introduced on Sunday is that we've seen significant enhancements, including additional seats on London north western services between London and Birmingham.

We're seeing the most regular Mid-cornwall metro service in 60 years, and so we're. His government failed to invest in Britain's rail network. This government is doing exactly the opposite and making sure that

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people across the country have got the trains that they need and that they deserve. The Havant.

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Sport Select Committee. Ruth Cadbury thank. You. Madam Deputy Speaker, and I'd like to thank the Secretary of like to thank the Secretary of State for being honest to this House and for grasping the nub of House and for grasping the nub of the problem. It shouldn't need the publication of the Lovegrove report and for today's statement to know and for today's statement to know that the cost and timetable overruns on HS2 started long before because the last government wanted spades in the ground, before the
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Ruth Cadbury Portrait Ruth Cadbury MP (Brentford and Isleworth, Labour)
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designs and the costs and the permits were ready. And then they permits were ready. And then they cancelled the project at half the project. So we have the Aston to project. So we have the Aston to Old Oak Common project. I'm so glad that the government picked up that and is moving ahead on the on the Euston element as well. But because we had the Stewart review and the we had the Stewart review and the the report to tell us what went wrong to.

I'm not going to. My question is not actually going to be on HS2 because we've got the rail. Ministers and HS2 chief exec coming to us tomorrow. But elements that we. That I believe have picked up in the Lovegrove report. What is the Secretary of State doing now to ensure that from now on, essential transport projects, starting with the Lower Thames Crossing and the Northern Powerhouse Rail Project, don't go the same way. Will she assure me that she won't put on the high viz and the hard hats for the photo opportunities until all of the detail, all of the permits and all of the cost budgets are in place first.



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Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, my hon. Friend the chair of the my hon. Friend the chair of the Select Committee is right that the problems of HS2 were born many, problems of HS2 were born many, many years ago, and the fact that the civil engineering is four years delayed isn't a product of decisions by this government or the current management of HS2. But it
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Heidi Alexander Portrait Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP, The Secretary of State for Transport (Swindon South, Labour)
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is, as she says, about overly optimistic cost estimates. Construction starting before designs were mature, insufficiently controlled delivery, poor contractual arrangements, gold plating, constant changes in policy and scope. So she's entirely right on that. She asked me a direct question about what lessons we are learning when it comes to the delivery of future transport infrastructure. If I take Northern Powerhouse Rail, we've worked closely with local leaders to agree scope in advance to agree priorities and sequencing so that we know what elements of the overall programme will be delivered.

First, we've set an overall Budget cap for that and we're also securing local contributions to ensure that we can maximise the economic and regeneration potential of that new transport infrastructure in those places. So

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we are learning the lessons. Liberal Democrat. Spokesperson Olly Glover yes. Thank you, Madam Deputy.

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Thank you, Madam Deputy. Speaker And can I start by thanking the Secretary of State for her candour on this matter and to the scale of the HS2 disaster, and the scale of the HS2 disaster, and also for the specificity of the range of dates that she has provided. And certainly we on these provided. And certainly we on these benches agree with her intent. We need to make the make the most of this shambles, and it would indeed this shambles, and it would indeed be better to do something of what has been built rather than scrap it and hope that that resets the past.
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Olly Glover Portrait Olly Glover MP (Didcot and Wantage, Liberal Democrat)
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It's also good news that Secretary of State has outlined commitment to proven technology, rather than the innovations of the future warp drive and whatever else was being talked about before, and particularly the use of atcs as signalling is welcome for that. Now, Madam Deputy Speaker, we in this country know how to build high country know how to build high speed lines, because we did between London Saint Pancras and the Channel Tunnel at reasonable cost. And of course, our French and And of course, our French and Spanish allies also know how to do it.

And the high speed line from tours to Bordeaux in France took 15 years, including all the planning and all the construction. So whilst the Secretary of State highlighting Crossrail's expertise on this expert panel she mentioned is welcome, is she sure that that expertise is the same as needed for the more specialised thing of high speed rail construction? And is she confident that her expert panel has the high speed construction and commissioning specific skills that we need, either from the UK or

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abroad, to turn this situation around? OK.

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I'm grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his support for the overall approach that we are taking. I am reassured that both within the I am reassured that both within the executive leadership of HS2, we have the capability and capacity have the capability and capacity that is now needed. That wasn't the case previously. There's a new financial director, new commercial
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Heidi Alexander Portrait Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP, The Secretary of State for Transport (Swindon South, Labour)
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director who is in place at the moment, and I'm reassured that the six new appointments to the board six new appointments to the board of HS2 that the new chair has led over the last year have the right over the last year have the right skills in place. Can I also assure him, though, on the expert panel and the multiple layers of and the multiple layers of assurance that goes on in terms of the new plan and who has looked at the new plan and who has looked at it? We have real expertise in the layer of defence three panel, including Kenny Laird, Andrew Paul, Rachel McLean, Colin Brown, Lawrence, Roger Miles, Ashley.

We've also included a rep from Nesta on that. And then we also have the involvement of the project representative as well. So this is a really significant and substantial group of people who have all got, you know, their elbow to the wheel in terms of making this project a success.

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Connor Naismith thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. The consequences of a failure. To effectively.

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To effectively. Manage this project by the party opposite are felt nowhere more deeply than in Crewe and Nantwich, deeply than in Crewe and Nantwich, with jobs and regeneration benefits lost, as well as £11 million in lost, as well as £11 million in sunk costs for Cheshire East Council. I welcome the shift in emphasis from speed to capacity, emphasis from speed to capacity, but the network is at capacity between Birmingham and Crewe now.
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Richard Holden Portrait Rt Hon Richard Holden MP (Basildon and Billericay, Conservative)
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deliver them. I heard nothing about any of those challenges in the Secretary of State's statement, but Secretary of State's statement, but can I ask a very specifically about noise modelling in Wendover? Hundreds of homes and trains were already going to come through Wendover at 320km an hour. Already, Wendover at 320km an hour. Already, hundreds of homes under modelling are found to be above the permitted decibel limit that the WHO sets decibel limit that the WHO sets down. So under the new speed that she has set for HS2, will she commit to the government fully remodelling certainly through Buckinghamshire, the noise impacts of this railway on real people once it's built, and come back to the House with a commitment that those levels will not be above the WHO

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guidance. Secretary of State. Madam Deputy Speaker, I do appreciate that the hon. Gentleman's constituents in Buckinghamshire will have Buckinghamshire will have experienced considerable disruption to their lives as a result of this construction project, and I know that it is the case that some of the time, those who live nearest by infrastructure infrastructure infrastructure infrastructure schemes tend to take more of the pain before the gain is delivered. In terms of the new service, I will look into the matter that he raises around the noise impacts of a lower speed railway.

My instinct is that speed railway. My instinct is that the noise is likely to be less, but if it is any different from that, I will certainly write back to the will certainly write back to the hon. Gentleman and.
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Dave Robertson Portrait Dave Robertson MP (Lichfield, Labour)
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had to fight through 17 years of dealing with the failures of HS2 limited. Part of the announcement today is that we will face today is that we will face potentially another 13 years before they even continue to carry on with work north of Curzon Street and work north of Curzon Street and connecting into Handsacre Junction. All of which, by the way, is north of Birmingham. The community is of Birmingham. The community is furious. My constituents are potentially the most, or certainly one of the most impacted by HS2.

Just last month they closed the A38 going past Lichfield, forcing 70,000 vehicles a day onto local roads in the city. Constituents are fed up, so can she give some reassurance that the works at Streethay, which are still ongoing, one of only two places north of Curzon Street where work is continuing, will be completed on time by October and that the department will look very, very closely at what mitigations they are putting in place for communities like mine who, by the sounds of it, could face a third of a century from the start of this progress, before trains actually start travelling through our part of the world and the significant impact it's had on our community.

Yeah.

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I thank my hon. Friend for that question, and he has been a fierce question, and he has been a fierce advocate for his constituents on this issue, and I know that he will be meeting with the Rail Ministers be meeting with the Rail Ministers later today to talk about constituency impacts. I have heard constituency impacts. I have heard nothing to suggest that the works at Street will not be delivered on time. If there is any latest information that I haven't been apprised of, I will certainly come
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Heidi Alexander Portrait Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP, The Secretary of State for Transport (Swindon South, Labour)
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to her, whilst recognising there will be some impacts in her will be some impacts in her constituency, that this is a great engineering feat that we are engineering feat that we are involved in delivering. The first new terminus Station that this new terminus Station that this country has built in 125 years. New stations at Birmingham Interchange, stations at Birmingham Interchange, Old Oak, Common, Euston and so whilst I'm always happy to talk to her about the local impacts, I think in terms of the improvements to the rail network that HS2 can provide, it is very significant and I think this government is entirely right to be committed to delivering

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this project to its completion. Toby Perkins well, thank you very much, Madam Deputy Speaker. As the Member of Parliament for Chesterfield, my constituents at one time hoped they might be one time hoped they might be beneficiaries of HS2. That seems so many years ago, but I share the many years ago, but I share the Secretary of State's fury at the incompetence that has got us to this stage. We wouldn't have supported a program like this if supported a program like this if we'd known it was only going to be a line to Birmingham.

It should be going, as any serious country would, to have high speed rail up to Manchester and up to Leeds. At the very least, I'm very glad that she's laid out today how she's
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Claire Coutinho Portrait Rt Hon Claire Coutinho MP (East Surrey, Conservative)
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pensioners. But weeks into office he acts the Winter Fuel Payment, a policy that many of them have cited as their worst political decision as their worst political decision in power. He promised that Great British energy would lead to, and I quote, a mind blowing reduction in bills. And yet, two years in, it hasn't taken a penny off household bills. But it has given a six figure salary to one of his mates. And now we learn that Great British Energy has been putting solar panels made by Chinese slave labour on British primary schools, something he promised this House he would not do.

So what's next? Oh, that's right, he said he could control the price of wind, but his botched wind auction signed us up to the highest prices in a decade, way more than the cost of electricity that he inherited. Promise after broken promise builds up. Pensioners betrayed six figure salaries for his mates and eye watering contracts for wind developers. And now, to top it all off, a so-called energy independence bill which would shut down the North Sea. The greatest act of industrial self-harm in a generation.

If that gets you a promotion in the Labour Party, then Lord help us all. So let's turn to this so-called Energy Independence Bill for true energy independence. We need our own oil and gas. But this bill enforces the wilful destruction of the North Sea. We need our own petrol diesel. I will in a moment. We need our own petrol, diesel and jet fuel. But this bill does nothing to save our refineries, which are being taxed into oblivion. We need an electricity system which keeps the lights on for British households and industry.

But his plan will leave us at the mercy of foreign imports. This isn't independence. It doesn't even come close. It's an energy dependence bill that would leave us weaker, poorer and more reliant on foreign regimes.

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Grateful to her for giving way. She says that for energy independence, we need our own oil independence, we need our own oil and gas rather than investing in renewables. She'll know that under her government, the government paid her government, the government paid £44 billion to subsidise our energy during the time of the Ukraine price spike. Can she tell us how price spike. Can she tell us how much were our bills reduced as a result of having our own oil and gas when the Ukraine crisis

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happened? Firstly, let me say to the hon. Gentleman bills came down £500 under me. They've gone up £200 because of the Secretary of State's plans. And let me tell him another hard truth cutting off production in the North Sea. He should listen to this. He might learn something. Cutting off production in the North Sea doesn't mean we use any less oil and gas production is not linked to consumption. All that it means is that we'll import more of that gas from abroad that is weaker.

That makes us more reliant on imports. Now he used up his chance. He should have asked a better question. Now, look, there are some parts of this work that I welcome. The Fingleton review is impressive. I thank those involved, and as I've made clear before, we will support this work going forward. Nuclear is the only form of energy that can provide round the clock, totally clean power, and I'll always support policies which make it as easy as possible to build. However, there is a catch.

The Secretary of State says he wants to ease nuclear regulations, whilst at the very same time he's cancelled the project that they would be used upon by cancelling the third large scale nuclear power station that I signed off. He has killed the nuclear pipeline. He is repeating his own mistakes. We are set to have yet another Labour government, which has failed to start a singular nuclear, new, large scale nuclear power plant. And now we hear Natural England are adding yet more delays to Hinkley Point C for little environmental gain.

Is he fighting it? No. He's defending the status quo. But by the end of this Parliament, we'll still be waiting for a decision as to whether SMRs will go ahead. By 2030. There will be less nuclear online than there is now. And in 2035, which is ten years away, they still won't have started any new large scale nuclear power plants in this country. This is the same old stop start approach that killed the industry to begin with, if that's what he calls being ambitious for nuclear, he needs to give his head a wobble.



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I thank I thank the hon. Lady for giving way. In my constituency of Morecambe and Lunesdale, we have Heysham one and two power plants. The reason that nuclear power will possibly go down is because plants possibly go down is because plants are coming to the end of their lives. Plants coming to the end of the night, and you and the honourable, right hon. Lady's

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honourable, right hon. Lady's government did nothing about it for 14 years. Yeah, yeah.

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Why did she not deliver Madam government? Yeah. Well, look, let me tell the hon. Lady under the last Labour government, which the Energy Secretary was part of, not a single. Let me explain. Not a single, not a single new nuclear power plant was started. So when we came into power in 2015, when we got control of the energy brief, there was one nuclear welder left in the country. It is the stop start approach which kills the nuclear industry.

And here's the problem. They have killed the pipeline. Again, these are the same old mistakes. And that is why I'm raising them, because we're getting into the same trouble again. Now, Madam Deputy Speaker, he says they weren't mistakes. It wasn't a mistake not to start a new nuclear power plant. That's what he thinks on the record. Now, Madam Deputy Speaker, on to the North Sea. Andy Burnham, who is hoping to be Labour leader, talked yesterday about Reindustrialisation. But meanwhile, today the Secretary of State is asking his backbenchers to vote to shut down the North Sea.

This is the single greatest act of industrial self-harm we have seen in a generation. Only a complete wacko would respond to a supply shortage by shutting down their own oil and gas industry. We are in the absurd position of the Labour Chancellor, thanking Canada and Norway for increasing their oil and gas production while her own government is shutting British production down. And why? So we can be more reliant on higher emission gas from Qatar or the US, so we can send billions of pounds to Norway to import gas from the very same basin that we could be drilling ourselves.

And they're calling this energy independence. Have they lost their minds? Yes. I'll happily give

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way on that point. Very grateful to the right hon. Lady. She talks. Of absurd Lady. She talks. Of absurd positions. I did a little bit of research before the speech today. I went back to the 21st of May 2024, went back to the 21st of May 2024, just before the last general election, and in this House, in her capacity, then as the Secretary of State, she said that she believed State, she said that she believed in net zero and that we will get there in 2050.

And with the public on our side, her position now is on our side, her position now is that she doesn't believe in net zero, doesn't believe it's desirable or achievable. Is that not absurd?

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Yeah. Madam Deputy Speaker, people change their minds when they look change their minds when they look at facts. I'm not you know, I'm not this. yourself.

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yourself. Though I think the hon. Gentleman needs to look at the overall record of things I said in government. The key thing, the first thing I said when I went into position is we cannot impoverish position is we cannot impoverish ourselves in the name of net zero. You know, I started a true costing of renewables and department because we didn't have a proper costing of energy. Who cancelled that work? The Secretary of State, I backed the North Sea. I signed off Rosebank.

I legislated to protect those North Sea licences. Who was turning all of that around? The Secretary of State? And we all know. We all know the real reason that he's doing it. He's shutting down British oil and gas to show climate leadership. He put that in the King's Speech. Let's be crystal clear, though. What he's saying is that he's willing to turn his back on British industry, even though we won't need any less. We'll just rely on higher emission imports from abroad because he cares more about the climate bureaucrats than the jobs of British workers.

That is what climate leadership means to him. But the question I would ask is, where exactly is this meant to be leading us to bankruptcy? Where does it end? Cheering as the lights go out as the last factory in Britain closes. That's what his North Sea and carbon tax policies are doing. They are simply offshoring British emissions to the coal powered refineries of India. The diesel tankers bring US gas from the US and Qatar to the factories we are now getting our ammonia from in Trinidad.

That doesn't help the climate and it doesn't help British workers give

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you. I thank my. Right Honourable. Friend for giving way and

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Friend for giving way and businesses in Bognor Regis and Littlehampton need stable and affordable energy to grow and affordable energy to grow and invest. So would she agree that with our Get Britain drilling Bill is vital not just for energy security, but for our future

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economic security? I thank the hon. Lady for her question. The North Sea is a vital part of our industry. It not only provides us with the gas that we need for energy security, but it provides feedstock that feeds into our chemical industry, our plastic industry. There's a whole supply chain, a whole set of other industries which rely on the North Sea and us having a successful industrial base. You lose one of those. I'll just make a bit more progress.

You lose one of those foundational industries and it's like dominoes. The rest go, and this is the point. If we keep offshoring British emissions, it doesn't help the climate and it doesn't help British workers. And the question I would ask them is, do they understand how bad it looks when they make speeches patting themselves on the back here in Westminster, whilst hard working Brits out there lose their jobs so we can import more goods with higher emissions from abroad. That's why the vote on the North Sea today should be a litmus test for them.

Do they reject decarbonisation by deindustrialisation or not? Now let's talk about electricity. I'll just make a bit of progress. A key part of the Secretary of State's plan is to make us more reliant on electricity imports. He doesn't like to talk about it, but at the height of winter, when we need it most, will be importing twice as much electricity by 2030 as we did when they came into office. What does that mean? It means relying on the goodwill of France and Norway to keep the lights on in Britain.

I'll remind the House we are now in a situation where France is on the edge of a debt crisis, with a national rally topping the polls. Does the House really think it's prudent to hand over the keys to our electricity security, to Marine Le Pen? Because, let's be honest, that is the right hon. Member's plan. Whichever way you look at it, this isn't an energy independence bill. This is an energy dependence bill that makes Britain beholden to Marine Le Pen for our electricity, to Xi Jinping, for our solar panels, and to Donald Trump for our gas.

Their plan is for energy scarcity. But what we need is energy abundance. That's why our plan would be to double down on nuclear, to axe the carbon tax, to save British industry, to get Britain cheap.

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To give away. way. To the. I'm very grateful. She paints in

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I'm very grateful. She paints in her speech a very stark consequence of the Labour Party's policy of a of the Labour Party's policy of a total proscription on new oil and gas licences. What can she advise us? What will that look like without access to future oil and gas from the North Sea basin for

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the United Kingdom? Well, I thank the hon. Gentleman, and I know his party has changed position on this recently, and I welcome that change. Like I said before, the North Sea is a foundational industry. It's not just the oil and gas it provides. It's not just the tax revenues. It's not just the jobs that exist within that industry. It's all of those other industries. It supports the chemicals industry, the plastics industries, even the renewable industry, by the way, they support more drilling in the North Sea because they need the specialist rigs, they need the undersea technologies.

They need the exact same workers. There are so many industries and wider economies that they are killing just because of the ideological bent of this Secretary of State. And here is I will make a bit more progress. And here's the fundamental bind that the Labour Party is in. It doesn't matter who their next leader is, they will all fail. Their supposedly popular leadership contenders will become unpopular very quickly when they can't keep their promises. It happened to us in government.

It's happening to Labour now. It's happening to reform at the council level. It'll happen to whoever is in government next, unless you actually face up to the trade offs that get you better growth. Growth is the antidote to so many of our problems. But to deliver it, you need two things cheap, abundant energy and economic freedom. But by shutting down the North Sea, cancelling nuclear projects, keeping a distorted electricity market in place, what they are doing is making energy scarce and expensive.

Now, being part of the EU doesn't solve that problem. The EU leaders themselves rail against their own energy policy. Reindustrialisation is just a meaningless slogan unless you back the North Sea acts, the carbon taxes that are killing British industry and cut the cost of energy. If none of their contenders have the courage to say anything about these issues, then nothing will change. And alongside cheap, abundant energy, the most important ingredient for growth is economic freedom. But the Labour Party openly stands for more state control, more tax and spend more red tape on employing people, more expensive energy, less AI, fewer profits and more subsidies.

But they've been on this path for two years now. And what do we have to show for it? Higher inflation, weaker growth, soaring unemployment. Why would anyone want more of this? Families are working harder and harder, getting less and less at the end of the month. And if what people want is full fat socialism, why would they choose labour when they've got the boob whisperer over there who's offering them bigger and better? Our whole system, a whole system is flooded with caution.

Nobody's incentivised to take any risks. That is what's making us poorer. And the truth is, the personalities and the Labour leadership race do not matter. Unless we get cheap, abundant energy, we remove the legal straitjackets, the onerous taxes, fix the broken regulators and the sluggish machine of government to set the economy free. Nothing is going to change. And look, if people think on their side of the House that Andy Burnham has the answers. Let me tell you, Andy is like the fun uncle who's got to sit on the sidelines saying whatever he wants without anybody holding him accountable.

Let's have ice cream for dinner. Let's go to the zoo next week. Let's nationalise everything. Who cares about the bond markets? Let's rejoin the EU. He just said whatever he likes because he's never had to pick up the bill. Now he's actually looking at being in charge. He's having to go back on all of these promises. So ask him this. Ask him how he's going to fund his nationalisation plans. He wants to stick to the fiscal rules. So is he really saying he's going back to taxpayers who already face the highest tax burden in history? When he talks about Reindustrialisation, ask him if he supports the secretary of State's plans to shut down the oil and gas industry.

The biggest act of industrial self-harm committed in generations. If he wants more powers at a local level. Amen to that. I couldn't agree more. But ask him how can he argue for economic freedom in one breath whilst with another dictate to people what tumble dryers or cars they have to buy if they really care about growth and reindustrialisation, they would axe carbon taxes, get Britain drilling, double down on nuclear and make electricity cheap. In short, they would put the national interest ahead of the Secretary of State's

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ideology and vote with us tonight. The original. Question was that a Humble Address be presented to His Majesty Address be presented to His Majesty as on the Order Paper. Since when an amendment has been proposed as on the Order Paper, the question is

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on the Order Paper, the question is that the amendment be made, and I call the Secretary of State. Ed Miliband thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. It's a privilege to Deputy Speaker. It's a privilege to speak in support of this Gracious Speech Madam Deputy Speaker, this debate takes place in the shadow of the second fossil fuel shock in the second fossil fuel shock in four years. Families and businesses across the country are deeply concerned about the impact of the
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Ed Miliband Portrait Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Doncaster North, Labour)
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Iran war on the cost of living a war. This country did not start a war. This government award, this war. This government award, this government chose not to join, but which is having significant effects here at home. Just like when Russia here at home. Just like when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022 and energy bills rocketed, and the British people and firms paid the price. people and firms paid the price. And the argument, Madam Deputy Speaker, at the heart of this Gracious Speech is there is one overriding lesson of these two crises that, while we remain exposed to the fossil fuel rollercoaster, we are deeply vulnerable as a country.

Our sovereignty, our security and the British people's living standards. Undermined by this dependence and exposure. Because, Madam Deputy Speaker, for a simple reason we do not control the price of oil and gas, which is set on international markets. And there is an answer. And this is different from what it was like in the 1970s when we had fossil fuel shocks. There is an answer staring us in the face energy independence through clean home-grown power, we control clean home-grown energy that comes from our own wind, sun, and nuclear resources that cannot be disrupted by foreign wars, that cannot be controlled by the whims of Petro states and dictators.

That means. That means our national security and energy security cannot be held hostage. And Madam Deputy Speaker one commentator put it incredibly well. I think in 2023, after Russia invaded Ukraine, and I quote, moving to home based clean power mitigates risks to bill payers. Now, I won't for a moment now and in the future, and I quote again, protect consumers from volatility in international fossil fuel markets. I agree with that. Commentator. It was the right hon. Lady, the shadow Energy Secretary, and Hansard, the 16th of November 2023.

I agree with her, Madam Deputy Speaker. The problem is she no longer agrees with herself where the evidence says we need more renewables, not less. She opposes them where the evidence says electrify as much as we can. She has abandoned support for people to get heat pumps, where the evidence says electric vehicles can protect consumers. She opposes action for their take up, not because the facts have changed, not because the evidence has changed, but because she's jumped on the anti clean energy Anti-net zero bandwagon.

Now. Now, madam, I won't give way for a minute now, Madam Deputy Speaker, Madam Speaker, I'm I'm very happy to give way to her so she can tell the House whether

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she agrees with herself. Very happily, very happily. Ask the Secretary of State the question. the Secretary of State the question. Well, there you go. You said you said he'd happily give way. Doesn't look so happy now in the department. look so happy now in the department. I started work on the true costing of renewables, because the department does not have an accurate cost of energy, it does not have an accurate costing of published?

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One it wasn't worth giving way, Madam Deputy Speaker. After all, she can't answer. She can't answer the question. What? I won't give way. No, what a sorry, I will, I will later on. What a sorry state of affairs. She cannot even agree with herself. And there was a gaping contradiction. There was a gaping contradiction at the heart of her speech just now, because for all the verbiage or everything she said, she has no answer to the crisis before us because even she can't seriously believe what she is putting forward.

The idea that new exploration licences for oil and gas will solve our energy security challenges. It's obviously nonsense. According to the. According to the National Energy System Operator, new licences will make no material difference to capacity and therefore security of supply and. necessarily bring energy bills down. That's not what we're saying. So she comes to the house, so she comes. I won't get away from it. So she comes to the house. So she comes to her house with a plan which will not take a penny off bills which will not give us energy security.

I'm not going to give way again. No. And and which rejects the things she used to she used to believe. And this is the difference. And this is the difference with this side of the House, is that we are learning the lessons of the fossil fuel crises we face, and we

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are acting. I give way to. A grateful. To the Secretary of State. He is

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To the Secretary of State. He is accused of being messianic in his approach to prescribing new oil and gas licences in the North Sea. gas licences in the North Sea. Would he explain to the House today if it can be demonstrated that UK if it can be demonstrated that UK consumption of oil and gas is not falling at a rate that is equal to, falling at a rate that is equal to, or faster than the rate of production in the United Kingdom, will he release his screeching

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U-turn? Handbrake turn on new oil and gas licences in the North Sea? The SNP has had more positions

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The SNP has had more positions than the Kama Sutra. Madam Deputy Speaker so it is genuinely it is. Speaker so it is genuinely it is. It is genuinely hard to. It's genuinely hard to keep up. Look, we've got a very simple position, Madam Speaker, which is we want to Madam Speaker, which is we want to keep existing oil and gas fields open for their lifetime. And one of the things that the Energy Independence Bill will do will be Independence Bill will do will be introduced to introduce transitional energy certificates, Tiebacks so-called, which is what industry have called, which is what industry have called what industry have called for.

And, and so we're not in favour of a turning turning off the taps position, but I'll just be honest with the House. I'll be honest with the House. Madam Deputy Speaker, nor are we in favour of a drilling every last drop position. And that explains our position on Newark. Why not? He says, because if we did that, we would end up in climate disaster. And that is the truth. And and and and. Madam Deputy Speaker, Madam Deputy Speaker Look, I don't I'm not going to give away.

No, don't don't don't take my word for it. Don't take my word for it. Right. This is what the Energy Transitions Commission, which includes energy companies, says any national strategy which assumes that all fossil fuel reserves must be exploited is incompatible with limiting global warming to safe levels. And the truth is that new licences are totally marginal to the North Sea. As I said, I'm going to make some progress. I'm going to make some progress, and I will give way for now, for nearly two years, Madam Deputy Speaker, we've been moving at speed on our mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower, and we came to office amidst a legacy of the irrational onshore wind ban, the fiasco of the AR five auction.

With no offshore wind secured and years of dither and delay and nuclear. And she did amuse me. The old lady on nuclear. I'll come to that in a second. And they they left us exposed. Madam Deputy Speaker, 14 years of neglect and we are clearing up their mess, and in less than two years opposed every step of the way by the party opposite. We have secured enough clean energy for the equivalent of 23 million homes through two record breaking renewables auction. But the lesson of these two fossil fuel crises is we need to go further and faster.

That's why. That's why I'll make a bit more progress. That's why we've already we've already brought forward our next renewables auction and taken steps to fast track the roll out of renewables on public land. But renewables are only part of the story. I want to come to nuclear, but this is going to. This is going to be fun. I have to say, those drafting the opposition amendment obviously have a real sense of humour. Madam Deputy Speaker, here's what here's here's the truth about their record.

They promised Sizewell C f I'd. In the last Parliament and didn't deliver. They promised SMRs and never delivered. They promised fusion and never delivered. We have delivered. We have delivered them all and they have the cheek to complain when we're delivering the biggest nuclear building programme in half a century, delivered by the Labour Government. Now, I should welcome the fact I will in a minute. I should welcome the fact that the hon. Lady supports our nuclear regulation bill. I'm bound to ask, why didn't they do it? I mean, was it incompetence, idleness, ideology, combination of all three? But but I do my my friend, the hon.

Member for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, he always has a great quote that you can read out. This is what he said following the last general election after 14 years of conservative government. He said, we are now in a position where it is more difficult to build critical infrastructure than it was when we came to power. It is a Labour government clearing up their mess.

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Madam Deputy Speaker, I'm going to give way. Yeah, I'm give way. I'm very. Grateful to the Secretary of State for giving way. Including State for giving way. Including that in that list of achievements is the £12 billion deal signed last is the £12 billion deal signed last year in September to bring new nuclear to Hartlepool, making Hartlepool one of the biggest clean Hartlepool one of the biggest clean energy economies in this country. Does he agree? As we secure energy security, we must also secure

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security, we must also secure economic security for those parts of the country left behind. My hon. Friend is absolutely right and this is what's so exciting. Madam Deputy Speaker, contrary to what the Shadow Energy Secretary said, we're seeing a renaissance of nuclear in this country and not just through the Rolls-Royce programme. And we're very pleased to do the signing of the Rolls-Royce, the agreement with Rolls-Royce very recently with the Chancellor, but but also other routes to market. And we are very, very encouraging of both the efforts of my hon.

Friend and

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others. I'll give way to the hon. Gentleman, because he and I go back a long way. We go back a long way and we

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We go back a long way and we agree. We agree, actually, about the crisis of capitalism in terms of the sacrifice of domestic production for imports. He and I would have a lot in common on that. would have a lot in common on that. And he would understand that the economic uncertainty he described economic uncertainty he described and the need for greater national economic resilience applies to food, too. So accepting that we should put solar on buildings, we should have offshore wind.

Surely he understands that by putting solar plants at scale on the productive farmland needed to deliver food security. His argument about economic resilience falls flat. So will he just look again at that? There is a middle way. We do go

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back a long way. Let's have a compromise. Well, we may agree on some things, but not on this. Look, let me just say to him, because I do have great respect for him on solar, even on the most ambitious plans for solar, it's less than 1% of agricultural land, something like agricultural land, something like 0.6% or so of agricultural land. And I, and I do say to the I do let me just make this point. I do say to the party opposite, there is something somewhat irrational that in relation to nuclear they want to be builders, not blockers, but in relation to the.

Everything else. They want to be blockers, not builders, because if you support the nuclear power plant, well, you've got to support the grid to connect the nuclear power plant to the grid. If if you if you want to get away from our dependence and he says he does from our dependence on international fossil fuel markets, you need to support the cheapest, cleanest form of power, which is solar power. And this is just

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simply what what an array of honourable. As one who wants to see nuclear power in Northern Ireland, but unfortunately, that's down to the Northern Ireland Assembly. And it looks like there might be obstacles to that. But I do wish to see and welcome the Secretary of State's commitment in relation to to the title and the battery storage and title and the battery storage and green hydrogen. The Ministers the Secretary has always been very keen to ensure that Northern Ireland can to ensure that Northern Ireland can also be part of this growth that's coming from here.

Can the Ministers perhaps give us some encouragement for Northern Ireland when it comes to green energy and moving forward, that we are part of that plan for the United Kingdom, Great Britain?

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Well, I'm always happy to be to work with the hon. Gentleman for whom I have great respect and and,

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sir, my team of Ministers, I give way to my hon. Friend. I'm very grateful to my hon. Friend for giving way. We heard the. Friend for giving way. We heard the. The Shadow Secretary didn't take my second intervention when I was attempting to get an answer from her, but we know that the party her, but we know that the party opposite proposes to get rid of the energy prices levy, costing the government about £12 billion. We know that it wants to get rid of know that it wants to get rid of VAT, costing about 5 or £6 billion, and we know it has a plan for oil and gas, which might be here in 4 or 10 years time, which is owned by somebody else, and it believes it will use the collection of these different policies to reduce people's energy prices.

Is the as my right hon. Friend seen any credibility to the plans from the party opposite that he can share

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with us? We haven't heard it from them. Well. My hon. Friend makes a point. Incredibly, my hon. Friend makes a point incredibly well, and I do point incredibly well, and I do want to say something about renewables. Just. And then I will move on. The honourable. The right move on. The honourable. The right hon. Lady, at the time of the R seven auction said we should cancel the auction now. As I said, that was an auction that secured power for the equivalent of 16 million homes in including, well, just if they listen for a second, including they listen for a second, including offshore wind at prices 40% cheaper to build and operate the new gas.

Now, she said at the time, she shouted out at the time, from a sedentary position that the price of and I quote, gas is falling as a justification for her position. She did say that today. Today, the gas price is around 50% higher than it was then. Now there's a really important point here, which is there can be no clearer demonstration of the gamble they wanted us to take. What a terrible call. What a foolish position, because we are at the time of the greatest geopolitical instability in generations.

And anyone who would rationally learn the lessons of when Russia invaded Ukraine says we cannot gamble on low fossil fuel prices because this is what happens. By contrast, Madam Deputy Speaker, we stand I'm going to make some progress. We stand for national security through energy security and energy independence. I want to come on to how we protect consumers, because this is a very important point. Madam Deputy Speaker, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor showed that the Budget last year, that she took decisions to raise taxes on the wealthiest so we could cut bills for everyone, and we saw that happen.

April, I do want to come on to the point that my hon. Friend made, though, because this Gracious Speech also includes legislation to raise the rate of electricity generator levy from 45 to 55%. As part of our plan to break the link between electricity and gas prices and act on the excess profits that arise from that link. And we are also making a big call, which is keeping in place the windfall tax on oil and gas profits during this conflict. Now, in the last few weeks, we've seen profits from major oil and gas companies soar.

These are unearned profits as a result. No, I'm not going to give away. No no no, I'm not going to give away. These are unearned profits as a result of the war. Now we say, we say if you like, if I can just make a bit of progress, we say tax those profits to help the British people. No, no, no, I'm not giving away. I'm not giving away. Now, the energy, the energy profits levy. The energy profits levy has raised £12 billion since it was introduced in 2022.

In I'm not giving way. No, in in the words of the Right Honourable, in the words of the right hon. Member for Richmond and Northallerton, the former Prime Minister. He was then the Chancellor. The. And this is not my words. This is not red, it's red. Rishi. Madam. Madam Deputy Speaker, the oil, the oil and gas sector is making extraordinary profits, not as a result of recent changes to risk taking or innovation or efficiency, but as a result of surging commodity prices.

He was right. No, I'm not giving away if he listens. But at this moment, what has the official opposition, alongside the SNP, decided to call for for the government to dump the policy? So let's just get this straight. At the precise moment that the British people struggle with the effects of the war, they say the priority for scarce resources is to cut taxes for the largest oil and gas companies making record profits. And let's be clear, Madam Deputy Speaker, no amount of false accounting or fuzzy maths can hide the fact that the idea that cutting these taxes at this moment of windfall profits will improve revenues, I will I will give way to

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the Honourable. Secretary of State for giving. Way, just. So no. One is under any false

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interpretation of what. This tax does and. How it works. Does the Secretary of State understand that this tax of State understand that this tax does not apply to trading nor overseas production? It's on production from the North Sea,

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production from the North Sea, which is not where those profits are being made, are they? No, but. But the hon. Lady doesn't

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But the hon. Lady doesn't obviously understand that prices are going up, including from the North Sea. And and, and let's just let's just go to the amount this raises. According to the OBR, even before this crisis, the windfall tax was forecast around £5 billion by September 2027. So the Conservative Party, the official opposition, are gonna have to explain where's the money going to come from. Then they're going to cut this tax £5 billion, cutting taxes for the biggest oil and gas companies.

Now, by contrast, we believe you should tax fairly and use the resources to help the British people. And I do want to I do want to I'm not going to wait. I need to to finish soon. So on the Energy Independence bill, we're going to help legislate to deliver the biggest investment in home upgrades in British history through our 15 billion Warm Homes plan. And as part of this, we'll act to help private renters. And this is important because this is about how do we make sure that in the drive to clean power, we help everybody in our society? And it's a scandal? Madam Deputy Speaker, that 1.6 million children living in private rented homes are suffering from cold, damp or mould, according to Citizens Advice.

We say it's time to act now. Minimum energy efficiency standards for renters was promised by the previous government, then scrapped, and the Energy Independence Bill will legislate for them. Cutting bills for renters, lifting 400,000 families out of fuel poverty by 2030. And as part of this, and it goes to the question, he's no longer there. But the hon. Gentleman asked me. We also believe that this drive for energy independence can deliver for workers and communities. We're already seeing the jobs green energy is creating across the country.

11,000 more workers in nuclear, according to industry estimates, 8000 more in offshore wind, thousands more upgrading the grid on the way to 400,000 extra clean energy jobs by 2030. £90 billion of private investment announced since the election. And we also want to ensure that those I'm not going to give away. We also want to ensure that those jobs are good jobs. And so we will amend employment legislation as part of the EIB to enable us to bring the rights of offshore renewables workers in line with those working in oil and gas.

And I do also say that it's by driving forward in clean energy, that we can have the best chance of a fair transition. In the North Sea, 70,000 jobs were lost in less than a decade under the last government. We are determined to lead the world in industries such as offshore wind, hydrogen and carbon capture, and we will continue to use the North Sea oil and gas for decades to come by keeping existing fields open for their lifetime. That's why the Energy Independence Bill will legislate to introduce transitional energy certificates as welcomed by industry.

Madam Deputy Speaker, I would also say to the reform benches that we also look forward to the debate in the EIB on their plans for fracking, because fracking will make no difference to bills. It's dangerous, and it's roundly opposed by local communities. And we will act. Let me close by saying this, Madam Deputy Speaker. This is the

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approach to energy security. I will give way. Yes. If only. Secretary of State for giving way. Part of my constituency in is in Lancashire, where we did see fracking testing and we suffered earth tremors because of that. Does he agree with me that the British people do not want fracking in our community? I do not want to see the

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community? I do not want to see the risks that we saw in Lancashire. Well, I have to say there is something quite ironic. My hon. something quite ironic. My hon. Friend puts it well, which is that reform nationally say they want fracking. And then their representatives in Scarborough and Lancashire seem to say they're against it. And we're going to be asking from now to the general election, where reform candidates stand with the fracking industry. No. So this is the approach to energy security that underpins this Gracious Speech.

Above all, we will learn the lessons of the fossil fuel crisis of our age. We will build our energy independence, tackle the affordability crisis, deliver good jobs and investment in our communities, and make the right decisions Madam Deputy Speaker for today's and future generations. And I commend the Gracious Speech to the House.

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Before I call the Lib Dem spokesperson, I think it would be helpful to everybody to know there will be an immediate five minute

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will be an immediate five minute time limit after she has spoken. Pippa Heylings thank you, Madam. Deputy Speaker.

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Deputy Speaker. And oil and gas. Prices have a long history of spiking and damaging our economy. The UK was among the worst hit in Western Europe by the price shock following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. So as long as we remain tied to volatile international fossil fuel markets, then dictators and foreign wars will have a grip on our economy and on the pockets of families and pensioners across this country. So surely it is time to wake up to that reality and learn the lessons of the past.

And that is why we Liberal Democrats do welcome the government bringing forward a bill on energy independence. We will scrutinise it carefully to ensure that the urgent and ambitious measures necessary for the energy transition are there bringing down energy bills, ensuring energy security but also a fair, managed and prosperous transition to clean energy. Madam Deputy Speaker, as households nervously await the announcement of the energy price cap next week, with forecasts showing households could be hit with a £300 Trump war tax on energy bills.

We Liberal Democrats are clear that the best way to get down energy bills is through home grown renewable power. With prices we control. I will give way.
15:02
Pippa Heylings Portrait Pippa Heylings MP (South Cambridgeshire, Liberal Democrat)
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I thank the honourable. Lib Dems are a big fan of localism. This isn't a dig, by the way. In my constituency of Harlow, we've got a primary school church, Langley Primary School, that has led the way when it comes to solar panels on their roof, and they're actually able to generate all the energy they need from those solar panels. So would she welcome the work that this government are doing to ensure that other schools can benefit from

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the same sort of system here? I definitely welcome that. And as you will see in my speech, we as you will see in my speech, we want to go even further on that. And as we know, it is liberal Democrats that fix people's roofs and put solar panels on them. So we will do. But for too long, the pace of change has been too slow, and it's left people and businesses trapped and at the mercy of a broken energy system, which they're literally paying the price for.

So it's time to take back control of our energy future. And that does start with our communities. And in the last session of Parliament, I welcome the government agreeing with our calls to include community, energy and community benefits in the GB Energy Act. But now communities must be given the right to sell and buy energy locally, and we must mandate community benefit requirements where communities host renewable infrastructure. The transition that is done with them, not to them. And I also welcome the adoption of the sunshine Bill introduced by my hon.

Friend the Member for Cheltenham requiring solar panels on all new homes. But why wait until 2027 and why not go further? We Liberal Democrats want to see solar on new warehouses and car parks turning rooftops across the country into sources of clean, affordable power. And we also want to see solar panels on schools and hospitals. Since 2019, energy bills for schools and the NHS have more than doubled, forcing impossible choices. Choices between heating and healthcare or between bills over books.

So the current government investment reaches less than 1% of schools. So Liberal Democrats would go further and faster, helping protect frontline budgets for our schools and hospitals. Families, too, want to do the right thing, and there has been a record increase in the sales of solar panels and heat pumps since the start of the war in Iran. We must build on this momentum, help households and small businesses take back control of their bills, giving access, we say, to zero or low interest loans for upgrading properties by establishing an energy security bank to support electrification.

However, at the same time, we do need to fix the broken energy market. It remains absurd that electricity is still priced so highly compared with gas, and that means that people are often not rewarded for electrifying their homes and businesses. And it's also crazy that consumers are paying billions to switch off our wind turbines when the grid cannot cope with surplus renewable generation. And that is why I welcome the recent steps taken to begin breaking the link between gas and electricity prices, a reform long called for by the Liberal Democrats.

But we urge government to go further and faster in this bill. Moving unfair policy levies off electricity bills, providing a progressive social energy tariff for those unable to absorb these repeated bill shocks, upgrading grid infrastructure and ensuring that customers directly benefit from cheaper renewable power through flexibility. When the surplus renewable generation. Yes, we need energy independence, but that doesn't mean isolation. So the UK and the EU have deeply interconnected energy systems. But the damaging Brexit deal has meant a huge increase in energy costs.

Our future lies ever closer in ever closer energy ties to our nearest neighbours, and this government needs to drop its red lines on Europe, rejoining the EU internal electricity market and linking our emissions trading schemes will reduce costs and strengthen resilience. Madam Deputy Speaker, my right hon. Friend the Member for Kingston and Surbiton was right to say that it is fantasy and fabrication for some in this House to pretend that there is a solution in the North Sea to people's high energy bills.

Even when North Sea production was at its peak nearly 30 years ago, the UK was still exposed to global price shocks. Because we have been price takers. Nor is the answer fracking, as some are calling for destroying our countryside and polluting our waterways. We will push for a complete ban on fracking and have complete clarity on closing all of the loopholes. We do need a secure energy mix that includes nuclear, and we do believe that small nuclear, small modular reactors have great potential to strengthen energy security alongside renewables, oil and gas will also be part of that energy mix for decades to come.

But we must recognise the need for a fair and managed energy transition, given that our remaining reserves are in decline, communities cannot be left behind. So we urge the government to establish a Just Transition Commission, future proof supply chain jobs and enable the retention of our brilliant, skilled oil and gas workers into high quality jobs

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in renewables and other sectors. I will give way. Thank you. Does the hon. Lady agree that

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Does the hon. Lady agree that new licences in the North Sea would help protect the workforce and the supply chain, in order to help with

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supply chain, in order to help with the transition to new energies? I think research has shown that

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I think research has shown that the hundreds of new oil and gas licences awarded by the government between 2010 and 2024 has resulted in just about 36 days of extra gas. What we need to look at are the jobs that can move into. I think there were 75,000 jobs that were lost without any cries and outcries from the government before. We are looking at a just energy transition that really does help those high skilled workers into business. On that point, I'll just keep going.

Madam Deputy Speaker, what proponents of prolonged overreliance on fossil fuels often ignore is the cost of inaction. There is overwhelming scientific consensus that transitioning away from fossil fuels is essential for our efforts to tackle climate change. Communities around the country are already feeling the impacts and costs of extreme weather events. My constituency of South Cambridgeshire is one of the most water stressed in the country, and last month we saw 5% of annual rainfall and we're feeling it. Floods and droughts have battered farmers across the country.

They're reeling from the worst harvest on record. And that will lead to, you know, problems with food security and will put up our food prices. And one avoidable death is one too many for the elderly and vulnerable during recurrent heatwaves. Nor does anyone want ravaging wildfires ripping through our most treasured woodlands and national parks. As the government suppressed national security assessment on global biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse laid bare, the destruction of nature threatens the UK's resilience, prosperity and national security.

People want to know the truth. In my constituency of South Cambridgeshire and across the country, people's emergency briefings are happening. People are taking control. They want to know and be better prepared. And that's why we must also look to prepare for the climate shocks we can't avoid, and that's why we reject the government's false dichotomy between climate and nature, saying that nature is a blocker to growth. We have to be better prepared. We have to overcome the silos between energy, climate and nature.

We need to promote nature based approaches to both capture carbon as well as to adapt, storing water, regenerating our soil, cooling buildings and protecting people's homes from being uninsurable. Madam Deputy Speaker, a secure future for our country depends on our energy independence, restored nature and resilient communities meeting our responsibility to our children and young people for a healthier future for generations to come. Thank you.

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Thank you. Chair of the Select Committee, Bill Esterson. Thank you very much. Madam Deputy Speaker. Will the Select.

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Will the Select. Committee has. Taken evidence on much of what

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Taken evidence on much of what is in the gracious speech, and a big part of the debate today has been about the threat that we face been about the threat that we face as a result of the second fossil fuel crisis within five years. I fuel crisis within five years. I remember the first 1 in 1973. Candles on the table was fun. As a six year old. Not much fun for most of the country, and we've repeated that experience multiple times ever since.

But in order to address the challenge of the fossil fuel crisis we're going through at the moment, the government, we've had one piece of evidence again and again and again at committee, and it's the government must bring down the cost of electricity to enable the transition away from our dependence

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on oil and gas. I'm not going. To. I will give way to the hon.

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Gentleman. That would, my hon. Friend. To support.

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To support. Your argument. About the price of electricity, the. The renewable energy is largely generated in Scotland, North Wales, south south west England. We have the highest level England. We have the highest level of fuel poverty. We have no mains gas and the suffering caused to those rural areas is remarkable. And I think until that is impacted or improved, we're not in a

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position to move to a electricity based economy. Thank you. I'm grateful to him. Of course, the government was very supportive the government was very supportive of heating oil in with measures that were announced recently for precisely some of the reasons he's he's set out. But we have to address this threat and we have to address this threat and we have to transition for reasons of energy security and for reasons of cost security and for reasons of cost and bringing bills down as well.

Anybody who's going to the pump now, anybody who's looking at what their bills are likely to be, I think Martin Lewis was predicting the latest increase in the price cap just today. You can see what is coming for domestic and business consumers. And in terms of energy security, Ukraine has learned the hard way and shown us all through the Russian attacks on its oil and gas installations. We've seen the same in the Middle East, with the war with Iran and Decentralising.

And moving away from dependence on oil and gas is key when it comes to protecting our energy generation. And the economic arguments are very, very strong. The right hon. Lady was talking about growth earlier, and I just say to her that just look at what the OBR is saying. The OBR makes the point that the costs of not addressing climate change are significantly more than the costs of making the transition. The Climate Change Committee predicts that if we don't act, we will see a fall in GDP of 7% by 2050.

And if we really want to be scared, listen to the. Actuaries and actuaries do know a thing or two about this. They predict a global GDP fall between 2017 and 2020 of 50%, with catastrophic consequences across the world. Unless we take the action we need to now. So we have to. We have to act. And then to the North Sea. It is a super mature basin. There is a fraction left of what was there to start. We were in a hurry to extract from the North Sea peak North sea was 1999, 4.5 million barrels of oil a day by 2023, after 13 of their 14 years in office, it had fallen to 1.23 million.

That is a quarter of its peak production, and it will halve again by 2030. And as Nyiso says, new licences won't make a material difference to capacity or production. Jackdaw would only provide 2% of UK demand if it is given consent, and that's. And Rosebank is would only account for 7% of production by 2030 of of 2030 levels. It doesn't stop the decline, it only slows it. I will give way.

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Thank the hon. Member for giving way. At last I finally got to my way. At last I finally got to my feet and and I'm surprised that I wasn't allowed to intervene earlier because I agree with much of what's because I agree with much of what's being said, especially from the Secretary of State when it comes to renewables and Acorn. But I have a question for the hon. Member. Would he agree that granting a licence he agree that granting a licence for Jackdaw would be much more environmentally friendly than

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importing LPG from Qatar or from the USA? Here he is here.

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Here he is here. Well, it's. As I previously had said, the amount is very, very said, the amount is very, very small compared to the needs of the UK. I think there are. He might. He might not be so disappointed when I might not be so disappointed when I say next. I think there is an argument and the government has done some of this with tie backs for continuing to support production in the North Sea, because the same supply chains that are responsible for our oil and gas industry are going to be critical for the development of the renewable generation that goes on in the North Sea and more widely.

And many of those workers and some of them have already moved into sectors like nuclear. So I think it is key. And it's really, really important that the agreement with the TUC on the clean jobs plan is is pursued. And I welcome what the secretary, Secretary of State announced before about about rights in in the North Sea for renewables. I think it is key that we enable that transition, that we give a future, a well-paid future to people working in, in oil and gas.

Now, Madam Deputy Speaker, the opportunities for security that I've talked about an increased generation and electrification will reduce that reliance on imports of oil and gas. What the Secretary of State referred to, what's in the what's in the bill about optimising the grid will only help with that process to. The government has already addressed by by Nisa the connection. Q which is being cleared already and giving people access to excess renewables, being able to sell back to the grid and encouraging businesses to make greater use of flexibility can only help.

Give people help. Give people access now to cheaper energy. So the economics of this really add up as well. The clean energy economy is growing three times faster than the rest of the economy. It is delivering the jobs that the Secretary of State referred to. It is the Warm Homes plan, and this will be supported by the Warm Homes Agency, which which again has been announced, will deliver people healthier homes to live in. It will deliver better air quality. And what is critical, as I said at the start, is reducing the price of electricity so that people can take advantage of the technology.

In the
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Bill Esterson Portrait Bill Esterson MP (Sefton Central, Labour)
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Warm Homes plan, it is already cheaper, according to AutoTrader, to buy a new EV, the second hand to buy a new EV, the second hand market has been cheaper for some time and enabling more people to time and enabling more people to drive electric can only help in that transition, and in the reduction in our reliance on oil reduction in our reliance on oil and gas. So, Madam Deputy Speaker, the government has to have the confidence to deliver this agenda. confidence to deliver this agenda.

It has to have the confidence that it is right that energy independence comes through the move away from oil and gas and towards renewables, and it has to make the case to people that they will benefit from the investment in their homes, in their transport, and more widely. And I very much support and look forward to debating in detail the Energy

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Independence Bill. It's a pleasure. To follow the hon. Member for

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To follow the hon. Member for Sefton Central, who speaks with great authority, and it talks a lot of good sense. I have to say to the benches opposite that changing the Prime Minister will solve nothing. We tried that four times, didn't do We tried that four times, didn't do us, didn't do us any good at all. So this King's Speech should have So this King's Speech should have been an opportunity for fundamental reform. And does the government have the courage to do that? And what we suspect on these benches is that it does not.

The fact is that for too many years, we've concentrated on wealth redistribution rather than wealth creation, and we're getting poorer and poorer and less and less able to do the things in the public sector that we want to do. But let me start with a more consensual
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Edward Leigh Portrait Rt Hon Sir Edward Leigh MP (Gainsborough, Conservative)
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point and welcome the government's. And I see the Ministers sitting there, and I've talked to him about it. Well, the government's committed commitment to the nuclear fusion site at West Burton Gainsborough, only two miles from the town. I represent fantastic cutting edge technology. And this morning I received a letter from the chief executive at the heart of Step Fusion as a world leading technical effort. So those people who

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who Britain is broken, should look at the thousands of jobs we're creating, the millions of pounds worth of investments and he thanked us, he said. The UK has recognised globally for its lead in fusion regulation, having set a proportionate, proportionate approach comparable to industrial processes through the 2023 Energy. So there we are, consensual, working together, cutting edge technology. We've heard a bit about solar farms. I visited over 30 villages in my constituency Open Churches Festival this weekend.

I went to a village at Fillingham. I saw on Fillingham aerodrome solar panels being built. Nobody seemed to care. Brown, brown, site, 100 or 200 acres, but 16,000 acres around Gainsborough Prime agricultural land. I hear what my hon. Friend says for South Holland and the Deepings. So just have a moderate approach. You know, I can climb the hill and the Wolds from my cottage. I can look across the North Sea. I can see that we're world leaders in offshore wind. Fair enough.

Popular, but 16000 acres of prime agricultural land. All the profits going to entrepreneurs in London and large landowners. Yeah. I give way to the chairman of the Select Committee.

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Grateful to him. I'm grateful to him what he said before. And I always find his contributions always find his contributions interesting. The Select Committee heard from the Country, Land and Business Owners Association on the Business Owners Association on the subject of solar panels on agricultural land, and their evidence to us was clear that it evidence to us was clear that it doesn't have the impact that is feared and that actually it is often beneficial to farmers in often beneficial to farmers in providing an alternative revenue stream without affecting their

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ability to grow crops. £100,000 a year for owning 100 acres. A wonderful incentive. But acres. A wonderful incentive. But can you grow? We are the breadbasket of England. Can you grow wheat and barley? Anyway, I don't want to go on about it. We don't want to go on about it. We know the arguments now. British nationalised British Steel. No, we don't take an ideological view of don't take an ideological view of this. I represent a constituency where hundreds of my constituents work in British Steel.

Greg Clark work in British Steel. Greg Clark ran it for nine months. He played all the wages. So I personally not neither for nor opposed to it, but actually just nationalised. British Steel won't make a difference when we're paying the highest energy costs in Europe. That's the real problem. So that's the problem that the government needs to address. Nationalisation or not. Let's not get bogged down in these arguments. Let's find a private sector buyer. Let's get the workers back into operation, get our blast blast furnaces moving and not be over worried about ideologies, about the blast furnaces.

We want to create virgin steel.

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I thank my right hon. Friend for giving way. And he's making an excellent point in respect of of British Steel, where hundreds of my constituents also work. Would you agree that in the short term, agree that in the short term, nationalisation may be the way forward, but longer term we need to get private sector investment into the industry. And the way to achieve that is to reduce energy costs. And that is absolutely critical, not just for steel, but

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critical, not just for steel, but Yeah. My hon. Friend is so well respected in the area for the fantastic amount of work he's done in Scunthorpe, constantly holding the government to working with the government. And we've got to do this together to protect our steel making capacity for the sake of our industrial, you know, wealth. Now, the Energy independence Bill, I agree it provides a framework for trans transitioning the UK energy market away from fossil fuels.

We all agree with that towards alternative forms of energy. No problem with that. This is sensible regarding nuclear energy, but the ideological pursuit of renewables is doing harm and is at odds with achieving energy security. When we have our own fossil fuel resources in the North Sea, it's not a zero sum game. I don't see the I'm sorry, I don't see the ideological virtue of simply exporting your carbon emissions, which we're doing to Nova. I've got to make some progress, I do apologise.

So again, I would have thought we could have a compromise on that. We could have a policy which is sensible, gradually moving away from fossil fuels, gradually becoming a more green energy economy, but not simply exporting our emissions by setting arbitrary dates. Now, will you forgive me, Madam Deputy Speaker, as this is a debate on the Queen's Speech, if I mention another subject in the short time available to me now, when you get to my age, you can say unpopular things because I haven't got many.

I haven't got much longer anyway. So let. I've got two minutes and. The problem with our country is that we're governing by focus groups and what a focus groups want. They want less tax. And of course they want better public services. Their debt is already 100% of GDP within 50 years because of the triple lock and other benefit increases, it will be 170%. Now, of course, the old vote, the old vote. But they all have children and grandchildren.

We do have a responsibility to younger people in our country. They know the present system is unsustainable. So whilst the average increase of the triple lock measures over the past 13 years, and we brought it in, it was supposed to be a temporary measure, but no party has the courage to change it. The average increase over 13 years has been around 40%. Pensions have gone up over 60%, nearly £20 billion of annual additional costs so far. This will get bigger every year and more unaffordable by 2050.

The gap is likely to have grown to £120 billion, if not more, to exacerbate the economic crisis and whoever becomes Prime Minister, they've got to cope with this. It's really important. By that time, there will be 2,025% fewer tax paying workers for pensioners in Britain, our children and our grandchildren. Of course, we've got to care for old people, particularly old people in poverty, and divert resources to the old people in poverty. But you've got to remember the younger people, too.

This is entirely unsustainable. So let me finish this point. Yes, we want to keep a triple lock, not the triple lock. We want to lock. We want to have the average of the three indices so it doesn't go up exponentially every year. The government should do the right thing by the nation and bring it in. They should bring it in, make our finances affordable, and my frontbench should not oppose them. We should govern in the national interest. We should make our finances sustainable, and then we can really help the people most in need.

Thank you. Toby Perkins. Thank you very much.

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Indeed, Madam Deputy Speaker. His Majesty's Gracious Speech set out a forward legislative programme out a forward legislative programme for the government with plans to build on national security, our economic security and energy economic security and energy security, and I welcome this agenda. It's consistent with the manifesto that I and my hon. Friends were that I and my hon. Friends were elected on, and I urge all members of the government to exhibit a relentless focus and urgency on delivery of that programme, to ensure that that ambition is matched by its impact.

Now, we were elected in 2024 on a mandate of change for national renewal after 14 years of decline under the Tories, and there is a great deal that I could focus on in terms of those achievements if I had more time, but specifically on the National Health Service, on migration, where we saw the recent very positive announcements on the minimum wage increase, on workers and on renters rights. This is a government that is delivering against that agenda. And we also saw that despite the prophets of doom on the benches opposite.

The most recent figures show once again, unemployment continuing to fall and the fastest growth in the G7 in the last quarter. So many of the fundamentals are going in the right direction. But anyone who spent time attempting to persuade voters to vote Labour in the recent elections will have been left in no doubt that our voters remain unconvinced that we are going fast or far enough to bring about the change that they want to see. So I would like to focus on some specific measures within His Majesty's Gracious Speech that I particularly welcome.

Firstly, on the Energy Independence Bill, I very much welcome the government's action to protect households and industry from global instability by powering forward with clean, home-grown energy to create energy independence and get off the fossil fuel roller coaster. Both the Energy Independence Bill and the National Nuclear Regulation Bill will also strengthen our resilience
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Toby Perkins Portrait Mr Toby Perkins MP (Chesterfield, Labour)
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to energy price shocks for the long term and bring down the cost of bills for families. The Ukraine bills for families. The Ukraine crisis, as we referred to earlier, saw the government of the time pay saw the government of the time pay to subsidise customers bills because we were so dependent on the global markets. That intervention global markets. That intervention that that government made, that I think politically they had to make because of the impact it would have because of the impact it would have had on the on the number of people who would have gone under cost.

The British taxpayer £44 billion in a single year. The idea that the response to that further global insecurity of the Iran war is to reduce investment in renewables is quite mad. And so I welcome the government's further legislation on these two bills and absolutely support the increase in nuclear that this government is getting on with. After the dither and delay of the previous government. It was quite remarkable to hear the contribution of the shadow Secretary of State, who on the one hand said, well, you haven't done enough in two years on nuclear, and on the other hand said, well, you can't blame us for the 14 years of inaction because the previous government got in the way of it.

It was just absolutely incoherent. And the exchange of letters between the shadow Secretary of State encourage everyone to look at between the shadow Secretary of State and the chair of the Climate Change Committee made absolutely clear that when she voted against the auction number, auction seven, she simply did not understand what she was talking about in terms of the the difference between Elko and contracts for difference. So when she says that we should follow her advice on this, we should treat that with the greatest of scepticism.

Now, I should also say that I echo the contribution my hon. Friend from Sefton Central on the need to reduce energy bills far more to help with the cost of living, but also to ease the current. The green transition to benefit consumers and to support industry in this country. Alongside that, we also see in this King's Speech, the Clean Water Bill, which alongside climate action, we do need action on nature. Nature is the foundation of our national economic security, and we cannot tackle climate change without restoring nature.

The government made a promise to clean up Britain's rivers and seas, and I am delighted to see this clean water bill there as part of the King's Speech. Not only tackling the water industry reform, which is crucial, but also recognising the need to tackle agricultural water pollution and road based water pollution too. I welcome the European Partnership Bill. It's important we work more closely with our European partners, and I fully support what the government is also doing on apprenticeships. Apprenticeships and greater investment in adult education is absolutely crucial.

If we're going to equip tomorrow's workers with the skills they need to support industry. So there are many measures in this bill that can make a real difference, as well as the need to go further and faster,

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and I look forward to supporting it again later this year. Sir Roger Gale.

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Sir Roger Gale. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. If we are moving into an era of electric cars, thousands of them, and if we are moving into mostly made in China, of course, and if we made in China, of course, and if we are moving into an era of artificial intelligence developed artificial intelligence developed in the United States, then we are going to need infinitely more
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Roger Gale Portrait Rt Hon Sir Roger Gale MP (Herne Bay and Sandwich, Conservative)
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British Nuclear Fuels, at one time, I have been a supporter of nuclear energy, and I believe passionately that we have to move much, much that we have to move much, much faster towards small nuclear reactors if we are going to begin to meet the needs of tomorrow, the needs of our children and our grandchildren. I hope very much that we can unite behind that move. But in the meantime, we've got to bridge the gap. And I believe it is sheer folly for this government not to take advantage of the resource that we've got in the North Sea to help to bridge that gap.

It is an absolute nonsense to buy in fuel from Norway or elsewhere, when we could be producing it from the same sources ourselves, and we should be doing that. Don't tell me it's a drop in the ocean. It's an important contribution. Potential contributor to bridging the gap in our energy needs. Madam Deputy Speaker, the Secretary of State Speaker, the Secretary of State sadly no longer with us. Derided. Take no lessons from a former failed Leader of the Opposition.

But the. But the Secretary of State, in extremely derisory fashion, spoke of the minimal cost to agricultural land of solar panels. Those solar panels are covering in East Kent, agricultural land on which was growing bread making wheat. My right hon. Friend referred to the breadbasket of England. We can't lose that land, and we don't need to lose it when we've got acres of rooftops in public ownership and acres of car parks that could and should be used first.

Absolutely. Now, the Secretary of State said, we're going to have to produce the network to get the future power to the homes and the businesses and the hospitals and the schools that we have to feed. He implied that that requires a network of pylons right across the United Kingdom. I am not prepared as a grandparent, to see my grandchildren's future environment sacrificed on the altar of hideous pylons strung up by National Grid simply to meet the desires of their shareholders.

And

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we need to remember that it is a private company. It's all profit.

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It's all profit. We've got to learn, Madam Deputy Speaker, how to underground our Speaker, how to underground our cables. It's happening throughout Europe, where they've already got overhead cables and they're taking overhead cables and they're taking them down. But National Grid through, for example, the Sea Link project is planning on building in project is planning on building in my corner of England, a 90 foot high converter station the size of five football pitches built on marshland, which they just discovered is wet, which means they're going to have to import thousands of tonnes of concrete and destroy the whole of the local environment around it, which includes a nature reserve and a site of special scientific interest.

That is not progress. That is, selling the family silver. It's selling the environment of our children's future and we must not do that. So I believe we have to strike a balance between meeting our future needs, bridging the gap and protecting our environment. And Madam Speaker, I've got 18 seconds

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left, so I'm going to stop there. Thank you very much. Dame Anneliese Dodds. Thank you,

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Dame Anneliese Dodds. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I welcome the measures in the King's speech on energy security. As on many other issues, the opposition's wrongheaded approach would leave us wrongheaded approach would leave us tethered to global markets that we cannot control. They would lock our country out of much needed jobs, country out of much needed jobs, and they condemn Brits to higher bills. The energy independence and nuclear regulation bills, in contrast, are further leaps towards the stronger energy security we need.

In my speech today, Madam Deputy Speaker, I want to tackle an issue touched on by the previous speaker in his remarks, an issue which will increasingly drive the amount of energy our country needs to generate. The development and deployment of artificial intelligence. The government did not bring forward, in this King's speech our manifesto commitment to ensure the safe development and use of AI models by introducing binding regulation on the handful of companies developing the most powerful AI models. Indeed, AI was not mentioned in the speech.

The government has acted decisively on one symptom of the lack of regulation. The widespread production of sexualised images. This, however, followed 3 million
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Anneliese Dodds Portrait Rt Hon Anneliese Dodds MP (Oxford East, Labour )
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such images being generated. Harm was already done, and I underline here recent comments made by my right hon. Friend for Birmingham Yardley. Now, the government has Yardley. Now, the government has rightly, in my view, launched its sovereign AI fund supporting innovative start-ups to scale up innovative start-ups to scale up and generate value here in the UK, including access to compute and. I including access to compute and. I know many of the Ministers, indeed from the Department for energy have been working hard to ensure the capacity is there to deliver that additional compute.

However, when it comes to the design and use of AI systems and models, we have only the AI Security Institute, a world first expert led organisation. That one which lacks statutory powers and which has to ask companies politely to engage. Even the Trump administration now appears to recognise the need for evaluation of frontier AI models before release. If we're genuinely serious about our country's economic security, we must devote as much attention to AI and its astonishingly transformative, productive and disruptive potential as we're rightly devoting to energy security and the delivery of home grown renewables.

That will require first working with the EU on digital regulation, and I will push for this to be reflected in the welcome EU partnership Bill. The government maintains in the briefing pack for the King's Speech that nearly one third of UK AI Start-Up leaders are considering relocating overseas due to regulatory complexity and capital constraints. Given that regulatory complexity will often relate to cross-border issues, the prescription is not clear. Deregulation but regulatory coordination. I want to keep to time.

Thank you. Capital constraints and relatedly, constraints in compute are real here. We must recognise that while unilateral measures to support sovereign AI are important, their scope is necessarily limited. So we must again work with reliable partners who share our values, not least within the EU. And finally, Madam Deputy Speaker, we must be brave enough to open up discussion on the fiscal framework for AI. We currently tax the very thing labour. The AI will, in some sectors, in specific ways, displace.

We must examine now how we might be able to use the public stake from our sovereign AI investments, or mechanisms like a token tax or reform to capital gains. As the TUC has suggested, to build up the resources that may well be needed, there is potential for significant disruption to the labour market and we must be more ready for it. Research out today from King's College London suggests 69% of workers and 64% of employers are worried about the economic impact of AI related job losses.

A majority of all groups surveyed predict AI's benefits will mainly go to wealthy investors and companies, not workers or society, and a majority of all groups also back government intervention. If we are to secure the government's intention of the fastest adoption of AI in the G7, we must deal with these issues to. Our young people

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in particular, will not forgive us if we fail to engage with this generational challenge. Thank you. Sir John Hayes.

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Sir John Hayes. Thank you. Madam Speaker. Britain is becoming harder to govern. That's becoming harder to govern. That's not principally because of disruptive or destabilising societal change. And it's not even because of the increasingly complicated world, which is creating more uncertainty for all
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John Hayes Portrait Rt Hon Sir John Hayes MP (South Holland and The Deepings, Conservative)
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creating more uncertainty for all governments. The problem is in governance itself. The Prime Minister complains that he pulls levers in Downing Street, but they have less effect in practice than he hoped. And Simon Case, when he left office, put this very clearly, he said an increasing number of English devolution settlements, independent quangos, Adam Dance body courts, statutory consultees and the like block the path. What a winning political party promises an election and what it can achieve in power.

Successive governments have delegated power to all kinds of unelected, unaccountable bodies. Everything from the Budget for the office for Budget Responsibility to Network Rail and the Environment Agency, to all kinds of other quangos, many of whose names we barely know. And neither do we know how their membership is chosen or to whom they are held accountable. It's time for a more radical programme than this Queen's Speech offers. It's time for Parliament and Government to be more confident about the difference it can make.

Now the Secretary of State, in opening this debate, talked about economic resilience. And he's right, by the way, absolutely right. In the age in which we live, we need to build more national economic resilience. But that means facing up to the fact that we manufacture too little of what we consume. We grow too little of the food that we need to feed the nation, and the sort of economic resilience that he describes requires us to look again at the balance of payments.

Before the 1970 election, it was said that that Harold Wilson, the then Labour Prime Minister, lost that election against expectations because there were bad balance of trade figures. No one now speaks of the balance of trade. And yet the truth is that we import far more than we did then. In the mid 1980s, we grew about 75% of the food we consume. That's now down to 40%. It is preposterous that we've lengthened supply lines that we've, as a result, decreased traceability.

We don't really know where much of what we consume is made or how it's made, or by whom it's made. We know that in the Far East, there's all kinds of unacceptable conditions that wouldn't be tolerated in this country, and yet we still choose to import large amounts of those kinds of goods. So let's have a fresh look at the character, the shape of our economy. If we really want to build more national economic resilience. To do that, we will also need to look at productivity.

Because as the as the Father of the House described, it's not good enough for government to spend endlessly with looking without looking at the value it gets from that expenditure. And yet we know that both public sector and private sector productivity has stalled for a considerable time. Not unique to this country. It's a problem for the whole of Western Europe. Most modern economies. But nonetheless, we need new measures to focus on productivity so that what we get for what we spend becomes the issue, not how much we spend as a whole.

I thank my hon. Friend for giving Maya Ellis giving quite a good lecture on what needs to happen. What incentives do we need to provide farmers to grow more and indeed use their land as effectively as possible, and also employers to use their time as effectively as possible so that we can literally operate on a 24 hour day, three shift operation in production. Yeah, let me just just before I deal with that, excellent point. And I'm grateful to my hon. Friend for making it.

I just remind the House the current trade deficit is about 25 billion. By the way. That would be unthinkable a generation or two ago. And on the issue that he described, we have to rebalance the food chain. For too long, major retailers have held a gun to the head of primary and secondary producers. It's not the size of the cake that matters. It's who's getting what sort of slice of the cake. So whilst those major retailers continue to make huge profits, the people who actually grow make the food, have seen their livelihoods under persistent pressure.

For the whole of the time I've been in this House, and no government has really had the courage to face up to that fact. So we need to give more power to the grocery code adjudicator to intervene where sharp practice takes place, and to stand up for the hard working farmers in Lincolnshire and even farmers elsewhere, but particularly, particularly ones in Lincolnshire, of course, who grow so much of the food which we assume across the kingdom. If we're going to build productivity, we have to invest in skills.

Now, when I was the skills Ministers, I'm proud to say we built apprenticeship starts to around half a million a year. Still not enough in my view. I think we should be having more apprenticeships than that. We've got it up to about half a million a year. That's fallen to about 350,000. Now. We have fewer apprenticeship starts than we did then. We have to re-evaluate what advanced learning looks like. Higher education is all very well, but higher learning matters just as much.

And vocational, practical and technical skills both deliver for the economy because they satisfy economic need and they give people a chance for fulfilment, whose aptitudes, whose tastes and talents lie in that direction. So to build productivity, we need to invest in skills. That's the kind of radical programme productivity, tackling the trade deficit and building skills that I'd hoped to see. And I implore the government to address those kinds of issues in the common interest for the national good, for

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the common good and the national interest. Geoff Smith. Thank you. Madam Deputy Speaker, can I say

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Madam Deputy Speaker, can I say it's a pleasure to follow the hon. Gentleman from South Holland and the Deepings, who made a characteristically interesting speech. I agree with him very much on the need to improve our on the need to improve our investment in productivity and skills. And can I start by making a very brief tribute to Susanna very brief tribute to Susanna Reeves, to Joanna Midgley, to John Hacking and to Angela Garside, who are four councillors who lost their seats in the elections last week.

In my constituency, not because they weren't excellent councillors. Every single one of them was a brilliant councillor, deeply rooted in their community. But because of the the, the the public wanted to give the government a kicking. So maybe I should apologise to to them for the for the loss of their seats on that basis. And I think that's because we haven't communicated as
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Jeff Smith Portrait Jeff Smith MP (Manchester Withington, Labour)
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a government. And this is not any individual. This is collectively, we haven't communicated the really good work we've been doing in the last session, laying the foundations for recovery for this this country. And this is a King's Speech which is packed with measures to to carry on that work and to do the same and to move forward faster, like the Energy Independence Bill, as the Secretary of State has set out. These are of State has set out. These are these are the move to clean power is absolutely key, not just to build the green, green industry and the green jobs of the future, but to deliver the climate commitments that so many people in in my patch in South Manchester care about.

I'm very conscious of limited time. So I'm going to focus on on some of the measures which will make a big difference to my constituents in Manchester Withington. I want to start with the Northern Powerhouse Rail Bill very strongly welcoming that HS2 when HS2 is cancelled. It was a real kick in the teeth to people in the North. We were looking for the link up to the to the northern economy, to the south east and notwithstanding the shambolic planning and delivery that the Secretary of State set out earlier on behalf of HS2 limited overseen by the government, it was a real shame that that was cancelled.

But we've always argued in the North that Northern Powerhouse Rail is actually more important to get that connectivity east west across the. The great cities of the North will drive our economy and make us able to thrive and compete on a global scale. So I'm really pleased that the government has set out the Northern Powerhouse Rail Bill. Two points. I want to make very briefly on that. Firstly, we will. Can I get in maybe on the first to to do this in in respect to this new bill? Can I make a plea? We need that underground through station at Manchester Piccadilly as part of that delivery.

Anything. I mean, it's expensive, but anything else will be a false economy. That will be the the way that we drive the connectivity across the cities of the North. And we. And we need to do to do that and can I the other thing I'd like to just make a plea on is the clarity early on on the route, I think the route that proposed from Manchester Airport to the city of Manchester at Piccadilly is is under my constituency. As previously proposed. There was some controversy and some discussion about the the sites event.

So I'm not going to get into that detail now, but it's really important that we give our constituents early details and an early opportunity to have their voice on that. I want to say something very briefly on the overnight visitor bill, only because it's taken some criticism from a number of places in the last couple of weeks in Manchester. We've had one since 2023 in Overnight Visitor Levy Bill, and believe it or not, the sky hasn't fallen in. We're still the third most visited city in the UK.

And the key point about this? It's permissive. It's not. It's not an obligation. And I'm sure many of us will visit cities across across Europe, across the US, and the the visitor tax that we see in those cities never put me off, even in my impoverished inter-railing days. It's not going to stop people wanting to visit a city like Manchester, and it drives investment into the destinations that makes them more attractive to visitors. In my constituency, Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill, it will be hugely welcomed to.

Many. Leaseholders have been trapped in the system with spiralling charges, opaque management, limited limited rights over their own homes and our excellent housing Ministers is already making a difference on that and I'm really pleased to see that coming forward. Likewise, the social housing Bill, which will make a big difference since I came since I became an MP in 2015, the biggest issue in my inbox has been housing, and it's really important that we can expand our house building. Very briefly, I want to mention the Ticket Tout Ban Bill.

It's in my role as the APPG on ticket abuse. I've realised that ticket touts are costing costing approximately £400,000 every single day, and that's intensifying cost of living pressures for households across the UK. So it's great that the government has put out a draft, but it's disappointing that it's only a draft bill and can I urge. It's really important to get it right, but can I urge the government to bring that forward as quickly as possible? I'm going to end on a positive note.

I've had a number of occasions to to deal with gov.uk in one login. In recent times, digital access to services is making a big difference already. Let's ignore the conspiracy

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theorists and get on with the Digital Access to Services Bill to improve our services for everybody. Sharon Madam Deputy Speaker.

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Sharon Madam Deputy Speaker. Honour to follow the hon. Member for Withington. Something I find less pleasurable and indeed detest, is the use of the phrase in our discourse that Britain is broken. I discourse that Britain is broken. I hate that phrase because it's not true. I wonder if we can reflect on how the. How damaging and how the. How damaging and intoxicating the opium of nostalgia is. And it's not like a wistful nostalgia, harmless and benign, used by commentators on politicians.

It's an angry and aggressive and malign form of nostalgia. The reality is, let's open up and be honest about this. There was never a golden age, and the idea that somehow everything in the past is better, and today it's all rotten
15:54
15:54
15:54
Tim Farron Portrait Tim Farron MP (Westmorland and Lonsdale, Liberal Democrat)
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better and we were younger and apart. So let's not fall for witless, unpatriotic guff about Britain being in terminal decline. Britain being in terminal decline. We are a wonderful people with a history strong and rich, and resources second to none. We are resources second to none. We are not broken, but we must be better. A wise government would acknowledge our challenges and strengthen our alliances with NATO, with the Commonwealth, and indeed reconnecting with Europe, not least on energy security. John Maynard Keynes famously said, when the facts change, I change my mind.

What do you do, sir? You don't need to love everything about the European Union to know that our security and sovereignty now obviously depends on our deepening and widening alliances. We need to see Europe as the third bloc alongside the US and China. And if we are not part of that, if we are detached, then we are not safe. But our security involves looking internally to on energy and food security. Over the last few weeks, energy. The energy market has been in the eye of the storm.

Of course, the loss of 14.4 million barrels a

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day of crude oil. I will give way. Yes, sure. I thank my hon. Friend for giving way. Food prices have become giving way. Food prices have become the biggest pressure on family budgets. Our food system is failing as households. It's failing our as households. It's failing our farmers and it's also failing the economy alike. It's clear that a good food bill is a glaring, missed opportunity to back British farmers opportunity to back British farmers and improve public health. So does my hon.

Friend agree with me that you can't have food security you can't have food security without energy security, and that the government must set out a

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this? I strongly support my hon. Friend's food security bill, and I Friend's food security bill, and I will come to that in a moment. The fact that we have seen this loss of crude oil output from the the Gulf crude oil output from the the Gulf since Donald Trump's war began. It's been partly offset by draining stockpiles and other temporary stockpiles and other temporary reliefs for the developed world. Prices have risen and indeed crippled many communities that I represent in Westmorland and indeed represent in Westmorland and indeed across the whole of our country.

But so far we have yet to run out. But the International Energy Agency warned just last week that oil inventories are being depleted at a record pace. Governments, companies and consumers need therefore to be ready. Are we? I do not think so. Energy security is now utterly and totally urgent. If I cannot convince you of all the science that points at human made climate change, the need to tackle it, that catastrophic blight that we face. If I cannot convince you on that level, surely I must be able to convince you that our energy security rests on renewable energy, domestically produced, because Putin cannot turn off the sun, the wind, or our waves, surely we should be therefore rejoining the European international energy market and we should be investing massively in the national grid grid.

But it is also vital. We recognise, as my hon. Friend, rightly and wisely said, the importance of food security in all this. The United Kingdom is currently only 55% food secure. Outsourcing. The outsourcing of our agriculture has become a national security liability. We need more short, diversified food chains with more incentives to primary producers to grow food domestically. The problem is, though, the England England is now the only country in the United Kingdom and the only country in Europe that no longer provides support for our farmers to produce food.

Now, maybe we could agree that back in 2020, when the Environmental Land Management Scheme was being drawn up by the previous government and adopted by this government, maybe we could agree that that was how things felt at the time. But the facts have changed. It's time to change our mind and to back our farmers to produce the food that we need. The facts have changed. Food producers food prices are projected to be 50% higher in November this year than they were in 2021.

Agricultural inflation is double regular inflation and therefore feeding food inflation, which will follow and harm our communities. And of course, we live against the backdrop of uncertainty, the technological and geopolitical shifts that we are living through include, of course, the very threat to the future of NATO, Russian and China, Chinese aggression. So our energy, food and military resistance, resilience matters more now than it ever has before. We are fools if we do not respond. So you see, Madam Deputy Speaker, we are not a broken country.

We are a brilliant country, but we are a vulnerable country. We should not be energy insecure. We should not be food insecure. We should not have the smallest army we've had in 200 years. We should not be decoupled from our allies in Europe. But the good news is that we can fix all of these things. If we have the will, it will mean uncomfortable choices and changed stances from many. But the facts have changed. So we need to change our minds.



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Emma Foody Madam Deputy Speaker And I'm really pleased to be able to speak in this debate today on the Gracious Speech, because this government was elected to deliver change and in my community for too long, we felt at best ignored and long, we felt at best ignored and at worst left behind. Decisions taken in Whitehall in Westminster taken in Whitehall in Westminster did not address the challenges that we faced. That investment did not reach us. Opportunities didn't reach us.

Opportunities didn't reach us. Frankly, Westminster didn't hear us and the measures in the last King's Speech began to change that. The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill brings decisions closer to home.
15:59
Emma Foody Portrait Emma Foody MP (Cramlington and Killingworth, Labour )
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The changes to the Green Book give us a fair go at securing the investment that we deserve. Breakfast clubs and free school Breakfast clubs and free school meals. Set of children not just for the day, but to give them the best start in life. We're starting the start in life. We're starting the process of bringing buses back into public control. Public services are showing signs of recovery following showing signs of recovery following 14 years of austerity, and this king's speech builds on that. But we must deliver more and we must we must deliver more and we must deliver it faster.

In today's debate is rightly about energy. And recently I visited the port of Blyth in my hon. Friend the Member for Ashford in Blythe constituency, and I heard about their vision and the jobs and the opportunities that the renewables sector is already bringing there. We have been at the mercy of repeated international crises, underlining why we must secure energy independence to protect people here and across the country. Previous governments didn't move quickly enough and we are paying the price now. My region is leading the way to build clean, renewable energy and energy security.

New seabed site off our coast can unlock at least six gigawatts of offshore capacity. That is billions of pounds of investment coming to our region, creating jobs and opportunity. And in my own constituency, the West Hartford Business Park, with support from Arlington and the Port of Blyth, will unlock 2000 jobs and more than £400 million of local investment. The Moor Farm roundabout upgrades never knowingly not mentioned by me, add to the sense of possibility and acting as a gateway to growth across the North East.

We are building futures here. Energy Central Campus at Blythe and the energy campus, the Energy Academy, forgive me in Wallsend, are training a new generation of skilled workers for the industries of the future. And when the opposition talked down clean energy, they are talking down opportunity. Opposing this drive could cost up to 17,000 jobs in our regional renewables sector. So members opposite should level with my communities about what their plans mean for their jobs and their families here. Here, the Energy Independence Bill will take us further, and I want my region at the very heart of it.

Now, as a Labour and Co-operative MP, I'm proud that we're delivering community energy and the local power plan to ensuring that by 2030, every community can benefit from a local energy project, transforming our energy future and giving communities a stake in clean, affordable power. And turning to a few other measures set out in the speech. Since being elected, I've championed the rights of leaseholders and freeholders. It is a huge issue in my community. In the 60s, new towns of Cramlington and Killingworth, many homes were built at little and too many are now trapped without the protections that they deserve.

Similarly, our new build estates, although some of these have been around for over a decade and push the definition of new build still have not been adopted. And I know, I know Ministers are passionate about ending these injustices and putting the protections that are needed in place once and for all, and also building on the work of my hon. Friend, the Member for Washington and Gateshead South, around ticket touting. Since being elected, I've worked alongside the Co-operative Party, calling for action to tackle ticket touts and price gouging for culture, music and sporting events.

Because it's fans that make events where gigs, matches or shows and are at the heart of these, and too often they are robbed of the opportunities or ripped off through price gouging and and touts reselling tickets. There are many other bills in this programme that I support. Madam Deputy Speaker, that will make a real difference in my community on housing, education, national security and immigration. This King's Speech is a programme to build on the change that has already been delivered, but to go further and faster, to extend opportunity to communities like mine, with measures to improve the lives at the heart of this programme, to provide the good jobs and opportunities of the future.

It's now time to get on with delivering this change, and I look forward to supporting these measures.
16:03
Bob Blackman Portrait Bob Blackman MP (Harrow East, Conservative)
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Bob Blackman thank you, speaker, and a pleasure to follow. The hon. Member for Cramlington and Member for Cramlington and Killingworth. And as a scientist by background, I welcome now the cross-party agreement towards cross-party agreement towards nuclear power forming a key part of our energy supply for the future. It wasn't always the case that that was the case, certainly on the Labour benches. Previously there was opposition to nuclear power and indeed from the Liberal Democrat backbenches. So I'm delighted now that we have we have agreement that this is the positive way forward.

And indeed, the key here is making sure we have a mixed economy in terms of energy supply. I welcomed, for example, the use of, of, of solar power on the roof of the Aspire Centre, adjacent to the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, granted by the previous conservative government, which means that the supply for that centre and the hospital is actually contained from that, that solar and it contributes towards the grid as well. This is welcome news, but I can't understand why the government doesn't agree to actually exploit the North Sea to further extent.

It won't come on stream straight away, but surely we must be thinking about about it for the future to cover 1 or 2 other areas. Madam Deputy Speaker, the Vagrancy Act has coming to an end, but we still require from the government, and there's no commitment in the King's Speech for the necessary Statutory Instrument to make that happen. Can we see that happen equally on the Social Housing Renewal Bill bill? The government's ambition is huge but timid. We must go faster and further to provide the much needed social housing that is required in this country that has not been built for more than 30 years.

Madam Deputy Speaker, we live in a dangerous world. The reality is, will the war in Ukraine causing energy price hikes? Indeed, we must think about what has that done for the Treasury in terms of windfall from the petrol pumps going into the Treasury? But at the same time a tragic a fragile truce in the Middle East, the war, civil war in Sudan, where more people are being killed than anywhere else in any other conflicts. And indeed, the half a million Christians in Nigeria have been massacred by Islamists.

The sad reality is, on the 7th of October 2023, I was absolutely appalled that after the attempt by Hamas to commit genocide on the people of Israel, we saw people celebrating on our streets what was going on. We then subsequently, a blind eye was turned to the hate marches that were assembled outside a synagogue in London a hundred yards away. At midday, just as the Shabbat services were coming to an end. And that's continued week after week after week, with the congregation being intimidated from going about their lawful business.

Now, the Prime Minister quite rightly talked about combating anti-Semitism, but it's not enough to have words. We need action now by blind eye was turned to the Hamas flags and the Hezbollah flags in those marches, a deaf ear was cocked to the. From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free, which means the destruction of the state of Israel. Equally, a deaf ear was cut to globalise the intifada. And what have we seen? As a result? We have seen Jewish businesses attacked. We've seen restaurants attacked, we've seen synagogues attacked, and now we see Jewish people on the streets being attacked purely because of their religion.

This is absolutely unacceptable and we have to start somewhere. So I welcome the decision by the government to bring forward the legislation on prescribing the IRGC long overdue, and I've led that campaign in this Parliament for many years. But we must go further. Why is the Iranian ambassador still here? He should be kicked out. So should the embassy close down and all those so-called diplomats are refused entry to this country. Iran is the head of the snake that controls all the terrorism in the Middle East.

And

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we must recognise that. I will give way to the hon. Gentleman. One thing that the government

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One thing that the government here hasn't done, but which they could do. An hon. Gentleman, I will want to see that as soon as I would, and probably many others in this House. That's the Iranian assets owned by the government that are in London, and they're all well known London, and they're all well known where they are. Those elements are going to feel like I do, that it's time that those assets were taken away from them. Here in London,

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away from them. Here in London, where we have some control. I think we're better for that. And clearly the assets from the IRGC and the despotic regime that exists in Iran must be sequestrated and brought into use for the people of this country. There are 11 well known properties which are detached houses that are not used at the moment, but owned by this despotic regime. They could be used for homeless families. They could be used for Brits that need need somewhere to live, but we don't take the necessary action equally.

Madam Deputy Speaker, as I've raised previously, we have 13 charities that get their funding from Iran. They have their headquarters in the UK and they are banned in Arab countries. Why is it they are allowed to exist and spread their poison equally? We must go further. On university campuses, vice Chancellors have a duty to protect Jewish students, but don't carry out that duty. And perhaps we could start in our schools by teaching our children the true history of the Middle East.

In 1948, the Arab countries tried to prevent Israel from being set up. They encouraged and almost forced the Arabs to leave the state of Israel so they could go in and kill everyone. The reality is Israel won that war, and no one's ever forgiven them since. The sad fact is that if we go into 1967, 1971, where Israel fought wars once again to protect itself, those are not taught in our schools. And we need to understand that that if we don't educate our children in this right way, then unfortunately, propaganda will be allowed to grow.

Why is it that one of our colleagues from the Labour benches was banned from going into into school in his constituency solely because he's Jewish? That cannot be acceptable. So words are not enough. Madam Deputy Speaker, we need prompt action and firm action to root out anti-Semitism and anti-Jewish hatred once and for all.
16:10
Rachel Hopkins Portrait Rachel Hopkins MP (Luton South and South Bedfordshire, Labour)
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Yeah. you, speaker, and I welcome the opportunity to speak in this debate on the Gracious Speech. And I'm proud it's. Our Labour government proud it's. Our Labour government took office in July 2024 that we've introduced a number of policies to improve our country's energy independence and therefore, our energy security by increasing domestic clean energy production and reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels. And one of the best examples of this is the creation of Great British Energy, a publicly owned energy investment designed to support British clean energy projects.

And I also welcome our Clean Power 2030 plan, which will mean most UK electricity comes from low carbon domestic sources by the end of the decade, and this includes expanding offshore wind, removing planning barriers to onshore wind, increasing solar power generation, investing in grid infrastructure and supporting nuclear and carbon capture projects. And this King's Speech has outlined our plans to go faster and further, taking definitive action to protect the energy, defence and economic security of the United Kingdom for the long term, including the introduction of an Energy independence Bill to scale up home grown renewable energy and protect living standards, helping to tackle the affordability crisis, particularly for low income households, including through our Warm Homes plan.

We've seen first, sorry, I'm going to continue short on time. We've seen first hand the devastating impact of exposure to volatile international gas markets, which caused major price rises after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. This government is taking measures to protect our citizens and ensure such stark and unaffordable increases are never passed on to households again, regardless of global conflicts, supply disruptions and sudden rises in international energy prices. With the war in the Middle East being felt in the pockets of people at home, this is more important than ever, and I welcome the fact that more stable energy costs for households and businesses in Luton South and South Bedfordshire and across the country is a priority, while giving the government greater flexibility during international crises.

Our government's mission to secure our energy independence is just one facet of the work this Labour government is doing to strengthen our sovereign capability, using the economic freedom gained after leaving the EU, to have greater democratic oversight and to intervene more directly in the economy through our industrial strategy and public investment, with a focus on backing British business and good skilled unionised jobs. There is no better example of this than our commitment to safeguard the domestic production of steel through the Steel Industry Nationalisation Bill, which we will debate later this week.

This highlights the importance of the role of an active state in supporting its citizens, protecting our national resilience, our economic security and our ability to act independently in the interests of our citizens in increasingly volatile and uncertain world. I've spoken about the sovereignty and security of energy, but part of building a more secure Britain for my constituents is to ensure that everyone has access to a safe and secure home. And I welcome our Labour government's commitment to address long term housing shortages, which have driven up rents, made home ownership harder and placed increasing pressure on social housing and public services, increasing our supply through long term investment in social and council housing.

With significant restrictions on right to buy under the Social Housing Renewal Bill, alongside planning reforms and reform of the leasehold system, including the capping of ground rents, will make the housing market more affordable and stable, particularly for families in constituencies like mine of Luton South and South Bedfordshire, where more affordable family homes are so desperately needed. Indeed, expanding our housing supply goes hand in hand with our efforts to strengthen our national resilience, reducing housing inequality and creating a stable foundation for long term social and economic security, all part of building a stronger and fairer country for all.
16:14
Richard Foord Portrait Richard Foord MP (Honiton and Sidmouth, Liberal Democrat)
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Richard Foord thank you, Madam Speaker. Last week in the in the Gracious Speech, the government Gracious Speech, the government pledged to introduce a new Representation of the People Bill. Now, constitutional issues like the Now, constitutional issues like the electoral system can seem far removed from people's daily lives, but that could not actually be further from the truth, because with a better electoral system, politicians and parties will be more focussed on the issues that really matter to voters. reform is a necessary step to ensure a fairer society.

Representation of the People Bill has the potential to be the latest chapter in the evolution of our democracy. Ours is a proud history of a franchise that has expanded across the generations, extending the vote to an ever broader base of people from the 1832 Great Reform Act to the 1918 Representation of the People Act, which granted the right of voting to women, to the 1969 act, which made the UK the first democracy to give votes to everyone 18 and above.

This is a story of progress and we should continue it. So I welcome that the government is continuing this trend with votes for 16 and 17 year olds. When I trained 16 and 17 year old recruits in the regular army, some of them were bound months later to serve in places like Iraq and Afghanistan, which they did. If 16 year olds can join our armed forces and pay tax, they deserve a voice in how both of those are used. The new Representation of the People Bill has the potential to occupy a place in the pantheon of progressive extensions to the franchise.

First past the post, by contrast, is a current system which enables parties to turn a small plurality of votes into a massive majority of seats, and 2024 showed this at its worst, the general election of 24 was the most disproportionate in modern British history. Turnout was the second lowest since records began in 1885. Less than 60% of the electorate cast a vote. They were unconvinced and uninspired by both Labour and the Conservatives. Labour won one third of the vote.

Labour won two thirds of the seats and Labour won three thirds of the levers of power. The 2024 general election result was a direct consequence of the first past the post voting system. This winner takes all approach threatens to reward populists who thrive in divisive and adversarial politics. I am speaking this afternoon not in relation to our party political self-interest here in the Liberal Democrats. We were delivered a result. We were delivered a result that was proportionate, proportionate to the votes that were cast.

But look around me for the MPs from reform UK or from the Green Party. If the 2024 general election had been conducted under the additional Member System of PR reform, UK would now have 94 MPs sitting on these benches. The Green Party would have 42 MPs sitting on these benches. Instead we have five and we have four. Convinced the disparity between votes cast and the seats won adds significantly to the disillusion, the disillusion that many of us will have heard on the seat on the streets of the UK when we were vote, when we were out there campaigning in the local

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elections earlier this month, I will on that point. So I thank him.

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So I thank him. For giving way is not the biggest problem with first past the post that often you're voting post that often you're voting against someone rather than for someone, and that poisons our democracy because everyone thinks

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democracy because everyone thinks they end up with someone that they don't want. The honourable. Member for Tunbridge Wells is

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Member for Tunbridge Wells is spot on. He's spot on. Former Labour former Labour voters I accept former Labour voters vote for me to keep out the Tories and reform former conservative voters. Vote for me to keep out Labour and the Green Party. This is not a system we want. We want a system where people can vote positively for change with hope. Little wonder that the only other European country besides the UK that elects their parliament this way is Belarus.

If first past the post continues, we could see just 30% of votes bringing in a government with extremist ideas. I want to see a proportionate number of MPs for reform UK and for the Green Party, not a disproportionate number. I don't agree with them on universal access, on defence or on immigration, on universal access. It's the reform UK that's talking about tax breaks for people who opt out of the NHS. The Green Party is talking about bringing in a basic income for everybody with no conditions.

One wants to strip us of universal healthcare, the other one wants to have taxpayers paying for a universal income on defence, whether it is reform UK, apologising for Putin's aggression against Ukraine or the Green Party pledging to dismantle the UK's nuclear weapons. Whether it's lowering the Ukrainian flag over town councils that it controls, while the other would hoist the white flag over defence establishments in this country. On immigration. Whether it is the Green Party threatening to end

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proper controls or. Can I encourage the hon. Gentleman to return to at least some of the substance of His Majesty's gracious address? Richard

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Foord. Madam Deputy Speaker, these parties do not represent the moderate majority, but with as little as 30% of the vote at the next general election, they could next general election, they could control all of the levers of power. First past the post is unfair, unrepresentative, and it undermines the legitimacy of our elections. I urge the government not to prolong the disenchantment, the apathy and the hopelessness people are fed up with being told to vote for the lesser evil.

The Representation of the People Bill is the opportunity this government has to get it right. Thank you.
16:20
Nadia Whittome Portrait Nadia Whittome MP (Nottingham East, Labour)
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Nadia Whittome thank. >> You. >> Madam Deputy Speaker, and I agree with every word that the hon. Member has just said about first Member has just said about first past the post and proportional representation is Labour Party policy. It unites the left and the policy. It unites the left and the right of the Labour Party. I think it's probably one of the few things that the hon. Member for North Durham and I work together on passionately. And if if colleagues on on this side of the House think that first past the post was great for us in the last election, then just wait till the next election.

It's it's the right thing to do. It's the most democratic thing to do. And it's also the best thing to do in our own self-interest. Madam Deputy Speaker, our party came into government against a backdrop of deindustrialisation, privatisation and austerity, which over the course of decades has bled this country dry. It's left millions of people in abject poverty in the fifth richest country in the world, and millions more struggling to get by. Of course, people are enraged by the state of our society, but Grifting far right politicians declaring war on minority groups are exploiting this rage to sow division.

They are funded by many of the people who cause these problems in the first place, who want us to punch down so we don't look up at them. This threat is on our streets and in our political system. From the Unite the Kingdom rally, mocking Muslim women and calling for mass deportations, including of British citizens, to the reform councillors celebrating the rape of a sick woman and saying that Nigerians should be melted down to fill potholes. Unless we want these people running this country, we have to get our act together because while we've done some good things in government, and I want to be clear here that this isn't a criticism of the Secretary of State, who I think has done an excellent job in his role, particularly against some of the flat earthers opposite.

But while while we've done some good things in government, like improving workers rights and renters rights, creating GB energy, increasing funding to local councils, the fact is we have not delivered change at the pace and the scale that voters expect, and there is also far too much that this government has got wrong, like attempting to limit jury trials, like cutting benefits for disabled people. It's failures over the genocide in Gaza. These mistakes and the refusal to learn from them, are fuelling the collapse of the two party system and the rise of a multi-party political landscape.

But the leadership strategy to stop reform has just reinforced their narrative that immigration is what's wrong with our society. And not only is that completely at odds with labour values, but it's also been a complete electoral disaster. We have smashed apart our own voter coalition and as we haemorrhage votes to the Greens, we're also delivering seats to reform Madam Deputy Speaker. I refuse to put a positive spin on the last two years because I want us to be better. We have to face unpleasant facts.

I know it's painful. It's painful for all of us because we all believe in the potential of a Labour government. We all understand what is at stake here, and I know that colleagues who disagree with with this analysis do also genuinely want to improve people's lives and stop a far right government. But I'm afraid the argument that we can achieve this by sticking to a failed political strategy just does not hold water. This Labour government needs a total reset to show that it's listening, that it understands what it got wrong, and that it has a clear plan to change.

But its response to a catastrophic performance in the local elections has been to double down on the same incrementalism that we've seen thus far. And this is what we've seen again in this King's speech. While there are positives like the Hillsborough Law measures for Ukraine commitment to ban conversion practices, it's clear to most of us that they are not enough. There are much bolder measures that we should be taking to tackle the cost of living crisis, and to rebalance the economy so that it works for working class people.

Just two examples. Rent controls. So housing costs are affordable and people aren't priced out of their communities. Nationalising utilities to prioritise public need over private profit and bring down bills. And we need to do that at the same time as unashamedly standing up for the full diversity of the working class, wherever people were born, whatever the colour of their skin, their religion, their sexuality or gender identity, whether they're disabled or not, whether they're in

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Work or not. Madam Deputy Speaker tinkering around the. Edges was never going to cut it.

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Chasing the far right. Yes. I thank her for giving way. And I agree with so much of what she's saying. We need to be ambitious. We need to be looking at the big picture and fixing systems as well picture and fixing systems as well as situations. Like her, I want to see us stepping out in a far more see us stepping out in a far more ambitious way from here onward. And I see the headings of these bills in the King's Speech offer huge potential for us to do things that are far more transformative and meaningful, and address the root causes of many of the problems that we're facing.

So does she agree with me that there is a chance with the bills under this King's speech, but with a radical, different approach to working through to bring the kind of change and

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delivery that we've been hoping for. I thank my hon. Friend for his

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I thank my hon. Friend for his intervention. I feel like to have a candid discussion about this. It would probably be best not to have would probably be best not to have it in the chamber, but yes, I think I think that the King's Speech I think that the King's Speech provides headings. But I'm I'm afraid I think that's that's all they are. They're hints to what we they are. They're hints to what we need. And they're not the sum of it.

And we haven't been. It's not just that I don't believe that the change is coming, but it's been promised. It hasn't been promised. We're doubling down on the same mistakes that we made. And what we've heard from the Prime Minister is we've done great things in government. You just haven't realised it yet. So, Madam Deputy Speaker, tinkering around the edges was never going to cut it. Chasing the far right on immigration was never going to work. And if we don't learn these lessons now, then it will be too late.

We will be squandering the generational opportunity of a Labour government to transform this country for the better, and we will be allowing the far right to win. And I refuse to sit here quietly and let that happen here.
16:27
Danny Kruger Portrait Danny Kruger MP (East Wiltshire, Reform UK)
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Kruger. >> It's a pleasure to follow the hon. Lady, because I think she made a very important point at the end. There she is. Right. I'm afraid to There she is. Right. I'm afraid to say this is a very underwhelming King's Speech. There are some welcome headlines there, but the fact is the ambition is very diminished. And the reason for that, and she represents it, is that the party opposite is fundamentally split. They're unable to move forward boldly in any direction that is needed.

And I don't don't make a personal accusation against them. I know what it's like. I sat on I sat on those benches in the last Parliament in a supporting a government that was also fatally split and unable to move forward. This is the consequence of the politics that we're in. And by the way, I welcome the very eloquent and elegant repudiation of her previous position by my friend the the Shadow Secretary of State. I think she made an excellent speech about the the difficulty of the of the government's policy.

She's now in the right place. But across the board, and particularly on this topic of energy security. Madam Deputy Speaker, we see bold ambition, the right the right statements being made, particularly about energy independence and resilience. But then the detail that follows is utterly underwhelming. And indeed, explicitly in this area, we see a decision not to exploit the enormous opportunities, the reserves we have in the North Sea. So I'm afraid the aspiration of energy independence that we should all welcome, including eventually to get to the huge benefits of the abundant natural resources that we should be using for energy.

We're not going to get there this way. Likewise, in other areas, crucial areas. Madam Deputy Speaker of of National priority defence being the main one, we hear the right language about the need for investment, the need to recover our our defences which have been sadly depleted over many decades. We have a chronic weakness in our national defences and yet we see still no defence investment plan, still no clarity on where the money is going to be spent or even where it's coming from.

And the reality is, and I represent a military constituency with many amazing tech firms and military firms developing the kit that we need for our defences. They are laying off staff as we speak because the money is not promised. It's not available to them. It is absolutely scandalous in all of the sectors where the United Kingdom has real, current and enormous potential advantages in these high tech sectors of fintech, agri tech and AI itself. All areas, by the way, which thanks to Brexit, we are able to drive ahead boldly and independently on in all of these sectors, we are being hobbled by a lack of ambition and.

And as a chronic chronic inability to release the talents and the opportunities of these sectors. I mean, I was going to intervene earlier on the Member for Oxford East, who was bewailing the exit of UK tech entrepreneurs in the AI space and saying that we should be more like Europe in that regard. They're not they're not leaving the United Kingdom to go to the EU. They're going to the Middle East, they're going to the United States, they're going to the Far East, because these countries have a pro tech industrial policy, which is what we need here in our country.

Madam Deputy Speaker, I've been meeting a whole bunch of of businesses recently. We're on a bit of a prawn cocktail operation in in the Reform Party. It's amazing which businesses want to come and talk to us at the moment. It's very encouraging. But they are all very depressed about the state of the economy. And one of them said to me recently, yesterday, in fact, an AI entrepreneur said, if we're not careful, this country's economy is simply going to be US tourism. That's all we're going to be able to offer because we are driving away all of the entrepreneurs, all of the businesses which represent the opportunities for growth in future.

I've been I was talking to a pharmaceutical firm last week. Now now exiting to Europe. Yes, to Switzerland. In fact, I saw this morning again, a company developing the technology for small modular nuclear reactors, giving up, going to the United States. This is what we are doing. We are driving away the talent that we need for the future. And lastly, Madam Deputy Speaker, you know, I'm very enthused by the opportunities that our high tech sectors represent and what we could be doing.

But there is also the ordinary economy. Labour used to talk a lot about this. The Chancellor wrote a book called The Ordinary Economy. I think The Everyday Economy some years ago. That's absolutely a vital focus for us. But what are we doing for those businesses that are the backbones of our high streets, national businesses and SMEs? We're ramping costs onto them. NI contributions, business rates and the small businesses the threshold way too high, inhibiting growth, inhibiting job creation. So a government that wants growth, wants productivity is going directly the opposite direction.

And I would just end with a plea to the Ministers. I, I stole and I applaud their aspiration to for a clean transition. But right now we are in a national emergency and we need to crowd in every possible source of electricity that we have to get our economy growing. And that includes nuclear and it includes fossil

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fuels. Thank you. Alex Sobel thank you, Madam Speaker. It's a pleasure to speak Speaker. It's a pleasure to speak in this King's Speech debate, and I thank the Energy Secretary for another very clear case for the another very clear case for the energy transition regarding the energy security part of the energy security part of the transition, I welcome the Energy Independence Bill, which is one of the most significant and pragmatic piece of legislation we seek to
16:32
Alex Sobel Portrait Alex Sobel MP (Leeds Central and Headingley, Labour )
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piece of legislation we seek to work on in this Parliament. This bill is directly entwined to our national security. Energy independence sets us free from the energy chaos caused by Putin's erratic warmongering. This is another step that enables us to stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine. The stabilisation of energy security will enable us to work on Jo Cox, who's the anniversary 10th anniversary of her tragic murder is coming up shortly. Work on her agenda. Progressive internationalism by improving our capacity to be a force for good.

On Jo's progressive internationalism. Also proud to see the European Partnership Bill and welcome the Youth Mobility scheme. Many of my constituents will be able to take advantage on, so I'm keen to see even more progress in terms of our European relationship, including freedom for European musical acts to tour Europe and visa free travel. Furthermore, I'd like to hail the power rail with delivery of a fair deal for the North of England, something we've been sadly neglected through the last 14 years of conservative government prior to 2024, through Northern Powerhouse Rail Bill, a scheme of remember that was announced and then cancelled by the previous conservative government.

That all being said, there is certainly more work to be done on the Clean Water Bill in the speech to ensure we establish true water resilience terms, our national energy security, we must ensure the Bill does not tie us into failed privatised system owned by overseas actors. The only route to water security is through mutual ownership in England. We should have the system like they have in Wales, where the people of Wales own the water company. This is notably different to 1970 style nationalisation, as we know, nationalisation at the mercy of any future government who might seek to privatise it again.

Whereas mutual ownership puts the public first where local people make key decisions about their water supply systems, we should see mutual ownership of the water industry. This will ensure a stable and secure future for our water systems. The public must have a say in the future. Our water generally clean waterways publicly owned, secure for the future of the nation. Restoring waterways and nature is not separate from national security underpins it. My amendment G, as on today's Order Paper, recognise that functioning and healthy ecosystems, reduce flood risk, protect our homes, hospitals and transportation systems from overheating, sustain soils, are able to grow food and clean the air we breathe.

The UK's key ecosystems are every bit as vital as our roads, energy grid and water networks, yet we continue to treat them as an afterthought. As the Treasury Commission Dasgupta review made clear, we undervalue the natural assets. Our economy and security depend on. By legislating for Strategic Nature Network and recognising as national infrastructure, we can draw. We can restore, connect and maintain a system of key, functionally consistent strength in our national security, protect communities and build resilience across the UK. As other members have mentioned, the prospect of electoral reform in the Representation of the People Bill.

I also want to say that we've just seen a local council elections where we had a council elected on 20.5% of the vote, even lower than the lowest percentage at the last general election. We are seeing increasingly lower percentage winning margins as we move through the five party system in England and a six party system in Scotland and Wales. We need a national conversation and we need to think about this clearly for the long term future of our country, which is why I will be placing an amendment on the Representation of the People Bill to establish a National Commission for Electoral Reform, which I urge the government to do.

So we have clear actions going forward about the future of our voting and its integrity. Just to conclude, Madam Deputy Speaker, I'm sure that the Treasury Bench has heard what I've had to say about the amendment, about the need to include nature as infrastructure. So I'm now withdrawing my amendment, knowing that the spirit of the amendment has been heard and taken on by the government. Thank you. Joe Robertson thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. The security of energy, the price of energy is something that affects every household, every individual and every business up and down the country, in every constituency.

It's a matter that concerns everyone. That's why the Secretary of State, when he was in opposition during the last election, promised to cut household energy bills by £300, but instead in government
16:37
Joe Robertson Portrait Joe Robertson MP (Isle of Wight East, Conservative)
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he's presided over an increase in household energy bills of £200. household energy bills of £200. That is his record as he sets his sights on his next job, the job he sights on his next job, the job he so desperately craves. That is the job of replacing the Prime Minister. He is also the Secretary of State that has set up GB energy, that won't produce any energy that will won't produce any energy that will cost taxpayers £8 billion, and its own chief executive says, will take something like 20 years to employ just 1000 people.

There is nothing in the King's Speech that will secure the country's energy supply that will bring down energy costs, and that will bring the jobs and investment that the government has promised. Now, we have heard from across all benches in this House that there is a consensus, there is a unity. We all want to decarbonise energy use, but on these benches, we will not support doing that at the cost of families, households, individuals, particularly those who are hard up and are least able to pay.

Yeah, this is not a binary choice. You're either pro decarbonisation or you're against it. You can be for it. But understand that security in energy supply, security in household energy bills must come first. What country in the world will run headlong into an ideological experiment for the sake of it, and leave hard up citizens behind? No country in the world. This country shouldn't be one of them. This government shouldn't be one of them.

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I will give way. Many of. These problems have been put in

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These problems have been put in the too difficult box for too long, and the long term and difficult to fix. But does he at least acknowledge that the government's investment through the National investment through the National Wealth Fund of £600 million into the small modular reactors is a real step forward, which will get

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real step forward, which will get people's bills down in the long term. I accept there are some really

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I accept there are some really difficult questions in and around this whole area of debate, and the truth remains that no government has done more to decarbonise the economy and to bring forward green technology than the last conservative government, but we will not do it at the expense of hard working families. And it's the bonkers green tax agenda that this government is peddling that is harming the debate on decarbonising

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the economy. And I will get on to an example before I give way, after I give way. Just puzzled by his idea that

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Just puzzled by his idea that the last government, and I'm actually very comfortable with accepting that it has been a growing consensus about growing consensus about decarbonising of our energy supply. So energy system over a period of time, starting with the Climate time, starting with the Climate Change Act, when only a handful of conservative MPs voted against it. However, I am puzzled to say that he thinks that the last Tory government did this without any burden on the on the on the taxpayer or indeed bills.

When the energy so-called savings package that Liz Truss put in place cost £44 billion and has left this

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country in profound debt. I acknowledge the last government made mistakes. I don't have a problem with that. But it's have a problem with that. But it's not an excuse for her government to do even worse on some of those hardships for hard working families, no excuse to her government whatsoever. Bonkers green taxes whatsoever. Bonkers green taxes harm the debate, and I will give this House an example. UK ETS this House an example. UK ETS levies on the maritime sector levied on ferry companies.

Ferry companies that my constituents on the Isle of Wight rely on in order to access things that everyone else takes for granted, takes for granted like health, like education, like jobs, like seeing friends and family. Next month, you can travel across the Solent to the Isle of Wight and take your car. And one return trip for £511 for a five mile return crossing. Wow. The government, instead of helping us, they say they'll help and I'm still holding out hope that they will help.

Instead, the following month, in July, will there be a tax on the Fishbourne to Portsmouth route? They will levy levy a carbon emission tax that the ferry company cannot avoid because it cannot decarbonise its ferries and go electric because there is no grid charging capacity in Portsmouth Harbour, there is no grid charging capacity in Southampton either. These aren't strange little harbours. This is the naval base of the United Kingdom and one of the biggest export container ports yet.

There is not the grid capacity to charge an Isle of Wight ferry, but the ferries will pay. And the ferries guess what have passed on that charge to consumer consumers, my constituents. I'll give way to the hon. Lady to try again.

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Briefly on the point, specifically on Southampton, it was under the Tory government that the Labour run Southampton council wanted to clean up and have that grid connection in order to be able grid connection in order to be able to decarbonise shipping in that port, specifically to tackle air quality in that city and to be able

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quality in that city and to be able to help exactly the problem. 14 years the Tories had and they did nothing. I generally.

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I generally. Say to the hon. Lady the reason her government is in such a mess and polling at under 20% is because she and her colleagues think the universal excuse for her government's inaction is to blame a previous government. She won that argument at the last election, and since then her government has done nothing. Southampton will have that grid charging capacity for boats in mid 2030 s, yet the government is bringing in a charge in July of this year.

And do you know what the irony is, Madam Deputy Speaker one of those ferries does have batteries on board. It's a hybrid boat and can use batteries in order to cross the Solent and not burn fossil fuels, but it's being charged because it cannot use its batteries, because it's not got nowhere to plug into now in the EU are bringing in this charge. They are ring fencing the money they get from ETS to invest in grid capacity in ports, not the UK government's.

They're taking the money and shoving it in the Treasury and making no promises about investing in grid capacity. That's not the last government. That's this government. So I say to the frontbench it is bonkers green levies, which make no sense, which harm ordinary people, which

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undermine their entire case for their green agenda. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.

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Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. But more and more UK. Households and. Businesses. The monthly. Energy Bill is one of the

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Energy Bill is one of the largest bills and it is increasing in large part due to rising international oil and gas prices, which have been exacerbated in turn by the recent war in Iran. And so it's exactly for this reason that it's exactly for this reason that for too long we have been energy insecure. So, Madam Deputy Speaker, energy security is needed to give us cost of living security. If we get this right, if we can cut bills, we can cut emissions and we can cut our dependence on volatile foreign oil and gas markets all at the same time.

And, Madam Deputy Speaker, I haven't heard yet a single argument from the party opposite as to why continued dependence on those markets is a good idea, including from the hon. Member for Isle of Wight East, who I follow, as opposed to a driver of price shocks and increases. But most of the last 50 years the UK has been a net importer of electricity, much of it coming through interconnectors like the one in my constituency of Folkestone and Hythe. And the growth in British renewables is at long last, rightly being pushed forward by this government, and it's starting to reduce our heavy reliance on imported energy and fossil fuels.

Last year our energy production was the most British and clean it has been for years. Energy production under this Labour government has defied the doubters who decry the decline of North Sea oil and gas, and who urge us to

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open new fields. I will. Thank the hon. Member for giving way. I just want to make sure everybody's clear. I think he's talking about electricity power, not energy. The power that makes up just 20% of our energy mix, not the oil and gas, which makes up for 75%

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oil and gas, which makes up for 75% of our energy mix. They're very different things. I was interested to hear that she she came up with no she she came up with no justification. Why continuing to be in hock to the international oil and gas markets is not a good idea.
16:46
Tony Vaughan Portrait Tony Vaughan KC MP (Folkestone and Hythe, Labour)
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So I'm reinforced in that argument from her intervention. I want us to be energy independent and eventually energy dominant, where we are exporting our energy around the world, generating more revenue for the Treasury, creating more jobs here at home, and helping to fix our current account deficit. The new Energy Security Bill rightly seeks to hardwire in strong consumer protections, a stronger watchdog and a more flexible modern grid, giving Ofcom a clearer duty to protect households, changing how support is targeted to low income and vulnerable families, and making local grids smarter so people can benefit from cheaper, off peak energy.

All of this is not a technical tweak. They are frontline issues. On the fight against fuel poverty. The vast majority of my constituents in Folkestone and Hythe and Romney Marsh want to tackle climate change. They do want to lower energy bills and they want Britain to be to be energy independent. And the best way of achieving all of these objectives is to deliver a balanced energy mix, and to make sure that savings and opportunities reach people's front doors. And that means including a serious warm homes programme, upgrading insulation, modern heating systems and clear duties on landlords so renters are not left shivering in leaky homes while their landlords take all the profits.

And so the finance has evolved to the point where there can be no excuse not to have solar on every domestic rooftop, which can allow tenants to benefit from lower bills as well as landlords. And the government must do everything it can to make this a reality. Renewables play a critical part in our energy production, along with new nuclear. And we should continue to extract the existing North Sea oil and gas fields. But the government is right to oppose the opening up of new fields, which will not lower people's energy bills, because the oil and gas price is determined by global markets, and opening up new fields would undermine our mission.

As many colleagues have said, to tackle climate change and would weaken our global leadership role that we have on this issue, and I pay tribute to the work of the Secretary of State and the Department on this. The real jobs plan is for energy to invest in clean power grids, storage and efficiency, and to give workers in existing industries a clear path Gale.

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I'm grateful to the hon. Gentleman. I've sat through the entire debate, which is now getting entire debate, which is now getting on for three hours. I've read the bill. Nobody, not one member of this House this afternoon, this House this afternoon, including myself nor the bill, refer to hydrogen, which is

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refer to hydrogen, which is probably the best clean future energy there is. I thank the right hon. Member

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I thank the right hon. Member for his intervention. I agree with him. Hydrogen is an important part of where we need to go, but we need to fix these fundamentals, which were not fixed during the 14 years which came before Labour's election. And we need to get on with those things. Two new nuclear creates jobs and in my constituency we have two old nuclear power stations at Dungeness that are currently being decommissioned, and Dungeness is a brilliant candidate for new nuclear technologies with an existing grid connection, land available close to population centres and with high electricity demand.

And fundamentally, there is also strong support from the people of Romney Marsh for new nuclear at Dungeness, who understand that this is about good jobs, clean power and long term investment in their community. And I recently helped organise an event at the community hub that was packed out about new nuclear with local residents who are desperate for new nuclear power generation to return to their community. And so I commend the actions of this government to help speed up new nuclear technology development.

And it was something that my predecessor pushed the Tory government for his own party for many, many years to bring back Dungeness, new nuclear to Dungeness, but he got nowhere, I'm afraid, Madam Deputy Speaker, because his party were just not interested in helping him. And so I do welcome the nuclear regulation bill's intention to implement the Fingleton review, where it cuts unnecessary delay and duplication. And this is not to say that we undermine environmental protections. Those must, of course, remain effective and credible as well as evidence based.

And the argument is not nature versus nuclear. Climate change is itself a major threat to habitats and species. So changes must focus on faster decisions. But with real environmental integrity. If we are to achieve true energy security, then we need new nuclear to play a critical role, because the sun does not always shine and the wind does not always blow. We need warm, efficient homes, fair energy bills, and a regulator with the teeth and the remit to stand up for the public as the system changes.

New nuclear can generate a significant number of well skilled, well-paid, unionised jobs and help support the reindustrialisation of Britain, which we of course desperately need. And so. So can the mass rollout of renewables, grid upgrades and home retrofit. So I welcome the Energy security Bill and the Nuclear Regulation Bill, especially the measures that help speed up the development of new nuclear. This is about whether families can afford to heat their homes, whether workers have good jobs in the industries of the future, and whether Britain can stand on its own two feet in a dangerous world.

And I would say to the champions of the oil and gas industry sitting on the benches opposite, that they should do the right thing for the country. They should accept we can never get bills down while we rely on international oil and gas markets, and they should support the measures in this bill to give us clean, clean, cheap power and energy independence for our great nation.

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Anna Sabine Madam Deputy Speaker, one of the many challenges facing rural constituencies like mine is rural constituencies like mine is the rising cost of fuel. When the war in Iran pushed up prices, I had constituents telling me they could no longer afford their planned orders of heating oil and would try to manage without heating for as long as they could. And as you long as they could. And as you might expect, residents in fuel North Somerset rely heavily on car use and therefore fuel like diesel and petrol in order to access and petrol in order to access health services.

I'm very concerned about the lack of community input into decisions being made around health services, which disproportionately affects communities who have to drive to get, drive or get the bus or run patient transport services in rural areas. The King's Speech brings forward plans to abolish NHS England, but in my constituency of Frome and East Somerset, NHS Somerset has been running what it calls a test and learn exercise at Frome Community Hospital for six months. The number of beds was temporarily reduced from 24 to 16, and at the end of that period the test and learn was simply extended for another six months, meaning that for a full year, capacity has been reduced and no full consultation with communities about these changes has been required.

People are rightly concerned that a reduction in a local service will require them to travel further afield, the cost of which is rising. I have serious concerns about whether the evidence provided so far is strong enough to justify making these changes permanent, and I am deeply troubled by how little the community has been involved in that conversation. I decided to do my own consultation, hosting a pop up in Frome two weeks ago and asking local people to tell us why the hospital was important to them.

One constituent wrote I feel strongly that Frome Hospital provides so many services for local
16:54
Anna Sabine Portrait Anna Sabine MP (Frome and East Somerset, Liberal Democrat)
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people. When I hear from elderly friends who've ended up with long stays in Bath, I find it incomprehensible that once they incomprehensible that once they reach a certain stage of recovery, they can't be moved nearer home. Another said it's a shame we must Another said it's a shame we must lose beds. My friend was in Bath for five weeks, then had to go to Wincanton Hospital for another seven weeks as there were no beds seven weeks as there were no beds in Frome and this was so far for her, hard for her family who lived miles away.

The people of Froom and miles away. The people of Froom and its surrounding villages rely on their community hospital, and yet they woke up one morning to find a decision had, in effect, already been made to reduce its capacity, a decision that means some of the most vulnerable members of our community will not have a bed in a local hospital community setting if they're discharged from our general hospital in Bath for an elderly person, for a carer managing on their own, or for those without access to a car.

The risk of being placed in a community hospital somewhere else in Somerset is a serious barrier to suitable care and a lack of public transport and increasing fuel costs places a huge additional stress on families and carers. Two weeks ago, I was pleased to meet with the Ministers for care to discuss the government's plan for neighbourhood health centres, a policy I broadly welcome and one which I believe could genuinely benefit parts of my constituency. In this meeting, the Ministers was explicit that our Integrated Care Board was required to consult local MPs and other stakeholders on their plans for these new health centres.

Not only has our I see been not been in touch, but when we followed up with them ourselves, we were told two things. First, they had no idea they were expected to engage with MPs on this, and second, they'd already decided where the hubs would go without consulting anyone else. In both the cases I have set out, there seems to be a lack of mechanism to force icbs or trusts to consult local people, and a total lack of sanction if they fail to do so.

People who live in Frome and surrounding villages are the experts in their own lives and they have helpful, constructive and innovative ideas to input into decision making around the future of local health services. The government is also overseeing the removal of Healthwatch and the Citizen Senate to additional bodies, which centre patient voice at the heart of discussions about their care. I'm worried that without these bodies being replaced or without mechanisms in place to ensure good consultation, communities risk being entirely unheard in decisions which will, for some affect their daily lives.

I do hope that Ministers will coordinate with colleagues in departments of health, transport and elsewhere to ensure that people in Frome and East Somerset can get the health services they need in the places they need them, and in

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an affordable way. Andrew Lewin thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, can I say it's a Deputy Speaker, can I say it's a real pleasure to see you back in the chair. The model of calmness and authority. And I think after and authority. And I think after the week that my party has had, then there is a virtue in stability which I think you represent in that which I think you represent in that chair. But I'm pleased to be back in this chamber for the first time in the session of this Parliament, in the session of this Parliament, to talk about policy and not personality, to focus on one of the biggest issues our country faces, our energy security, the decision by the United States and Israel to strike Iran on the 27th of February has seen thousands of lives lost, billions expended in weaponry, a stalemate in the Strait of Hormuz, and a global energy crisis.

For many countries, the situation has become very grave very quickly. In the UK, the price at the pump. On the day before the strikes, petrol was £1.30 per litre, diesel was £1.43. Average price is now closer to £1.58 and £1.86 respectively.
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Andrew Lewin Portrait Andrew Lewin MP (Welwyn Hatfield, Labour)
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And while we are less reliant on the Strait of Hormuz than many countries are exposure to the countries are exposure to the fossil fuel roller coaster that is the global market means we are being hit hard too. The choice being hit hard too. The choice before us is simple get off the fossil fuel roller coaster, accelerate our transition to green accelerate our transition to green and clean energy for people and planet or people on the planet will continue to pay the price for our continue to pay the price for our reliance on gas and oil.

A word on climate change records on global temperatures date back to 1850, and yet the past 11 years have been the 11th warmest years on record. We must pursue the transition to clean, to clean and green energy for our political and economic security today, but for the tomorrows of all of the generations yet to come. Madam Deputy Speaker. When it comes to embracing green technology, the public is already voting with its feet. The CEO of Octopus Energy has reported a 50% increase in demand for solar panels and a 30% uplift in demand for heat pumps.

Within weeks of the conflict in Iran started. This is welcome news, but the transition to green, clean and home grown energy is not a challenge that the market alone can fix. I am proud of the record of our Labour government. In the last two years, two renewable energy auctions with bids for enough power to power 23 million homes, ending the de facto ban on onshore wind and scaling up the Social Housing Warm Homes Fund, including more than £6 million for Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council in my constituency, which will see more than 600 council homes retrofitted in my community.

But we have to go further and I and I hope the Energy Independence Bill can be a focal point for this government. Madam Deputy Speaker, we have to innovate. I was with the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister in January, when he made an excellent speech on how to speed up the delivery of policy, something that so many colleagues have talked about today. He talked about learning the lessons of the vaccine task force model and applying it more universally. And I would encourage colleagues in the Department for Energy and Net Zero and the Cabinet Office to work together with this model in mind, particularly with a view to speeding up the all important connections to our grid.

We have to work Madam Deputy Speaker with the private sector. I'm very proud that Ocado has its national headquarters in Hatfield, and they've been in touch with me about their ambition to speed up their grid connections and the importance of an EV charging infrastructure that allows them to transition to electric vehicles. And I'm also very pleased that Mitsubishi Europe, working in Hatfield, is training gas engineers to transfer from boilers, and so that their skills can be applied to working on heat pumps in the future.

But most importantly of all, we have to make clear that the green transition will work for everyone in our society. And the Social Housing Warm Homes Fund is one of the single most important parts of this plan. Retrofitting the homes of people on low incomes, demonstrating beyond doubt that this is not some kind of elite project. As members on the other side of this House want us to believe, it's a project that will ultimately get bills down for people who need it most.

Madam Deputy Speaker, if the Conservatives and Reform wish to cling to the fossil fuels and the global markets, it's their job to explain the cost to their constituents. But clean, green and cheap energy is the future. And this this Labour government is absolutely right to be striving for energy independence.

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From after the next speaker, the time limit will be reduced to four minutes. Harriet Cross.

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minutes. Harriet Cross. Thank you. Thank you very much, Madam Deputy Speaker. And too often we see when we debate energy in this place, it becomes tribal very quickly. You're either oil and gas or you're renewables. There's no or you're renewables. There's no room for nuance. We need renewables. We need nuclear, but we also need oil and gas. And many members today have spoken about the cost. The cost is one element, but supply is vital, vitally important because oil and gas makes up three quarters of the energy we need every day.

The energy we need in the 24 million homes who still rely on gas, the energy we need in over half a million businesses that need oil and gas, the oil and gas that goes into different industries such as pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, all of these need oil and gas. So this energy independence bill assumes that just by calling it energy independence, we suddenly do not become dependent on oil and gas. That is not true, and it will not be true so far into the future, because we have not developed the systems to move us away from oil and gas as quickly as we need to.

So if we look at our nearest neighbours in Norway. Norway, who many people rightly think have their energy system done correctly, there are five flights a day from Aberdeen to Norway, bringing workers, skilled workers from the oil and gas. What was capital of
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Harriet Cross Portrait Harriet Cross MP (Gordon and Buchan, Conservative)
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Europe to Norway to work in their industry there. Norway, which is just said, is going to open up just said, is going to open up three more existing gas fields. Norway, which has just announced a Norway, which has just announced a licensing round for 17 new licences, who incentivise drilling because who incentivise drilling because they recognise how important oil and gas is to their energy security. So if any member opposite would So if any member opposite would like to tell me that the Labour government in Norway, by increasing their use of oil and gas and exploiting their oil and gas in the North Sea, if that Norwegian Labour government is making Norway less energy independent by using their oil and gas.

No, of course they're not. Of course they're not. It's this Labour government, the UK Labour government who are making the UK more dependent, more dependent on Norway for our gas, who we send £20 billion to, for the privilege, for the privilege of using the same gas that is from the same North Sea, more dependent on Qatar, on America, on Mexico, where we will use their LNG, which if we're taking the climate argument, we will liquefy transport and regasified before using here.

So it is less good for the environment. And then we come on to jobs. And I still can't understand, and I will never understand why anyone can sit on the Labour benches and not understand the importance of protecting jobs in the oil and gas sector, and they mention new jobs in renewables. And I understand there are new jobs in renewables, but they are not coming on stream fast enough. They are not comparable and they're not for the same skill sets. And yes, some are transferable, but loads are not.

And the highly skilled people who really have secured our energy security for the last few decades, those are the ones who are really going to struggle to transfer. And if Labour want to say that they're happy to sacrifice those jobs and those livelihoods and the communities that those jobs live in, particularly in the north east of Scotland, they can do so because that is the message they're sending. And those skilled workers are moving abroad and taking with them the skills that will help us with our energy security and our energy independence.

They talk about price a lot, and we understand that the price of oil and gas goes up and down. That's understandable. R7 signed us up to higher prices for 20 years. For 20 years, we have committed to paying those high prices, and they are higher than what oil and gas has been for the last few years. I appreciate I don't need I don't need Wales, I appreciate oil and gas is high at the moment, but it is not always high. It has been low.

It. The Ministers says that's the issue. It is the issue. If you look at one part of time, one time horizon over the last few years, has oil and gas been low? The gas price has been low, the oil price has been low, and yet we still use it. So we are sacrificing jobs in Aberdeen, in the north east of Scotland. We're sacrificing our energy security just to deliver green energy, because that's all this government want to focus on. This government should be looking at our neighbours in Norway, seeing what they're doing, seeing how they are seen as the true country, which is energy independent, and seeing that they are still using their oil and gas, still using it because they know they need it, because their energy systems, their country is not set up not to use it.

UK is not either. We need it, we must use it, and we should be drilling all we can from

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the North Sea starting today. Alison Hume thank you, Madam. Deputy Speaker. I welcome the announcement of a new energy security bill in the King's Speech, which will meet our manifesto which will meet our manifesto commitment not to issue licences to explore new oil and gas fields. explore new oil and gas fields. Crucially, it will also deliver on our commitment to ban fracking, our commitment to ban fracking, fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, involves injecting fluid at high pressure to fracture rock and extract hydrocarbons.

And in 2019, a moratorium on fracking was introduced following earthquakes linked to fracking activity at Preston New Road in Lancashire. Currently, UK legislation defines fracking based on fluid volume thresholds 1000m³ per stage, or 10,000m³ in total. Madam Deputy Speaker, this leaves a legal
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Alison Hume Portrait Alison Hume MP (Scarborough and Whitby, Labour)
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loophole for oil and gas companies to exploit in beautiful burnaston in my constituency of Scarborough and Whitby, Europa Oil and Gas has proposed extracting gas using a technique called prop and squeeze, which is hydraulic fracturing just at lower fluid volumes. This means at lower fluid volumes. This means it exists outside the fracking moratorium in Burnaston, on the edge of the North York Moors, National Park villages have been involved in a David and Goliath battle with Europa oil and gas.

I'm delighted to say that North Yorkshire councillors, throughout the recommendations of its officers and formally rejected the planning application, but to create indisputable clarity over fracking legislation in our country and close this loophole. Any future ban must include all forms of fracking. Currently, 66 existing licences remain active. Planning applications can still proceed under current rules. If our definition of fracking remains volume based, then we risk companies continuing to frack just under a different name. Make no mistake, the frackers haven't given up.

Following North Yorkshire Council's rejection of Europa's proposal, Europa stated they felt confident about winning an appeal against the decision. The evidence is there for the government to include small scale fracking in our ban. A recent report published from the University of Edinburgh found that earthquakes from high volume fracking and low volume fracking are equally large and equally unpredictable. This means that the risk of seismicity, such as earthquakes induced or triggered from proppant squeezes, cannot simply be ruled out.

This evidence echoes findings commissioned by the then Oil and Gas Authority into Preston New Road, which also showed that seismic impacts cannot be accurately predicted regardless of fluid volume. I urge the government to use the upcoming Energy Security Bill to replace the volume based definition with one based on intent and process, and introduce a blanket prohibition on fracturing rock for hydrocarbons. All forms of fracking contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and undermine our net zero commitments, and therefore, all forms of fracking need to be banned.

Madam Deputy Speaker, last December, I held a Westminster Hall debate on this issue, and the Ministers responded, confirming that the government remains open to evidence regarding a comprehensive ban. To conclude, I would ask my hon. Friend to confirm what further evidence he requires to ban small scale fracking. Unless, of course, it's earthquakes in Scarborough.

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Ann Davies Colne Valley, madam. Energy has become one of the most important issues in Caerfyrddin and the rest of Wales. Caerfyrddin and the rest of Wales. In recent years, global events have exposed how vulnerable our communities are to energy shocks communities are to energy shocks and Russias invasion of Ukraine in and Russias invasion of Ukraine in 2022 cost the Welsh economy 6.5.6 5 billion, averaging over £2,000 per home in Wales. And as the impact of the war in Iran intensifies, Welsh households are being hit once again and rural households are paying hundreds more in fuel and heating oil costs, and the average on grid household energy bill could rise by nearly £300.

When the energy cap is revised in July. Off grid customers have seen their oil and gas bills at least double over the past few months, while the measures in the.

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By all means. Thank you. I thank the hon. Member for giving way. I just wanted to point giving way. I just wanted to point out to her that it would be really, really helpful if the new Welsh Government could release the £3.8 million of funding that the UK government has given to Welsh Government to help people Government to help people struggling with their heating oil costs, and I'm wondering when that's actually going to be distributed.

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distributed. I thank my hon. Member for her question. Can I assure her that I'm sure that it will be released, but
17:11
Ann Davies Portrait Ann Davies MP (Caerfyrddin, Plaid Cymru)
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shouldn't it have been released by the previous Welsh Government when that money was put in a few months that money was put in a few months ago? With all due respect, whilst the measures in The King's Speech sets out two steps to reduce energy sets out two steps to reduce energy costs, they do not get to grips with the fundamental unfairness of with the fundamental unfairness of our system. People in Wales pay some of the highest standing charges in the UK, despite average charges in the UK, despite average salaries being lower than the UK average.

This is unsustainable and action needs to be taken. Despite being an energy rich nation, Wales is unable to make the most of our abundant natural wealth. This is simply due to the lack of control over them. Plaid Cymru is clear it is for the people of Wales to control and benefit from our natural resources. This extractive economy model must cease, and money generated from our wind and sea power should be kept and shared within local communities. The Crown Estate must be devolved to Wales, as it is already in Scotland and following the Senedd election, a majority of parties in the Welsh Parliament, including the Welsh Government, are calling for devolution.

Devolution of the Crown Estate, as well as every single local authority in Wales. The case and democratic mandate are inarguable. We have immense natural resources, including wind and tidal power, which are not being fully utilised, and electricity generation in Wales has fallen by almost 50% since its 2016 peak, as growth in renewable capacity has not kept in pace with the drop in generation from coal and nuclear. If we are to strengthen our energy security, we need to see the government and developers working with the needs of communities to deliver investment in renewables.

We need to see in a sustainable and fair way, with an emphasis on offshore wind and community led onshore development developments. And developers need to be totally transparent in costs and how their investment is being funded. The King's Speech does include the new coal licensing ban, which is welcome. However, as I've raised before in Parliament, the proposed ban in its current form does not guarantee the prevention of commercial extraction of coal from coal tips. The government should bring measures forward to close this loophole, so that companies can never profit from the over 2000, 2500 tips we have in Wales, which contain millions of tonnes of coal between them.

In addition, Westminster must always must also provide justice for our valley and coal mining communities by fully funding the remediation of coal tips in Wales, which are the legacy of our devolution industrial past. The price tag is estimated at 600 million. However, the UK government has only committed around 143 million. We needed a King's speech that addressed the unfairness at the heart of Wales's energy system. For a country so rich in energy and potential. We need to see so much more ambition from the UK government for Wales than what was announced, and ambition that brings communities on the journey, and ambition which listens to the voice of Welsh constituents.

Plaid Cymru

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will continue to stand up and demand the fairness that Wales deserves. John Jonathan Davies.

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Thank you very much. Madam Deputy Speaker and it is a pleasure to be able to contribute to this debate following His to this debate following His Majesty's gracious speech, because it is an opportunity to reflect on things the government has done and also to look to the future. And in so many areas, progress is being made, whether it's in the NHS, and I was very pleased last week to see I was very pleased last week to see the biggest in month fall in waiting times since 2008, and action on the cost of living issues in the economy and the cost of living, according to the young people which contributed to my survey undertaken towards the end of last year, I identified the cost of living as the biggest significant issue, holding them back and with measures like freezing rail fares and ensuring the economy can deliver continued interest rates cuts, that is all extra money in people's pockets.

But there is a huge amount more to do. And looking ahead, I'm very keen to see the government recognise the value of our Unesco World Heritage Site as the chair of the all party group for that sector, they have an opportunity to offer in terms of education and the economy and the environment as well. I also am very keen that the government looks at VAT for hospitality. It's a sector which is is is struggling at the moment, and also we must progress and go further and faster with our business rates reform.

Turning to
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Jonathan Davies Portrait Jonathan Davies MP (Mid Derbyshire, Labour)
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energy, I was very pleased with some of the steps the government has taken in the first session of this Parliament, including to roll this Parliament, including to roll out the community energy scheme. That's going to make a massive difference to community difference to community institutions, sports clubs, churches, parish councils, as they can generate more of their energy can generate more of their energy and export that to the grid. I was also very pleased with the £600 million worth of backing for the small modular reactors.

That's small modular reactors. That's excellent news for people in Derby who have the skills to progress that and bring it forward, but there's so much more to do. We do have many businesses which are struggling in my constituency or nearby, including Denbigh. It lacks the grid connections to export the renewables. That's excess renewables that it has at the weekend, back into the grid, and

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also the cost for ceramics of energy is a massive issue holding the economy back. On that point.

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On that point. I'm grateful. I'm grateful to my friend for giving way and and for friend for giving way and and for for raising the issue of Denbigh pottery, which is, of course, in administration, a business in my constituency. Would he join me in urging all of the members in this urging all of the members in this House to sign the petition to save Denbigh pottery? And would he join me in encouraging his constituents

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to do so as well? I absolutely would, it's their jobs and they very much value the products that are produced at products that are produced at Denbigh. And I would just ask the Ministers, if it can't be the case that ceramics can go into the supercharger scheme, we need a different package to particularly help that sector. It's the war in Iran that has brought energy into Iran that has brought energy into sharp focus. Again, we've seen shocks to the economy, the risks that people will be paying much that people will be paying much more people, domestic customers and and businesses.

And that's why we must go further and faster with our efforts to do more of our home grown energy through renewables and also through through nuclear. But there is another side to this as well, and that is the environment. And I'm somewhat disappointed that it hasn't featured more prominently in this debate. Ministers may be aware of the the government's own national security assessment, which linked the global ecosystem degradation and and collapse which threatens the UK's national security and prosperity.

So dealing with our carbon emissions, with our impacts on the environment is not just something that we need to do for the economy. It's something that we need to do to prevent those drivers of global conflict in the future, because we know our access to natural resources, to water, to the way that we grow our food, to extreme weather events, is going to be a driver of conflict. So yes, we do need to do more on energy for our economy and for domestic customers at home.

But if we don't get a grip of climate change, of the threats that it poses to people in this country and around the world, we will see more conflict going forward in the future. And I also believe that if this study that has been published and it hasn't had the attention which it has needed, it's the government's own. It's the government's own study. I believe it would have had an impact on the SDR, which does talk about climate change, particularly in the high north.

But this is an issue that we're only beginning to get to grips with. So if the Ministers could take that away and raise it with his colleagues, I would be most grateful indeed. So as we look forward, just some some reflections of the first session of Parliament, we have made significant progress in this in terms of improving people's lives in this country, but it is clear that there is a great deal more to do, and people are not feeling the change which we promised so profoundly.

But so often it would seem to me that our frame of reference for the challenges that we face is the moment that we are in, and not the long term future of this country. And that is why so many of the measures that the government is bringing forward through driving energy security are so important. They will take time to deliver, but they will make a difference. Thank

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you very much, Madam Deputy Speaker. Katie Lam thank you, Madam. Deputy Speaker, time and time

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Deputy Speaker, time and time again over the past few months, and indeed, in this debate, we have heard Ministers talk about the importance of energy independence, importance of energy independence, and they are right to do so. No country has ever succeeded without cheap and abundant energy. For cheap and abundant energy. For energy to be cheap and abundant, its supply must be reliable. If we are dependent on energy imports from overseas, the supply of energy will necessarily be unreliable, as the disruption caused by recent events in the Persian Gulf has made abundantly clear.

But it is profoundly dishonest to talk of energy independence while making us more dependent on energy imports from abroad. And that's exactly what the government's plans to ban new North Sea oil and gas would do. They should, at the very least, be brave enough to admit that to the public. Ministers say there's no point in using our vast oil and gas reserves. They say that energy prices are set entirely on the international market, which means that increasing our domestic supply would have little to no impact on the overall prices.

But this isn't true. Gas, for example, is a highly localised market, specifically in the case of liquefied natural gas.
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Katie Lam Portrait Katie Lam MP (Weald of Kent, Conservative)
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This is gas, which is turned into a liquid loaded onto ships and transported globally. The further transported globally. The further those ships have to travel, the more expensive it becomes to deliver. So if we rely on gas deliver. So if we rely on gas imports from the rest of the world, we'll need to spend more money to bring that gas to Britain. The vast bring that gas to Britain. The vast majority of homes in the UK 87% use gas for heating. We currently gas for heating.

We currently import half of the gas we consume. If we produced more gas domestically, it would be cheaper to buy gas, meaning heating bills would in fact come down happily.

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Polly Billington thank you very much, Madam Speaker, and I thank the hon. Lady for giving way. I know that the opposite the member the party in opposition isn't very keen on experts, but I would just simply refer her to Fatih Birol, simply refer her to Fatih Birol, the head of the International Energy Agency, who was pointed out that expansion of production of that expansion of production of North Sea oil and gas does not significantly improve. UK's energy security, will not alter the UK's status as a net importer, and that status as a net importer, and that it will take too long to affect global prices.

Global demand for fossil fuels, he says, has changed permanently and therefore we should be prioritising renewables, nuclear power and electrification over

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further fossil fuel expansion. Katie Lam thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker and I thank the hon. Deputy Speaker and I thank the hon. Lady for her intervention. As I just said, 80% of houses use gas for heating. We cannot simply for heating. We cannot simply substitute that for renewables. It is impossible. And it would also, is impossible. And it would also, to return to the issue of energy independence, make us more resistant to global shocks. If we were to produce more gas were to produce more gas domestically, we would be far better served.

If companies which provide energy in Britain were bidding on gas produced in this country, rather than gas produced halfway around the world, not only would bills come down, but we would also mitigate the risk of sudden cost increases as a result of supply restrictions elsewhere. Yet the government is proposing a policy which would achieve exactly the opposite. The demand for gas is not going away, much as the government might wish that it were. And even if British homes move away from gas in the long term, it is absurd to impose higher bills on them in the short term, in the name of ideology.

Those on the government benches often talk of sustainability, but there is nothing sustainable about this situation. Families across the country are facing higher bills and extra taxes to fund this government's ideological commitment to intermittent energy sources. Many will be forced to do things like postpone holidays or delay moving house to be able to afford the increasing costs imposed upon them by this government. Meanwhile, businesses are being forced to cut back on staff or shut their doors altogether because the cost of doing business is now simply too high.

That's local pubs, family farms, nursing homes, all forced to shut up shop. And for industrial businesses in particular, the situation is even worse. These are the businesses in sectors like AI and high skilled manufacturing, which can provide some of the best paid and most durable jobs, revitalising whole communities and enabling people to build successful lives for themselves. Yet while China and India fuel their industrial expansion with new coal fired power plants, British industry faces some of the highest energy prices in the developed world, the highest in Europe and more than double the price paid by industrial businesses in the United States.

We cannot hope to sustain an industrial base in this country, let alone grow it. While the price of energy is so vulnerable to global shocks, why would anybody start a new industrial business in Britain under these conditions? And if this is being done in the name of climate change, it is proving to be a catastrophic failure. In the eight years between 2013 and 2020, China pumped out more carbon emissions than Britain has produced over the past 250 years. And that's not just because China is a bigger country per person.

Emissions from China are more than double those in Britain. We are sending our emissions abroad to countries like China without making a dent in addressing global climate change. And it's British families and British businesses that are left to pick up the tab. Their plans on energy policy will leave us more dependent on overseas imports, and will leave the British people worse off financially without making any noticeable impact on global climate change. If the government wants to genuinely advance our energy independence, then we will welcome that.

But it will not do so by wrecking domestic production and leaving us reliant on imports from

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abroad. Jessica Toale UK. Last November, the Children's Ministers and I visited Saint Ministers and I visited Saint Joseph's Primary in Poole. We were there because the school was one of the first to benefit from the rollout of solar panels under GB energy, and we met members of the eco club who excitedly showed us how much energy the panels were generating and and how much the school was consuming. We joined a classroom lesson, jogging on the classroom lesson, jogging on the spot with the kids to generate CO2 and monitor the levels so they could practically learn about heating, cooling and ventilation.

And we watched them design new energy efficiency and greening measures. And they told us with pride how the solar panels enabled them to give back to their community by supplying power to EV chargers in the car park. Now, children care deeply about preserving and protecting our natural environment and preserving
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Jessica Toale Portrait Jessica Toale MP (Bournemouth West, Labour)
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it for future generations. They understand the need for bold action to do so better than some of the to do so better than some of the adults in this chamber. But not only were the solar panels a valuable learning tool inspiring valuable learning tool inspiring them, the school was saving money about £8,500 a year, enabling them to plough resources back into teaching. And this speaks to something wider for many people the promise that hard work would deliver security, home ownership and a decent quality of life increasingly feels out of reach.

And that frustration is real. And we see that acutely on energy, with local residents in Bournemouth West and businesses telling me that their heating in their homes,

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fuelling their cars and Sustaining the energy costs of their businesses is becoming increasingly unaffordable. Families increasingly unaffordable. Families are tired of living at the mercy of global energy shocks. They can't control where every instance of control where every instance of international instability is felt in food bills, household bills, and the anxiety of sitting around their the anxiety of sitting around their kitchen tables at the end of the month. That's why I'm proud of the number of measures we've taken as number of measures we've taken as this as this government measures in the Budget to bring down bills by £150.

The energy price cap, action on heating oil, a warm homes plan bringing the biggest ever public investment to homes and record investment in clean, home-grown power. And now, a cornerstone measure in this King's Speech the Energy Independence Bill to accelerate investment in clean, home grown energy, strengthen consumer protections and bring down bills over the long term. And I want to make this point clearly to the frontbench. Towns like mine in Bournemouth and Poole stand ready to help deliver that transition. It's an immense source of pride for me to represent a constituency that is full to the brim of extraordinary talent, creativity and innovation.

We have outstanding colleges, universities, skilled workers. A great example of this is Bournemouth and Poole Colleges Green Energy Centre building the skilled workforce of the future. And we have the natural assets on our coastline and communities eager for investment, including huge opportunities through the Dorset Clean Energy Supercluster. In my right hon. Friend the Member for South Dorset Constituency. Now, the transition to clean energy must not simply happen to places like Bournemouth and Poole. It must include them because creating a new generation of skilled workers and the opportunity for well-paid jobs in areas that have too long been overlooked for investment, is about making an economy that works again for people who feel like it has

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stopped working for them. I thank my hon. Friend for giving way and making an excellent giving way and making an excellent speech. Does she share my view that actually, what's really important about the pieces of legislation put forward in the King's Speech is forward in the King's Speech is they will start to drive growth, drive green job creation into parts of the country that for too long of the country that for too long have been left behind and have not felt the benefits of growth and job creation.



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creation. I thank my hon. Friend. And yes, I absolutely agree. And I think what he didn't say to the Ministers is that we would very much welcome a visit in Dorset to support the the Dorset Clean Energy Supercluster and ultimately, ultimately. Madam Deputy Speaker, this is why I support the King's Speech. While others offer anger, division, easy answers or simply change their minds about important issues. This government is choosing a path that will deliver long term reform, economic resilience and national renewal.

That work will take time, but we can rebuild. We cannot rebuild prosperity on short termism. This king's speech is an important step towards building a more secure, more resilient and more hopeful future for communities like mine in Bournemouth West and

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across the country, Carla Lockhart and for. Everybody else in the speaking

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Everybody else in the speaking limit will be dropped to three minutes after Carla Lockhart. Thank you. Madam Deputy Speaker. Having

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Madam Deputy Speaker. Having listened intently to the King's Speech, I was left with one conclusion that this government conclusion that this government just doesn't get it. A government completely out of touch after completely out of touch after recent election results in the surge in support for parties campaigning on illegal immigration, sovereignty and cost of living pressures, you would think government might finally have recognised public frustration. Instead, they appear to have learned absolutely nothing. People are angry. Angry about illegal immigration, angry about the cost of living and pressure they feel every time they fill their car or heat their home, angry about overstretched public services and increasingly angry that ordinary people feel they are losing control over decisions affecting their lives.

Today's debate is about energy, and there is no doubt that is the the topic around every kitchen table. Yes, the King's Speech had very little to say to families facing those pressures on energy security. Nowhere is the gap between Westminster policy and reality clearer than in Northern Ireland. Around 60% of households in Northern Ireland rely on home heating oil. Many live in rural heating oil. Many live in rural communities where a car is not optional. It is absolutely essential to give way quickly.
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Carla Lockhart Portrait Carla Lockhart MP (Upper Bann, Democratic Unionist Party)
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Very quickly.

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Point, one of the reasons why the heating oil is expensive is because of the travel and to get it because of the travel and to get it over there. But the Conservative Party have put forward an amendment to that. They open the oil fields

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in the North Sea. Does she feel, if that was to happen, that would reduce the oil price and heating oil in Northern Ireland? Yes, absolutely. Come to that.

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Yes, absolutely. Come to that. So when fuel prices, when oil prices increase or when instability sends shockwaves through energy markets, families in my constituency feel it immediately. Hauliers, farmers and many businesses are feeling the pressure. Also in Northern Ireland, there is no easy switch, no ready made alternative and certainly no escaping the cost. I've repeatedly raised concerns in this House about heating oil costs, fuel affordability and support for households uniquely exposed to these pressures. I have repeatedly pressed for practical measures that would make an immediate difference cutting fuel duty, reducing VAT burdens on hard pressed householders, greater support for those dependent on home heating oil, and stronger protections for consumers exposed to volatility in heating oil market.

These are not radical ideas. They're not long term. They're a practical

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intervention that show a government that is in touch with the needs. The member give way. Well, I

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The member give way. Well, I thank the hon. Member for giving way. Would you agree with me when she mentions fuel duty, that a contribution, even though a contribution, even though a temporary one, would be if the government were to announce a cut in fuel duty rather than just freezing it. And that would be a freezing it. And that would be a significant step, particularly as we come into the summer months and then subsequently into winter.

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then subsequently into winter. Absolutely practical step that would make a real difference. Families are entitled to ask what possible justification is there for support sitting untouched while people struggle? When we look at the 81 million that has been given by Westminster to to Stormont and sitting in a Sinn Féin control department, rather than reaching households who desperately need it, and I would ask for the Ministers to intervene on that. Energy security means affordability and policies grounded in reality. People support protecting the environment, but they also expect realism.

And realism means recognising a simple truth. Energy security begins with producing the energy we need ourselves. The North Sea has the ability to help power our economy, support jobs and strengthen our energy resilience for decades. Yet instead of backing a strategic national asset. Too often government appears determined to turn its back on it. As Secretary of State, who is so wedded to a failing, crazy net zero agenda, rather than helping those most in need at a time of global instability, increasing dependence on imported energy while restricting domestic production raises serious questions.

That is not energy security. It is exporting jobs, exporting investment, and increasing dependence on others. We should be supporting domestic production, backing strategic industries and ensuring we are using our own resources wherever possible. And we should stop loading further costs onto households and industry through increasingly unrealistic and punitive carbon taxes, which ultimately make life more expensive for working people and businesses. The cost associated with net zero from 2025 to 2050 is 116,000,000,035 billion per year.

Those are eye watering sums and it's the taxpayer that's paying for it. Madam Deputy Speaker, the election results should have been a political earthquake, a warning shot. Yet government has not listened. Instead, it remains trapped in the Westminster bubble. A lack of understanding of what life actually looks like outside SW1 because let's us look at illegal immigration. The public were promised stronger borders, promised tougher action, promised control. Instead, what we're seeing is expensive failure dressed up as progress. More than 200,000 people have now crossed the channel in small boats.

Since records began in 2025 alone, more than 41,000 cross, making it the second highest year on record. I have repeatedly raised concerns around the asylum accommodation costs. Rehousing in the next decade is set to total £15 billion £15 billion of taxpayers money to rehouse asylum in Northern Ireland. It's set to rise to 400 million. I know that money would be better spent on our own citizens first. At a time when pensioners struggle, businesses face pressure and families watch every penny.

The government are more concerned about forcing unwanted and not needed agendas in ideology. Digital IDs net zero. What would that money not be? That money would be better spent on our WASPI women, our pensioners, pensioners, meaningful welfare reforms. Where was the support for businesses and farmers sustaining our rural economy and food security? And where was Northern Ireland? There was no meaningful recognition of continuing barriers within our own United Kingdom internal market. Madam Deputy Speaker, what frustrates people most is what was simply not in the King's Speech.

When we look at the antisemitism Islamist extremism. Our veterans weren't mentioned. And then you have the EU rhetoric. The public sent a message at the ballot box.

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It's time for the government to wake up and start listening. Making or taking interventions

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Making or taking interventions will deny another member from making a speech. Julia Buckley thank. You very much, Madam Deputy

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You very much, Madam Deputy Speaker. I am grateful to contribute to this debate on the new legislative programme included new legislative programme included in this year's King's Speech. At a time when all eyes are on our government to demonstrate delivery,
17:37
Julia Buckley Portrait Julia Buckley MP (Shrewsbury, Labour)
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government to demonstrate delivery, we should not underestimate the impact we can have on daily lives by improving the invisible yet critical infrastructure that holds our country together. As a matter of national security, with impact for growth across all regions, it's imperative we unlock better planning, coordination and investment in core services, the lack of which has been holding back our growth. Now, with strategic plans to grow capacity and power, energy, connectivity and water infrastructure, we can set this country on the path to sustainable growth.

Because in the face of climate change, we must adapt and improve our readiness. This is vital in the Energy Independence Bill, as we have heard from colleagues today. But nowhere is this more needed than in the water sector, where we have witnessed the abject failure of privatisation in the industry, leaving us with dangerously polluted water, inadequate sewage management and increasingly expensive water bills. Add to this the effect of climate change, and we are simultaneously seeing an increase in flooding and drought, which sounds like an oxymoron, but it's just a symptom of the mismanagement of our precious water resource with inadequate infrastructure.

The public, as we know, are quite rightly angry. Angry that the asset stripping of water companies and failure to invest in our drainage and sewerage infrastructure has allowed this to continue for decades. In my constituency of Shrewsbury, a beautiful town is enclosed by the loop of the River Severn. It's a beautiful, historic natural asset that has also been allowed to fill with sewage, breach its banks and pollute our homes, businesses and play areas. Bill payers are ready for change and from an infrastructure perspective, we also need assurances that our water assets are being considered holistically.

From rainwater reuse to infrastructure upgrades and stronger oversight of what has become a very fragmented industry. So, Madam Deputy Speaker, I welcome the Clean Water Bill introduced this session a SQL. You could say

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to our first blockbuster, the Water Special Measures. Act. From last year, which introduced criminal liabilities for polluters criminal liabilities for polluters and banned executive bonuses for water bosses guilty of environmental damage. The Clean environmental damage. The Clean Water Bill is much anticipated. Follow on is needed to overhaul the current regulatory system. It's an ambitious programme of high level restructuring and I look forward to this vital piece of legislation. this vital piece of legislation. It's long overdue and it's high time we got a grip of the problem of our polluted waterways.

I've always described the Water Special Measures Bill as the last chance saloon for water companies to get this right, whereas the clean water bill is surely our last throw of the dice. Before we move to nationalising the water sector.
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Polly Billington Portrait Ms Polly Billington MP (East Thanet, Labour)
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Lincoln thank you very much, Madam Deputy Speaker. In East Thanet, almost 15% of people are in Thanet, almost 15% of people are in fuel poverty, significantly above the national average of 11.4%. That's thousands of my constituents. That's thousands of my constituents. You cannot afford for their energy bills to go up, but because of international events completely out of their control and are now facing exactly that, working people should not like this, should not bear the burden of decisions made by Donald Trump or Vladimir Putin.

That is why I am glad to see the government's focus on energy and energy independence in this upcoming legislative session. There is no one silver bullet for achieving this. It requires action to reduce energy usage, which is why the Warm Homes Agency is so important for giving people trusted advice and access to grants and low interest loans. It requires more generation of energy at home because the more we produce domestically, the less exposed we are to volatile fossil fuel markets. It requires reform of the market, and it requires diversity of supply.

But Madam Deputy Speaker, this is in particular a new international situation, which is different from the kind of circumstances we were previously considering when tackling the science of climate change and the failed market of energy in this country. We now live in a situation where the global context is more volatile and more unstable than it has ever been. Therefore, this legislative programme that the government has announced is absolutely necessary, but it may not be sufficient on its own to secure the energy independence and resilience we require.

The government needs to consider its role in establishing greater international agreements on how we increase the resilience of our global economy against our exposure to fossil fuel markets. I have called on the government to convene an international energy summit with the same boldness and scope of Gordon Brown's crisis Summit in 2009, following the great financial crash, I saw firsthand the role of Britain using its convening power to bring nations together, and we should look to do so again.

I'm delighted to hear in the speech that we will be hosting the G20 next year, and I hope the government will make energy cooperation right at the heart of that summit. This is crucial because 20% of the world's oil. 20% of global liquid natural gas and one third of seaborne fertiliser pass through the Straits of Hormuz every day. The economic pain of this has not yet hit us. People are already talking about the risk of family holidays, but there is a risk of food shortages and starvation, a risk of blackouts in countries that are vital to our supply chains.

So that is why this is serious that we are facing and requires an international solution. I'm delighted that we have a deep and broad, integrated approach to tackling some of the most challenging elements of creating increased energy resilience, as outlined in the in the legislative plans, but it does need to be seen in that wider global context and demands global leadership from the British government.
17:42
Brian Leishman Portrait Brian Leishman MP (Alloa and Grangemouth, Labour)
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Brian Leishman Madam Deputy Speaker. Coal miners were the original victims of an unjust transition, and 40 years on, the Grangemouth oil refinery, workers Grangemouth oil refinery, workers are the modern day equivalent. PetroChina, the Chinese state owned PetroChina, the Chinese state owned petrochemical company, and Sir Jim Ratcliffe Ineos ended a century of Scottish oil refining because they, a foreign government and private capital, wanted to make even more money. Closure meant 435 jobs on site redundant, 2822 supply chain jobs gone.

Local businesses who needed refinery worker custom hammered £400 million a year from the Scottish economy. Lost Scotland's energy security, weakened Scotland's national security, compromised the previous Tory government, disinterested the SNP Scottish Government negligent. We know when essential national infrastructure is in the hands of a foreign government and a private company, workers, their communities and a nation's energy security will not stand in the way of shareholders getting their dividend. That is what private capital will always do.

So British Steel being taken into national ownership is great news. But I asked the Ministers in his summing up today, why do the same not happen for Grangemouth oil refinery? Now, last Christmas my Labour government did step in and save the UK chemicals industry at Grangemouth, 500 jobs secured, a profit sharing agreement, reached positive government action for Grangemouth and for all of Scotland. That was the right thing to do. That was the Labour thing to do. And the same goes for nationalising British Steel.

15 months ago at Scottish Labour Party conference, the Prime Minister announced project will £200 million for Grangemouth bold industrial future. Let's get those new green, clean future industries into Grangemouth, but do it quicker. It has taken far too long because workers need jobs. The local community must see the benefit of those industries coming to Grangemouth. Scandalously, for far too long, private capital has exploited the local area, extracted profits and not put anything back into the town that has given them oh so much.

Let us take public ownership of these new industries, reinvest in Grangemouth, reinvest in the town. The people that we, the working class, started to reap the benefits of our labour.
17:45
Elsie Blundell Portrait Mrs Elsie Blundell MP (Heywood and Middleton North, Labour)
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Well. >> Thank you, Madam Speaker. >> I would like to welcome last week's King's Speech and the bills with him aiming to put the UK on a with him aiming to put the UK on a stronger path for the future. My constituents in Heywood and Middleton North have been clear Middleton North have been clear with me if we are to build a future that is fairer, where they are not just getting by but thriving, we need to do politics differently. It is not good enough to suggest that someday, in the distant future, things might get a little bit better.

That's not going to cut it anymore. Today, our focus is on energy security, an issue which underscores perhaps more than any other, that we cannot carry on with business as usual. Looking across the north of England, we can see the consequences of deindustrialisation, the hollowing out of local economies and the impacts of austerity. And it's abundantly clear that we need to view achieving energy security as an opportunity to right these historic wrongs. The inequalities brought about by this have been eating away at communities and the values that once made them whole, and reframing energy security as a positive opportunity to reverse the fortunes of towns like mine is the only way to proceed.

The poverty experienced by far too many in Heywood and Middleton and the other towns that I represent will not be addressed unless we accept that we need to reindustrialise and do so in a way that safeguards our energy security. I would therefore like to express my full support for the provisions made in the government's Energy Independence Bill, the next step in tackling the fact that builds a totally unmanageable for consumers and businesses, and ending our overreliance on global energy markets. But challenges with the cost of energy are not only a consideration when it comes to how we heat the homes or power industry.

As the Soul Greater Manchester MP on the Transport Committee, I also want to consider how the cost of energy affects how we get from A to B, giving local people the ability to reach employment and leisure opportunities both affordably and in a joined up manner, is something we have pioneered in Greater Manchester. We have made these arguments, taken our detractors head on and won, and we have done so through a vision led approach and through place based delivery. The delivery of the largest light rail network in the country has completely transformed the prospects of tens of thousands of people in Greater Manchester.

And with the tram arriving in my constituency with spades in the ground by 2028, we are closing gaps in provision so that the whole of Greater Manchester can benefit, including Heywood and Middleton North delivery through a responsive, integrated and affordable bus service that reaches all corners of the city region, taken back into public ownership. In terms of rail, I also welcome the government's Northern Powerhouse Rail Bill, a clear reflection of our region's ambition and a firm commitment from government to decarbonisation and delivery across the north.

In closing, Madam Deputy Speaker, I welcome the King's Speech and what it could mean for my constituents in Heywood and Middleton North. And with that being said, I want to be completely clear the window that we have to demonstrate that there is another way is rapidly closing. The security my constituents deserve is not a pipe dream. It's entirely deliverable and in my view. Madam Deputy Speaker.
17:49
Torcuil Crichton Portrait Torcuil Crichton MP (Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Labour)
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Torcuil Crichton thank you, >> Torcuil Crichton thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Much of the debate we have heard today, I heard in the village of York on the Isle in the village of York on the Isle of Lewis last Saturday morning when I visited there with Donald MacKinnon, our new Labour MSP. For MacKinnon, our new Labour MSP. For a year, Donald fought a tremendous campaign. He'd be a brilliant MSP who raced against the tide for the Western Isles and kept the Atlantic beacon of light for labour during our summer squalls, and I must, in passing, pay three.

Doctor Arthur Allen for his public service to the Islands MSP over many years, and just as the islands were at a political tipping point the other week, so too are they at the fulcrum of this debate over energy security. To the east. The district of Ness looks to the mainland, over the horizon, to the North Sea, where much of its wealth has come from over the past decade. Out to the west is the wild Atlantic, from where the wealth of wind will provide and power the transition away from carbon and renewables.

And at this football ground, where the under eight were in fierce competition, one parent gave me his simple political priority to keep the North Sea open. It has provided him and his family with the means to stay in the island, and many other families found that football pitch. Although it means that many mothers are effectively single parent families for half their children's lives. And just further up the road, walk your neighbour's dog. Another constituent stopped us to state our concerns and objections about plans for a multinational 900 megawatt offshore wind turbine array, which, being less than four miles away, is actually really near shore rather than offshore.

And both these conversations reflect the concerns of many who find the scale of this transition overwhelming, who feel they're not being carried along in the journey to renewable energy, and that workers and communities affected by this revolution are in danger of being left behind. Now, previous governments have not backed community energy on a scale that they previously did, and I

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look forward to GB energy and the new energy Bill energy, Enabling a big leap forward in community energy. And when it comes to the North Sea, these guys are skilled engineers, mariners, experts in their field. They know experts in their field. They know the North Sea is a declining field, but they also know that the technicalities of tiebacks, which this government hasn't made enough this government hasn't made enough of, are the quickest way to bring on stream more oil and gas. Some 2.5 million barrels could be developed using subsidy tiebacks and these guys in the North Sea want what that guy at the football pitch wanted certainty and an orderly transition.

But it's their jobs at the centre of this transition. And the Ministers knows from visiting the islands and talking to community energy companies, that we are at the centre of the transition and produce more energy than any other than any other place in the in the in the UK, the problem is that there is no space to get that energy out, that commercial companies are dominating the 1.8GW interconnector. And I urge the Ministers, as I have urged them before, not to talk to Neso, but to sit on Neso Ofgem on the grid operators, to find a route through and to expand community owned energy islands and indeed elsewhere.
17:52
Jen Craft Portrait Jen Craft MP (Thurrock, Labour)
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Jen Craft Madam Deputy. Ministers to my constituency in Thurrock, where we took part in the blessing of a tunnel underneath the Thames and that formed the final Thames and that formed the final part of the Tilbury to Grane upgrade of the National Grid. And I reflected at the time it put us right at the forefront of seeing a green energy revolution in my constituency of Thurrock and once again Tilbury. This place on the estuary of the Thames, is playing its part in delivering and securing our nation's future.

And I think it's very pertinent to the debate today as we hear whether or not we need to continue with our slavish devotion to fossil fuels, or whether we actually look to switch to a greener, better future for our children and our grandchildren. This makes sense for the planet and for the pocket. We know that the cost of transition to clean energy is less than the cost incurred by one fossil fuel crisis alone. And with the recent action that's happened in Iran and the impact that that has on people's energy bills, we can really see the crucial and pressing nature of

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affecting this switch as soon as possible. And in. Thank my hon. Friend for giving way. She mentioned investment in way. She mentioned investment in green energy Beckenham and Penge my constituency has had significant investment from GB energy over investment from GB energy over £700,000 for rooftop solar panels at the NHS Bethlehem Hospital and also on local primary schools like Harris Primary Shortlands. Does she Harris Primary Shortlands. Does she agree with me? It's a win win for everyone, good for the environment, good for bills and more money spent

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on patients and students. I thank my hon. Friend for his intervention and I very much do agree with him. And indeed, a secondary school in my constituency has benefited from the installation of solar panels, and I expect to see their energy bill reduced quite significantly, which will make a huge impact on what they are able to deliver for their students in their school and in my constituency, we are already seeing benefits from the switch to green energy. I recently helped to open the Green Energy Centre at South Essex College, which is helping people train and retrain in retrofitting homes, existing homes to become bill free and to really reduce the price that people have to pay to heat their homes and get energy into them.

And the Thames Free Port, a large proportion of which is in my constituency, is a real focus on renewable energy and will bring career lifelong jobs for people who can really look to stay local and work local, and will have a huge transformation, could potentially have a huge transformational change to the lives of people who live in Thurrock. I firmly hope that the new Reform Council and I see that there are no members on their bench here to represent that party, will continue on this approach and will engage in seeing the economic success that places like the Thames, Freeport and their focus on renewables can bring, and that they are not blinded by sheer political ideology to really hamper the progress that people in my part of the world can make.

However, given that their first act in office was removing the Ukrainian flag flying outside Thurrock counsel's office, which had previously been there to show solidarity and resistance to Russian expansionism. One of the greatest threats, I think, facing Europe at this time, I wouldn't hold out much hope. Indeed, it seems that Vladimir Putin is indeed getting his money's worth. And talking of malign foreign influence in our democracy, I very strongly welcome measures outlined in the King's Speech around the Representation of the People Bill in order to tackle this threat, tightening foreign political donations, strengthening the role and the powers of the Electoral Commission will go far.

However, I fear we are at a precipice and find. And in finding an existential threat to our democracy, social media algorithms have a parasitic relationship with populism, both driven by outrage, anger, fear and. They poison our social discourse and our public space. We know that 18 million Facebook accounts were harvested and mine to gather data on how to psychologically manipulate users in the run up to the Brexit vote, and in the run up to the first Trump presidential campaign. Again, Vladimir Putin getting his money's worth.

The government must take action to stand up to Big Tech and urgently address this threat before the damage done to our democratic institutions is irreparable.
17:56
Lloyd Hatton Portrait Lloyd Hatton MP (South Dorset, Labour)
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Thank you, Madam Deputy. focus on key national infrastructure, I thought I would speak briefly on the Clean Water bill, which was outlined in the bill, which was outlined in the King's Speech, which is another essential piece of national infrastructure that is long overdue for reform. Like many in this House, I welcome the clean water bill with open arms. And as I see it, the bill is our best opportunity to create a water sector which puts bill payers, water users and the environment first.

For too long, it has felt like shareholders, overseas investment banks or indeed private equity firms have been at the forefront of the priority of the water industry. That I hope will change with this bill, and I'm pleased that this builds upon the early action already taken by this Labour government. For me, I think what's most important is that my constituents in South Dorset know that getting the clean water bill right really matters. We're so proud of our coastline. It is perhaps the most impressive, certainly in the southwest, if not in the whole country.

So protecting that coastline from unwanted unwanted sewage spills and failing water companies really matters. And well.

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Well, my hon. Friend, give way happily. I'm actually quite jealous of my hon. Friend because his beaches were listed at about four beaches were listed at about four of them in the top beaches in time out recently. But I did visit Durdle door with him to call for a year round water testing and to year round water testing and to clean up our waters. So does he agree that this bill will take further the action to clean up

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further the action to clean up sewage spills? That we've taken action already? I completely agree with my hon. Friend. This certainly builds upon the early progress that has been made to be most effective. I think the Clean Water Bill does need to include a clear understanding that there should be a meaningful duty for all water companies to operate in the public benefit. We all know that the current model for ownership in the water sector is failing both public and the environment as well.

And instead of fixing crumbling infrastructure, water companies have been lining their own pockets and accumulating debt for far too long. Until we have that clear obligation for the big water companies to deliver both public and environmental benefit, I fear they will continue to make decisions that increase their profit shares, but also vandalise our coastlines. This is why a duty to operate in the public benefit is critical. It will help to overhaul the day to day operations of water companies and change the corporate culture at the top of many of these firms.

If we look elsewhere to similar sectors where you have this duty, it does begin to change the culture, such as, for example, in public transport and buses in particular. I think what for me is really, really important is that within the clean water bill, the government can and should use this as an opportunity to move towards a different way of the water sector, operating with a different model of ownership. I think that can only be achieved if we start to compel water companies to act in a different way.

And that requires a mechanism such as public benefit. I think what I would just say is that this bill is our golden opportunity to put the public and the environment first, and is our chance to fundamentally reform the water sector for good.
17:59
Connor Naismith Portrait Connor Naismith MP (Crewe and Nantwich, Labour)
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Connor Naismith thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, To speak for my constituents in Crewe and Nantwich constituents in Crewe and Nantwich on the legislative agenda set out in The King's Speech, a programme in The King's Speech, a programme designed to restore security, stability and control over the basics in life. And for too long, our people have felt the consequences of economic shocks over which they have no control, and an economic model which does not work for them. Now is the time to break that model and build something new, which serves every community across our great country.

You can't improve what you don't control. And the legacy of the last 40 years is that the British state has relinquished too much control over those things which impact the pounds in the pockets and the life chances of the British people. Control over the basics means securing our everyday lives. And that starts with the energy, heating our homes and powering our industry. The Energy Independence Bill and the Electricity Generator Levy Bill represent a structural shift in how this country powers itself.

Crucially, by breaking the broken link between electricity and skyrocketing, skyrocketing gas prices and investing in clean, home grown energy of the future, thereby permanently shielding working families from volatile global markets. However, I must challenge the government to go further by restoring control over another utility, that being the water that flows through our taps and into our rivers and streams, end the private water monopolies strip out private equity from this basic necessity and ensure that every pound spent in this system goes towards investing in the infrastructure and controlling bills, not towards shareholder dividends and profits.

I won't. It's time to bring water back under public control, ensuring that this life essential utility is managed as a secure public good, not a private commodity. And in the time I have remaining, Madam Deputy Speaker, I wish to talk about high streets. High streets are the visible heartbeat of our towns, and I warmly welcome the steps taken by this government to date to support local authorities, to intervene, to fill empty shops. But intervention is only half the battle. We must also cultivate an environment where small businesses can genuinely succeed.

Hospitality businesses are vital to that endeavour, and I call on the government to support hospitality together and and hospitality businesses in my constituency. In calling for a sector specific VAT cut for hospitality. While there is room to go further, this King's Speech delivers a comprehensive framework of security. It tells the people of Crewe and Nantwich that the state is back in their corner securing.
18:02
Catherine Fookes Portrait Catherine Fookes MP (Monmouthshire, Labour)
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The Catherine Fookes. >> Madam Deputy Speaker. >> I'm delighted that measures in the King's Speech will strengthen our economic security, our national security and what we are debating today our energy security. And while the Tories and Reform want to ditch our net zero policies and our clean power targets is a huge relief to people in Monmouthshire and across the UK that Labour is taking clean energy seriously. And anyone hearing the debate from those opposite today would think they wanted to take us back to oil lamps and candles.

Such is their disdain for clean energy and modern ways. I'd also like to flag today my strong support for the clean water bill, rivers such as the Wye and ask in my constituency of Monmouthshire are incredibly important to the people of Monmouthshire and they are polluted and we must tackle this and I'm really pleased that we're doing that. With stronger regulation promised by the Clean Water Bill. People in Monmouthshire are facing the realities of our dependence, though, on global oil and gas markets, and many of us in the countryside rely on heating oil or LPG and have little choice but to pay up when prices spike.

And earlier this year, a woman in her 70s wrote to me and told me her, quote, for 500l of oil had risen by £250 in less than a week, and others are hamstrung as their electricity bill goes up or as their commute gets more expensive. And all this is triggered by international conflict that is out of the UK's hands. And that is why Labour has delivered the biggest ever investment in Home-grown clean power in British history, including Wylfa in North Wales, as part of the biggest nuclear building programme in half a century, and serious investment also in tidal power off the coast of Wales.

And I must point out to the frontbench that there is a really big potential in the River Severn that borders my Monmouthshire constituency, and it would be an amazing spot for new tidal projects. So I do hope the Ministers can respond to that later. The Climate Change Act, the Climate Change Act, has been emulated all over the world as a leading framework to Budget and plan our emissions, and hold governments accountable for polluting the Tories who did support it years ago, now want to scrap it, reform back fracking and the deputy leader actually calls net zero a cult.

The Energy Independence Bill and other legislation set out in The King's Speech affirms this Labour government's commitment to harnessing clean, home-grown power. And I'm proud to back the government that takes decisions that protect our natural world, our natural world, our security and our wallets. These decisions will not only benefit my generation, but also generations to come.
18:05
Sureena Brackenridge Portrait Sureena Brackenridge MP (Wolverhampton North East, Labour)
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Sureena Brackenridge Madam Deputy Speaker. I welcome His Majesty's Gracious Speech as it Majesty's Gracious Speech as it puts energy security, economic security and industrial renewal back on track for the people that I represent. Wolverhampton and Willenhall has a proud history of industry, innovation and hard work. From our foundries and factories to our engineering and manufacturing expertise, our communities help power Britain's and the global growth for generations. Yet the policies of the past are taking their toll today.

Policies of turning the UK away from manufacturing, away from council housing, away from public ownership are all being felt today by my communities. One of the most pressing issues facing our country today is energy security. Recent energy crises exposed how vulnerable Britain has become. In fact, half of the UK's recessions since the 1970s have been caused by exposure to fossil fuels. The only way to have true sovereignty for our country is to be in control of our own energy.

That is why I strongly welcome the government's Energy Independence Bill, which recognises that Britain must get off the fossil fuel roller coaster with clean, home-grown power, that we control ourselves. The I won't sorry. The bill takes important steps to tackle rising household bills, strengthen protections for vulnerable households and pave the way for the Warm Homes plan. It also rightly accelerates Britain's drive for energy security by speeding up investment in clean power grid infrastructure and modern energy networks.

Wolverhampton is already positioning itself at the forefront of green innovation, with investment in advanced manufacturing, clean technologies and green innovation corridor by linking the University of Wolverhampton with the Science Park and the I 54 manufacturing hub, the corridor brings together research, industry and skills. Wentzville Tata Steel Park is home to the UK's largest steel processing plant, and generations of local families have dedicated their working lives to steel and manufacturing. So I'm calling for British made steel to build the infrastructure of the future, where the wind turbines, railways and energy networks.

Backing steel means creating apprenticeships, expanding technical education and giving young people in Wolverhampton North East the opportunity to build rewarding careers at home.
18:08
Jim Dickson Portrait Jim Dickson MP (Dartford, Labour)
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And Jim Dickson. >> Madam Deputy Speaker. I'm grateful for the opportunity. >> To speak today. transition. >> To a new era.

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To a new era. Of clean energy, driving our nation's energy security forward, whilst rebuilding our public whilst rebuilding our public services and backing businesses to grow. And one of the most telling themes emerges from what businesses in my constituency have Dartford tell me at one of our regular roundtable meetings, is the slowness of our country to create the infrastructure our economy needs to succeed and underpin this transition to clean energy. Of the 35 bills in the speech, there are many which help build, build and boost economic growth and strengthen our energy security, including the Energy Independence Bill and the Energy Generator Levy Bill that seek to break the link between electricity and gas prices by moving older generators onto new fixed price contracts.

One of the bills is particularly welcome to my constituents, is to my constituents and my constituency is the highways financing Bill. This sets out, for the first time how the government can use the regulated, asset based funding model used in energy, in sectors like energy, to build new large scale road schemes and crucially, for me and for the people of Dartford, it will be the new Lower Thames Crossing that is the first project to be built on this model, using private capital to get this crucial scheme built.

We already have spades in the ground for the preparatory work on the crossing, and this new bill should see this project long promised. Finally delivered. Dartford regularly experiences traffic gridlock, where there are delays at the crossing, with children unable to get home from school, missed appointments and a stifling effect on local businesses. And this is without mentioning the terrible air quality impact of 5000 more vehicles a day using the crossing than it was originally designed to accommodate the Lower Thames Crossing.

Is the government backing those businesses to succeed? The ones that are taking part in the Lower Thames Crossing consortium that I chair, and improving vital links with our ports and creating the conditions for growth in the future. And while I'm on the topic of transport, it would be remiss of me not to mention Gally Hill Road in my constituency, the crucial route between Dartford and Gravesend, which has been collapsed and out of use for more than three years now. I hope this session will see Kent County Council bid for and secure funding from the excellent New Structures Fund to get the road repaired and back open so that local businesses like MPC Despatch Racing can thrive again and Swansea West can see an end to oversized lorries blocking its narrow roads.

I welcome this King's speech and the bills that are in it.
18:11
Jeevun Sandher Portrait Dr Jeevun Sandher MP (Loughborough, Labour)
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Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. >> Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. We've been trapped inside a vicious economic circle for decades now, and that vicious economic circle is and that vicious economic circle is underpinned by our dependence on fossil fuels, fossil fuels, which mean lower growth, which mean mean lower growth, which mean higher inflation and a higher debt burden. And more than that, lower growth, lower income. What that means for our constituents is more fear, more fury, more far right agitation.

What we see on our screens and more increasingly and worryingly on our streets as well. And that's why today, Madam Deputy Speaker, we are setting out how we're breaking out of that trap and building a virtuous economic circle of higher growth, of lower inflation and a lower debt burden to set out how and why we are in this place. It is really very simple. Fossil fuels are more expensive than wind, than solar, than nuclear. There's 50% more before the Iran crisis struck.

And what does that mean for us at home? It means less spending. Less spending means less growth. It meant higher prices and a higher inflation. And both of those things also meant a higher debt burden. And because, Madam Deputy Speaker, our debt is linked to inflation, that also means high interest payments as well. There is a fundamental, perverse economic link between fossil fuel prices and our economic prosperity, and that is what we are breaking today. Today we are breaking out of that trap by ensuring we're getting lower energy prices now and in the future.

In the first instance, immediate relief on bills, lowering affordability or rather, lowering energy prices with affordability payments, funding that by windfall taxes. And not only does that mean more spending, but it also means lower inflation. And lower inflation means the bank has more space to cut rates, because at this time, when the bank is worried about second order effects, it is not right to borrow money to ensure those bills come down. It is right to ensure we raise the money from tax to lower bills and lower interest rates.

And in the longer term, Madam Deputy Speaker, when we invest in clean energy, we know that means lower energy bills and higher growth in the future. And we know this works because there are natural gas used to set our price over 90% of the time. It now sets our price only 60% of the time. We know that we can break out of this trap because we already are. And finally, Madam Deputy Speaker, I want to close on this. This is more than just about affordability or build.

It's about the way we cohere and we live together as one. We cannot expect people in this country to have a stake in it if we do not have a stake in them. If we do not show, we can make life affordable for them. Only then can we build a country by the strength of our common endeavour, we achieve more than we do alone. Thank you.
18:14
Linsey Farnsworth Portrait Linsey Farnsworth MP (Amber Valley, Labour)
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Linsey Farnsworth thank. >> Deputy Speaker. I welcome the package of bills in this King's speech by accelerating the transition to renewables and by transition to renewables and by producing energy here in the UK for the UK, we will strengthen our energy resilience and make bills lower. But for this to succeed, another barrier must be addressed time and time again. Manufacturers in my constituency tell me they're being held back by the constraints on our grid infrastructure. It's stifling expansion and the creation of new jobs for people in Amber Valley.

This combined double burden of high energy prices and insufficient grid capacity has been keenly felt by Denby Pottery, which has now sadly gone into administration. I was shocked to learn that for years they've been forced to switch off their solar panels at weekends rather than sell excess power back to the grid. A cruel irony given the circumstances, the Ministry Ministers for industry will be acutely aware from our many meetings on this subject that I will not stop pushing for support for that, for the energy intensive ceramics industry, and I will not stop fighting to save Denby unless and until the doors close for the very last time, National Grid's plans to upgrade the network are central to increasing capacity across Amber Valley, which in turn will support local businesses.

However, I know many residents are deeply concerned about the proposed pylon route, which is set to run through my constituency from top to bottom. I'm working hard to ensure that the final route minimises impact and intrusion for residents, schools and businesses. Now in Amber Valley, our communities have consistently stepped up to support our nation's infrastructure, from opencast mining to our iron works, and that contribution must be recognised. The Community Benefit Fund can be used to support local priorities like health care, education and skills.

While I know no level of funding can fully offset the disruption, it's nonetheless essential that those communities most affected see a fair and proportionate return. Now, I've raised this directly with the Ministers for energy, who knows that I will always fight for what is right for my constituents, and that is why I want to take the opportunity today to to reiterate that given Amber Valley is once again being asked to contribute more than others to this nationally significant project, it's only right that my constituents receive a ring fenced and proportionate, proportionate share of the community fund.

Madam Deputy Speaker, some in this place seek to use energy policy as an opportunity to play culture wars, but my constituents know more than most that this is not a game. The measures in the King's Speech will make our energy resilience stronger, our energy supply fairer, and whilst preserving and creating jobs and making bills cheaper. And for my constituents, this cannot come soon enough. Yeah. Thank you madam.
18:17
Lauren Sullivan Portrait Dr Lauren Sullivan MP (Gravesham, Labour)
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The government's commitment set out in the King's Speech to drive innovation in the energy sector and innovation in the energy sector and deliver cleaner, more secure energy for future generations. Now Gravesham is stepping forward to meet this challenge. The Northfleet Green Hydrogen Project was one of 11 successful projects as part of the UK government's first hydrogen allocation round, designed for its ambition of supporting ten gigawatts of green and blue energy by 2030. Now for Gravesham, this means they will decarbonise a paper making process, but a much beloved household brand like Andrex at Kimberly-Clark, which has been part of Gravesham businesses for over 70 years now.

The science part. Having taught this in the classroom in Norfolk schools now we'll be able to see it in action in Northfleet, where hydrogen will be generated through electrolysis. Don't worry, I'm not going to go through electrolysis with you, but it will generate steam to really work out and work through the paper manufacturing process. Now this will be a hybrid process so it can run on hydrogen or natural gas, which is absolutely going to enhance our energy security, reduce the reliance on fossil fuels, but also provide clean energy.

But not only that, it's about good quality jobs for Northfleet and the wider Gravesham area. Now, however, this particular project, which has had 90 million capital investment nationally, has unlocked 400 million private investment. There is a critical risk, however, and that is about connection to the national grid. So I'll be asking the Ministers if he can intervene and meet with me about how we can make sure this project stays on track. Looking less than a mile down the river of the Thames to the Lower Thames Crossing, which is in my constituency, Gravesham also faced congestion linked to the Dartford Crossing, affecting their daily life.

Air quality indeed, parts of Gravesham have air quality management areas with increased amounts of nitrogen dioxide levels linked to transport. Now, the theory is that increased capacity with the Lower Thames Crossing will lead to increased congestion within and around Gravesham, and therefore it is essential that this delivery is linked to forward looking transport solutions that genuinely benefit local communities. Now, this has yet to be truly felt by my constituents and local businesses, so there is a lot more work to be done here.

In particular the use of the Thames Estuary itself to be a vehicle to transport people around, such as the Gravesend Tilbury ferry and beyond. And I would encourage the government to explore these sustainable transport modes. Hydrogen or electric powered ferries across the Thames and removing the congestion on roads for continuing to rely solely on roads is not going to be a viable long term solution, and more balanced, community focussed transport is essential to getting people around. We have three.

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Speakers remaining. We've gained a few minutes. The last three speakers can have five minutes each speakers can have five minutes each if they do not take interventions. Elaine Stewart five minutes.

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Elaine Stewart five minutes. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I've got it. In that much I don't know whether I can do. In the King's Speech, His Majesty set out
18:20
Elaine Stewart Portrait Elaine Stewart MP (Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock, Labour)
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King's Speech, His Majesty set out a clear and sober assessment of the challenges facing our country. He reminded us of the energy independence is now a matter of national security, not just environmental ambition. He warned that recent events in the Middle East have shown once again how global instability can reach directly into the homes of families across the country. That is why the government has committed to an energy independence bill designed to scale up home grown renewable energy and protect living standards for the long term.

There are significant commitments to deliver them to build an energy system that is secure, clean and resilient, then we must learn from the evidence. The reality is we will not win the argument for climate action unless people feel the benefit. Energy independence cannot be something that happens to communities. It must be something that happens with them. The transition of clean energy is already shaping our energy landscape. Renewables are reducing the numbers of hours. When gas sets the price for electricity, new technologies are emerging as the backbone of modern energy system, and the grid, long overdue for investment, is finally being reimagined for the 21st century.

Faced with decades of deindustrialisation, communities like my own and Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock need to see and feel real benefits like lower bills, good jobs, investment in local services. Otherwise, support for the transition will erode. And if support erodes, we risk losing the wider public argument on climate change altogether. In Scotland, delivering those real benefits means governments working together. The Clean Power Mission is a shared objective by both UK and Scottish governments, and it is important to acknowledge constructive cooperation and encourage more of this where possible.

Madam Deputy Speaker, as we debate energy security, we must also place community benefit at the very heart of our approach, not a voluntary gesture, not a token payment, but a core principle of how we build the energy system of the future. In my own area in Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock, the nine community council group administer large amounts of community benefits, of which over 60 young apprenticeships, alongside other fantastic community support, creates ongoing legacy to my communities and I invite the Ministers to attend and have a meeting with that group.

But we also must go further. Community ownership, giving local people a real stake in energy producing their doorstep should be a core feature of transition. When communities sharing profits, the sharing purpose, when they have a voice, they feel much better to support change, both locally and nationally. It is not just about fairness, it's about effectiveness. Because the fastest way to lose public trust is to impose changes without their consent. The fastest way to build trust is to ensure that communities are partners and not bystanders.

Finally, I will touch on the Scottish Government's continued opposition to the new nuclear development in Scotland. The stance was clearly shaped in a different political moment, but today it means Scotland risks standing apart from what the King's Speech rightly called a new era of British nuclear energy by ruling out nuclear energy entirely, Scotland risks losing out in long term skilled jobs, major investment and woods at the time when UK is moving to expand, nuclear Scotland risks being left behind, missing opportunities that could support communities and contribute to the secure, clean energy mix that we need for decades to come.

Thank you Sean Woodcock.
18:25
Sean Woodcock Portrait Sean Woodcock MP (Banbury, Labour)
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Very much, Madam Deputy Speaker and I want to start by addressing some of the comments made from the some of the comments made from the benches opposite, in particular by the hon. Member for Upper Bann and Isle of Wight East, who decried Isle of Wight East, who decried government policy on energy as ideological. Now I want to hold my hands up and say for me it is ideological, making the UK more secure and having people better off is at the very core of my ideology.

So I class that as ideological because events in the Middle East have made it Madam Deputy Speaker have been very clear, although I do appreciate his contribution. Normally I vote this time. Thank you. Events in the Middle East have given us a very clear reminder that.

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I will end on that. As you are so nicely, I will let him to. Gentlemen. He talks. He prioritises energy security and of course transition to cleaner energy. Affordable energy is what we would Affordable energy is what we would all wish for. But this country is going to burn through billions of barrels of oil and gas between now barrels of oil and gas between now and 2050, even if we meet net zero and 2050. So on what basis does he support government proposals to support government proposals to stop us producing that oil and gas to the highest environmental standards here, and instead

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importing it from abroad with much higher emissions attached? I think he misrepresents the in

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I think he misrepresents the in intent. Miss intentionally and misrepresents the government policy, as my understanding is that we are as my understanding is that we are going to continue to use oil and gas going into the future, and it's going to play a key part of of the going to play a key part of of the just transition, because events in the Middle East have made it very

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the Middle East have made it very national Security and energy security actually go hand in hand because when global events destabilise, supply is families here at home who feel the impact in their energy bills. That means we must prioritise energy independence. And that is why I welcome the ambition that we've seen set out in the King's Speech, which exactly that, because this isn't just some abstract idea in my constituency, we're already seeing what this can look like in practice.

I would refer to South Hill Solar Farm in the town of Charlbury. Now, this is not a corporation. It is a cooperative set up by local volunteers who wanted to make a difference. Since 2016, they've been generating enough clean energy to power around 1500 homes. Then there's Hook Norton Low Carbon, which is doing brilliant work to keep household energy bills down below the price cap. They've done that by teaming up with another local solar farm and an anaerobic digester plant.

Again, a practical, community led solution to a national and international challenge. What these projects show is Britain at its best. If people stepping up when they are given the opportunity to do so because they don't just want greener energy, they want control, they want stability, and they want a sense that they are no longer at the mercy of global markets. But if we want to see more of this right across the country, we've got to address the barriers that are holding progress back.

Too many brilliant community energy projects are stuck in limbo, not because they lack ambition or funding, but because they simply cannot get connected to the grid. In some cases, there are 18 years just for a connection. That's not only frustrating, it's holding back our entire transition to cleaner energy. We need to modernise our grid infrastructure and streamline the planning system. If we do that, we can unlock a huge wave of locally generated renewable power. But these are only part of the picture.

If we want a truly secure energy system, we also need reliable, consistent power. So I welcome the nuclear regulation bill by making the process the process more efficient without compromising safety, we can finally start moving at a pace we need and usher in a new chapter for British nuclear energy. But energy security isn't just about how much power we generate. It has to have a positive impact on people's lives. That's why the Energy Independence Bill and the 15 billion warm home plan are so important, helping people to insulate their homes properly is one of the most effective ways that we can cut people's bills.

Because when families save money on energy, that money doesn't disappear. It gets spent in local shops, cafes, businesses supporting jobs and strengthening local economies. That's why it's not just good environmental policy, it's also good economic policy. That's how we build a system that's more secure, more resilient and fairer for the people that we represent. And which

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is why I'm so pleased to support the King's Speech. Josh Newbury thank you, Madam

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Josh Newbury thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. And after an increased time limit, I think I'm going to go out and buy a lottery going to go out and buy a lottery ticket tonight. Having worked in energy, I am all too aware that it hasn't always been high up on the political agenda. But since the invasion of Ukraine, it has of course seized the headlines. And it is in the news once again because is in the news once again because of President Trump's distraction plan in Iran.

I welcome the government's focus on energy security, but I hope that we will not narrow our view of what energy security and clean energy means. Reliance on fossil fuels is a growing drag on our economy, so the government is right to push for electrification where viable, alongside home grown renewable energy to get us off that roller coaster. But zero carbon renewable gas should also be a critical part
18:30
Josh Newbury Portrait Josh Newbury MP (Cannock Chase, Labour)
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of our plan for energy independence. Many aspects of the Energy Independence Bill are fantastic, like new obligations on landlords like new obligations on landlords to invest in renewable energy and beefing up Ofgem with new powers that will enable them to step in that will enable them to step in where consumers have been ripped off. When it comes to the Warm Homes Agency, I welcome the huge Homes Agency, I welcome the huge investment that will be going into insulation but remain concerned about the direction of travel of about the direction of travel of electrification for almost all homes.

Since I first entered the energy industry just over a decade ago, the Zealousness in the London based civil service around heat pumps has not waned, despite years of evidence that the rollout and cost cost reduction of heat pumps has not matched optimistic estimates. I say this as somebody who got a heat pump last year, the total cost of my installation was over £14,000. Beyond the £7,500 Boiler upgrade scheme payment. Now I'm in a fortunate position, but I can't say to my constituents that they should spend their savings or get themselves into heaps of debt to get a heat pump.

The way things are right now, the vast majority of people in Cannock Chase cannot afford one, and I haven't seen anything about the Warm Homes agency that will fundamentally change that reality. If we're serious about helping struggling households, we have to make sure that agencies immediate mission is to bring bills down. And let's make sure the Energy Independence Bill really lives up to its name by also kickstarting a revolution in renewable gas production. A boost to biomethane production could support farmers to handle organic wastes better and secure a reliable income stream.

It would bring down emissions in sectors that cannot easily electrify, including with the potential for carbon negative gas through the usage of carbon capture and storage, and it would ensure we are masters of our own destiny when it comes to a critical fuel that will remain part of our energy mix for decades to come. The extension of the Green Gas Support Scheme out to 2030 is very welcome, but like all energy investment pipelines, producers and investors need longer term certainty on the government's position.

I've heard similar concerns from the hydrogen industry. Whilst there is widespread support for the government's investment in CSE and the first round of hydrogen investment, we still don't have the hydrogen strategy. All of these strands need to be knitted together as part of a balanced approach on reaching net zero and supporting our constituents and businesses with us along the way. In the government's focus on clean energy and the jobs of the future, let's not lose sight of the promise of biomethane and hydrogen as other examples of home-grown clean energy.

And above all, let's always be on the side of our constituents who want to do the right thing in decarbonising their homes, but worry how on earth they are going to afford it. Thank you. Yeah.
18:33
Andrew Bowie Portrait Andrew Bowie MP (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, Conservative)
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I call the shadow Ministers Andrew Bowie. >> Very much, Madam Deputy Speaker, and I'd like to thank all of the speakers and contributions to this afternoon's debate, especially like afternoon's debate, especially like to thank and welcome the contributions from the right hon. Members and hon. Members for Gainsborough, Herne Bay and Sandwich, South Holland and The Deepings, Harrow East, Isle of Wight, East, Gordon and Buchan and the Weald of Kent, Folkestone and Hythe. He's not in his place just yet, but he mentioned the Dungeness nuclear power plant and I agree with him.

There's potential at that plant is huge for new nuclear, especially small modular reactors, and I can very much recommend the fish and chips or fish and chips that they serve at the pilot pub just outside the gates of that power plant. If anybody is looking to visit, I'd also like to pay tribute and welcome the comments from the Member for Honiton and Sidmouth, who seemed to suggest that we are all here because of a lack of positive votes for any of us individually. I'm not quite sure how that will go down at the next Parliamentary Liberal Democrat Party meeting, given that's what he thinks of his colleagues, but it was a very enjoyable contribution nonetheless.

Madam Deputy Speaker, across this House we all recognise the turbulent world we live in and that our energy security is being tested at every turn. Russia seeks to exploit vulnerabilities in our subsea infrastructure. Iran is weaponizing the supply of oil and gas from the Gulf, and China is seeking to access our critical national infrastructure. So it was incredibly welcome to see that a bill will be introduced to strengthen the United Kingdom's Energy Security and Energy Independence Bill. Finally, we thought they get it.

Finally, they've listened to the academics, the trade unions, Renewables Scotland, Tony Blair, Jürgen Mayer. Finally, we're going to see the government take the action necessary to secure our energy future, secure jobs and deliver much needed revenue to His Majesty's Treasury. Or so we thought, because sadly and predictably, they haven't listened. They haven't acted. In fact, Madam Deputy Speaker, they are doubling down, doubling down on making this country poorer, doubling down on making this country weaker and doubling, doubling down on callously abandoning the high skilled workers and people of Aberdeen and the north east of

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Scotland. I would be delighted to give way. Very grateful. I would never

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Very grateful. I would never accuse my constituency neighbour of being a rank, rotten revisionist, Madam Deputy Speaker, but the Madam Deputy Speaker, but the problem is, the problem is, when he was in government for the last ten years of his government, oil and years of his government, oil and gas jobs in the north east of Scotland went down by 100,000. And Scotland went down by 100,000. And in just in the two years that he was a Ministers, including a Ministers in the Department for energy, they went down a further 10%.

Why is he now manifesting as some sort of caped crusader for oil and gas workers? Because it's difficult for many of us in the

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north east of Scotland to believe. Representing a party that for the best part of ten years had a presumption against oil and gas and presumption against oil and gas and now seeks to be a champion for that industry. I'd also like to point out that there is a global oil out that there is a global oil price crash in 2014. And what did we do? We implemented a policy of maximum economic recovery. We cut maximum economic recovery. We cut taxes and we stemmed job losses, the exact opposite of what this Labour government is doing in the North Sea, who are accelerating the North Sea, who are accelerating the decline and seeing thousands of people being made independent.

It's frankly offensive, Madam Deputy Speaker, to call the bill that is being introduced and Energy Independence Bill. Madam Deputy Speaker, it is an energy dependent bill more dependent on foreign imports, more dependent on China, more dependent on Norway for gas, who are drilling it from the very same sea that this government is banning Britain from exploiting it is insanity. Once again, the Secretary of State has put his ideological fantasies before what is doing, what is right for the people of this country? The only people who will be cheering this on are those in Moscow, Tehran and Beijing who, to be fair, who, to be fair, will probably themselves be incredulous, unbelieving of their luck that they have such useful idiots in the form of this Labour government, cheered on by the SNP with their decade long presumption against oil and gas, and the Liberal Democrats, who have a different position depending on which part of the country you happen to be in at the time.

All, all choosing to make the UK poorer, colder and more vulnerable to outside influence. Let us be absolutely clear. The position of this Labour government on oil and gas is downright dangerous by now. Proposing to legislate a ban on all new licences, this government might as well be hanging a closed for business sign over the North Sea. Madam Deputy Speaker, I and not just me do not understand the logic of these actions. The Secretary of State, his Ministers, the current occupant of number ten, repeatedly tell us that oil and gas will have a role in the UK for years to come.

They are right. Roughly 85% of the homes in the UK rely on gas for heating. Over 90% of vehicles in this in the UK rely on fossil fuels to run, so it's not going to end overnight. But all this legislation will achieve is that it will become increasingly reliant on shipments from abroad at higher cost, with higher emissions and fewer jobs here in Britain. Madam Deputy Speaker, I and colleagues like the Leader of the Opposition. The Secretary of State for energy and others have come to this House time and time again to highlight the damage this government's approach is having to communities in and

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around Aberdeen and the North east of Scotland. I am always willing to give way to my right hon. Friend. The Secretary.

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The Secretary. Of State claims he is leading a moral crusade, but we know he's simply exporting emissions. It's like saying, Lord, I will not sin,

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like saying, Lord, I will not sin, but I'm quite happy for people to sin on my behalf. Yeah, yeah. The right hon. Gentleman is absolutely right. We are exporting absolutely right. We are exporting emissions, we're exporting jobs, and we're having and it's having a detrimental impact on our economy detrimental impact on our economy and communities up and down the length of this United Kingdom, not least in the north east of Scotland. I see it every time I go home. 1000 jobs are going to be lost every month under this Labour government.

£50 billion of investment lost under this Labour government. Pubs, restaurants, shops closing up in the Granite City. Under this Labour government, the impact is being felt across the country. This is true, but it is in Aberdeen, in the north east of Scotland, that the pain is most acute. I am always delighted to give way.

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Thank you. Thank the Shadow Ministers for giving way and I wonder if he could help me. I don't understand why the Labour understand why the Labour Government think there's a need to ban new licences, because they keep telling us that there's nothing left in the North Sea. If they

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left in the North Sea. If they think there's nothing left there, why are we banning ourselves from looking for anything that might not be there anyway? Well.

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Well. Is it better than I ever could? She's absolutely right. It is completely nonsensical. In Aberdeen, there will be a referendum on this there will be a referendum on this government's approach to the North Sea in just a few short weeks. On the 18th of June, the people of what was until recently the oil capital of Europe will have their say on how they view this government, how they feel this government has treated them, and the industry of which they are so proud.

But it is not just the production of oil and gas that is being driven into extinction by this government's policies. Nor is it just Aberdeen that is being affected by this government's anti-growth anti-business policies. Lindsay Mossmorran, Grangemouth, Denbigh, Pembrokeshire Glassworks and Metalworks Potteries refineries chemical plants heavy industry is being crushed by the cost of energy. Yet rather than trying to prevent this, this Labour government is only interested in accelerating its decline. Madam Deputy Speaker, the government's headlong rush to renewables may be well intentioned, but it is utterly bereft of common sense.

This Labour government is rushing towards a power system that depends on the weather rather than on firm, reliable baseload, exposing us to blackouts, just as they saw in the Iberian Peninsula last year. Avoiding such blackouts and providing that energy base is exactly why the roll out of new nuclear is an absolute priority. I am pleased that there is consensus on this, and the government recognises the important role that nuclear has in our future energy mix. That being said, and as I have said before in this House, sadly, th ambition for nuclear pales.

When we were in government, their failure, their failure to commit to a third gigawatt scale reactor in Anglesey is a huge disappointment not just for us on this side of the House, but for industry and the people on Ynys Mon. To the roll out of small modular reactors is good, yes, but it curtails the possibility of gigawatt scale. At Ynys Mon, a cynic might suggest. Madam Speaker, the decision was made to rush out this announcement in some desperate and hasty attempt to salvage the Welsh Labour Party.

It's safe to say that that failed. But back to ambition decommissioning the UK stockpile of plutonium. The selection of only one small modular technology, the refusal to follow our ambition of 24GW of new nuclear is just not good enough. Yes, I will give way.

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It's about his party's ambition for new nuclear in this country. Can he remind the House how many

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Can he remind the House how many new nuclear plants his party opened during the course of their tenure in charge? Yes.

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Yes. I could I could run through the list as the shadow, as the Ministers has heard me do on multiple times of what we did achieve in office when it comes to nuclear, I would like to remind him that the Labour Party, the Labour that the Labour Party, the Labour Party, have never opened one nuclear power plant in all the years that they have been in office, a record. They're probably going to continue over the next three years. Madam Deputy Speaker, this act of national self-harm has to come to an end.

There is only one party that has a plan to cut bills, support industry, protect jobs and make Britain energy secure. Energy costs are stalling growth. No one deindustrialised in the country and weighing down on family and businesses. That is why Britain needs a serious plan to cut bills. And with the Conservatives cheap power plan, that is exactly what Britain would get a £200 cut to energy bills. This could be delivered right now. Mr. Speaker, if this government prioritises the people of this country rather than wacky, unrealistic ideology.

But we would not stop there, Madam Deputy Speaker. We would go much further and much faster to make this country energy secure, to protect British jobs, to grow tax revenue and welcome billions of pounds of investment. We would tell the world that the North Sea is open for business. Our Get Britain drilling Bill would end Labour's ban on new licences to unlock the gargantuan supply of opportunity that lies beneath our seas. I will not. We would back our world class oil and gas industry by scrapping the ban on exporting technologies and welcome the £5 billion worth of exports that we create.

I'm sorry, I will not. The North Sea Transition Authority would be rechristened the North Sea Authority and tasked with one noble mission to maximise North Sea oil and gas drilling and raise billions more in tax cuts for the British people. And of course, Madam Deputy Speaker, we conservatives will scrap the energy profits levy, the anvil around the neck of the industry that Labour extended and increased as one of their first acts in government because a profitable, attractive, investable North Sea would strengthen public services, strengthen our energy security and grow our economy, making Britain a stronger country.

And if members agree with that, if hon. Members agree with us that a brighter, more secure, more prosperous future is possible, if you fight for it, then I would urge hon. Members to vote for our amendment. Tonight.
18:44
Michael Shanks Portrait Michael Shanks MP, Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero) (Rutherglen, Labour)
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I call the Ministers Ministers Michael Shanks. Michael Shanks. >> Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is a privilege to close this debate on the Gracious Speech, and debate on the Gracious Speech, and it has been a pleasure to sit here all afternoon and listen to all of the contributions and what turned out to be a far more wide ranging debate than just energy policy. And I thank all members for that. I will respond to a few specific points that were raised in the debate in due course.

But just to single out a few contributions from my own side. First of all, the hon. Member for Chesterfield was absolutely right in his speech in a number of areas, but one in particular that we should be very cautious about taking any advice from the shadow Secretary of State, lest she changes her mind, as she has done so often in this policy area. My hon. Friend for Cramlington and Killingworth spoke quite, quite rightly about her pride in Blythe and the workers who work there.

I was really pleased to be there just a few months ago to celebrate the 25th birthday of offshore wind, which of course was started in Blythe 25 years ago. My hon. Friend for Luton South and for Scarborough and Whitby. For Bournemouth West, for East Thanet, for Heywood and Middleton North all made important contributions. And my hon. Friend for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, who I had the great pleasure of joining in Stornoway just recently, rightly congratulate, and I put on the record my congratulations to Donald MacKinnon MSP on his fantastic election as the member of the Scottish Parliament for the Western Isles and my hon.

Friend the Member for Bournemouth West gave a fantastic sales pitch for her community and the role that it's playing in the clean power transition, but also the Dorset Clean Energy Cluster, which I would be absolutely delighted to visit at some point in the future. Now. Honourable contribution. Contributions from hon. Members on all sides of the House were were interesting today. The consensus on nuclear in particular, I welcome and is hugely important. The right hon. Gentleman from South Holland and the Deepings gave a wide ranging lecture.

An important conversation actually on the economy. But actually I completely agree with his points on skills and the need for us to have some balance in how we approach the future of skills development in the country, so that we have the skilled workforce that we need to do all that we want to do. The hon. Gentleman from the Isle of Wight East gave a bizarre argument, I thought, in which he said that the last government was both at the same time. I don't think he's in his place, but at the same time did a fantastic job and did everything right, but that we should now do none of the things they did into the future, which was a slightly odd argument.

But nevertheless, the shadow Ministers stole my thunder with the speech for the hon. Gentleman from Homerton and Sudworth. But actually it was the intervention from the hon. Member for Tunbridge Wells that I particularly enjoyed, where I essentially said, nobody really likes any of us, and it's all the fault of first past the post. That was a great contribution. I do want to just single out the contribution from the right hon. Gentleman from Westmorland and Lonsdale, who gave an excellent speech, but in particular emphasised absolutely rightly, that Britain is not broken, but we must be better.

And I think that was a really important charge for all of us. This debate showed today that the whole House agrees on the need to strengthen our energy security. As we respond to the second fossil fuel shock in less than five years, where we are going to make just a bit of progress. But where we diverge is on how we do it for this side of the House, the overriding lesson from both Russias invasion of Ukraine and from the present crisis in the Middle East is that every day we spend exposed to fossil fuels we can never control is another day of insecurity, of being buffeted by conflicts.

We had no part in starting of working people opening their energy bills and finding the cost of someone else's war of Britain's future being held back by global market in which we are and will always be price takers. Now, the opposition say that they too have learned a lesson from the second fossil fuel shock. They have studied the evidence. They have weighed up the options and their conclusion, their amendment to this Gracious Speech is that the answer to a fossil fuel crisis lies in more fossil fuels? Now, I would like to give credit where I can, Madam Deputy Speaker, so I will give them this.

It takes a particular kind of courage to stand up in this House at this time and make that argument with a straight face. The Tories, I will give way.

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Grateful to the Secretary of State. He will know that Scotland within the United Kingdom has within the United Kingdom has almost all the oil. We have the vast majority of the gas. We have vast majority of the gas. We have the most onshore renewables and the most hydro. And yet, under his most hydro. And yet, under his watch, his constituents and mine in Scotland pay the highest electricity bills anywhere on these

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electricity bills anywhere on these islands. What does he say to our constituents? See, is that his party's plan for independence and for energy was the flimsiest of flimsy documents, which had no plan for how independence would bring down bills. Because the truth of the matter is, independence would tear apart any argument of energy security and would drive up bills for people right across Scotland. And that is why people rejected it. Ten years ago in that referendum, the Tories and their former friends and colleagues now sitting in reform, want to solve a dependence problem by becoming even more dependent.

Well, as my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, I am going to make a bit of progress as my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State outlined earlier, we will not be taking this course. This is the moment to end our reliance on fossil fuels, to electrify the wider economy, to speed up our transition to clean, secure, home grown energy, which does give us energy sovereignty. That is the road to national security. And along the way, we seize the economic opportunity of the 21st century, 400,000 extra good energy

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jobs and billions of pounds in investments by 2030 alone. And I will give way. Ministers.

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Ministers. I wonder whether he would agree to meet with me and the Member for Bridlington and the Wolds, because Bridlington and the Wolds, because the attic gas storage site in my hon. Friend's constituency is 47 hon. Friend's constituency is 47 years old. It's nearing end of life, and it's a critically important part of our energy infrastructure. part of our energy infrastructure. Does he have plans to ensure that our gas storage is maintained, and will meet with my colleague and

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myself to discuss this issue? Thank you. Well, we are consulting on the future of gas storage. I'm always I've made it my storage. I'm always I've made it my policy to meet every MP who wants to meet with me. And of course, I've always had. I've always. Even I've always had. I've always. Even him, the shadow Ministers says. I've always had very good conversations with the hon. Gentleman. So he's in the wrong Gentleman. So he's in the wrong party. They all hate him.

Now, now party. They all hate him. Now, now is also, Madam Deputy Speaker, not the time to look away from the biggest long term threat we face climate change, a threat that we can no longer ignore. And so we build the energy system of the future. Now, since we came into power, we've had two record breaking renewables auctions. After the catastrophic failure of AR five under the last government, and despite the shadow Secretary of State's advice to cancel AR seven, we have secured clean home-grown power for the equivalent of 23 million homes.

Power that, since the Middle East crisis began, is saving this country millions of pounds every single day in gas that we no longer have to buy. But good is not enough. We are determined to go further and faster. That is why we are bringing forward the next auction round to July. And it is why the Energy Independence Bill will accelerate the build out of grid infrastructure by reforming, planning and getting clean power built at the speed that this moment demands. And then on nuclear, the biggest nuclear building programme in half a century, not vague promises that never materialised for 14 years, or endless rounds of consultation that the shadow Ministers loves to tell us about so much.

But actual nuclear being built. And so with the nuclear regulation bill that is genuinely pro-nuclear and pro nature, we will cut costs and timeframes without cutting corners on safety regulation reform that the Tories now claim they would have loved to have done, but just never found the time in 14 years in government. Well, we're going to get it done because we have to be honest about what we inherited, the environmental impact assessment for Sizewell C ran to 44,000 pages, and it still left nobody happy.

That isn't caution. It's paralysis dressed up as paperwork. This government will end it so that we can get Britain building again and deliver the energy independence that people have waited for and as we build for the future. Madam Deputy Speaker, we also have to protect people. Right now, 6 million families are receiving the expanded warm home discount, a £15 billion Warm Homes plan, the largest upgrade programme in British history. And as a result of actions that my right hon. Friend the Chancellor took in the Budget, the price cap fell by £117 in April.



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The energy. I will give him. People. Right now my

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People. Right now my constituents are losing jobs, thousands of jobs every few months are being lost in the North east of are being lost in the North east of Scotland because of the government's continuing to keep the energy profits levy. Labour's tax on Scotland's jobs. Will the Ministers make a commitment to move

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Ministers make a commitment to move from the EPL to the OGPM in order to protect jobs for my constituents? Yeah, yeah. Well, I'll come on to the question of jobs in the North Sea in just a moment, because I've got a section of my speech on that, because it is so important. I do have to say I find it absolutely incredulous. I can almost understand it from the Tories that at a moment of windfall profits, a party would think it was the moment to cut taxes on oil and gas companies.

But now we've got a partnership here of the SNP and the Tories who believe that now is the moment not to help people with their energy bills, but to cut the taxes for for the biggest companies. So I think that's an interesting lesson that we've learned from this. Madam Deputy Speaker, the Energy Independence Bill is about how we go further and on fuel poverty, which a number of hon. Members raised in this debate, fuel poverty in this country, is not a misfortune. It is a scandal.

More than a third of school pupils have told their teachers that they are cold at home in one of the world's largest economies. A third of children go to school to get warm. We must bring this to an end with new minimum energy efficiency standards for renters. A new warm homes agency to ensure that home grades are not as they have been for too long, the preserve of just well off and a strengthened Ofgem with the powers of a genuine consumer champion, not just a regulator in name.

That is what fighting the corner of working people actually looks like. Now let me say something about the people who power this country. I speak at industry conferences regularly, and I always say about my pride in the North Sea, not as a Ministers reading from a brief, but as someone who has friends and families who work offshore, and as a Scottish MP who knows more than many about what the sector means, it's people right now doing skilled, dangerous and vital work, work that this country has depended on for decades and does not get taken for granted.

And the question in front of us, the question. Well, we're not actually, and that's just nonsense. The question in front of us is how we secure their long term future. Now, the answer is not, as some of the other benches have suggested, to pretend that the North Sea is not a maturing basin in natural decline. It is not about nostalgia for some new age of discovery. We are neither a turn off the taps party, nor nor a drill. Every last drop.

Neither. Neither are credible plans. And so we introduce transitional energy certificates, as industry itself has called for, to enable tie backs and to manage existing fields for their lifespan. We will give the North Sea Transition Authority, for the first time, a statutory responsibility to consider workers, communities and supply chains and we will launch a new Jobs North Sea Jobs service to support people through every stage of the transition. Because this energy transition only works if we bring people with us on what we are building next, and that is already taking shape.

I do not have time. I'm sorry. That is already taking shape. Whether it's nuclear engineers, Ynys Mon following in their parents footsteps, apprentices learning to weld in the Aberdeen Energy Transition zone, or wind turbine blades being forged in Hull, tens of thousands of jobs, record investment, real communities, real wages and real future. The North Sea made Britain an energy nation. This bill ensures that it will remain one. Madam Deputy Speaker. Sometimes in the noise of this place, we lose sight of what is actually at stake.

Half of Britain's recession since the 1970s, caused by fossil fuel shocks. Not bad luck, not acts of God, but the predictable, repeated consequence of building our future on an energy source that we can never have control over. And what we have heard today is that parties opposite have not only chosen to ignore what is going on all around us, but actively want us to go even further, to risk even more, to gamble with the futures of every single one of our constituents.

The warning signs were there in 1973, in 1979, in 2022, and they were ignored. The warning signs are back now, and it is right that we learn the right lessons now. Madam Deputy Speaker, just a few weeks ago, 98% of our electricity came from clean sources. It was for a small period of time, I recognise it, but 98% of our electricity came from low carbon sources. This country, when it commits to something, is capable of achieving extraordinary things.

This is not ideology. It is the most basic duty of government to protect the people of this country from dangers that we can see coming. The energy bills contained within this bill, within this King's Speech, are the path to a stronger future for Britain. Energy security that no blockade can threaten warm homes for families that have gone cold for far too long, good jobs in communities that have faced deindustrialisation for decades because of governments that just did not care about industrial strategy, and a climate that we can hand to our children without shame.

And I commend the King's Speech to the House.

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The question is that the amendment be made, as many of that opinion say I.

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opinion say I. I.
18:59
19:14
Wendy Chamberlain Portrait Petitions Wendy Chamberlain MP (North East Fife, Liberal Democrat)
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they need it, that they should not be restricted by poor mobile or broadband connectivity, or by not broadband connectivity, or by not having easy access to a phone or preferring to do transactions face to face. And further declares that to face. And further declares that though 14000 people live in the area surrounding Cupar and the town centres, many more in the villages around it, Cupar is served by just around it, Cupar is served by just one building society following the closure of multiple local branches.

The petitioners, therefore, request The petitioners, therefore, request that the House of Commons urge the government to work with the banking industry to deliver a cash or banking hub for Cupar, and the petitioners remain. ET cetera.

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When did you. Petition banking facilities in Cupar?

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facilities in Cupar? Petition? Vikki Slade thank. You, Madam Deputy Speaker. I rise to present. A petition about anti-social behaviour on behalf of. The behaviour on behalf of. The residents of Holton Heath Park in my constituency of Mid Dorset and North Poole, the petitioners and I North Poole, the petitioners and I ask the government to note that the residents have been experiencing unacceptable impact from anti-social driving, joyriding, racing and excessive speeds from cars and motorbikes late at night and on weekends.

We call on the government to urgently roll out acoustic cameras and fund increased patrols by police to re-establish peace, quiet enjoyment and safety.
19:15
19:16
Joy Morrissey Portrait Adjournment: Impact of HS2 on communities Joy Morrissey MP (Beaconsfield, Conservative)
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right hon. Members have needed to highlight the unacceptable impact that this has had on thousands of constituents. Today, I have to do so again. HS2 has had a never ending impact on communities across my constituency of Beaconsfield, Marlow and the South Bucks villages. It is an impact that has been compounded by perpetual incompetence and indifference from the management of HS2. That is why I have opposed HS2 since I was elected as the MP for Beaconsfield Marlow in the South Bucks villages in 2019.

Roads in Buckinghamshire have been destroyed over the last few years by the weight of HS2 lorries, with local council bill.

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On that point. I'll give way. I'm grateful to my hon. Friend for giving way on the point of for giving way on the point of roads. The precedent was clearly set by East West Rail, who fully set by East West Rail, who fully resurfaced 21 roads that their HGV had trashed. Does she agree with me that HS2 should follow that that HS2 should follow that precedent? That's set and fix that which they have broken in our communities.

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communities. My hon. Friend makes an excellent point and HS2 should follow that model, and that would go a long way in repairing community relations because actually HS2 just couldn't have cared less for the roads they destroyed, the communities they destroyed, and communities in Buckinghamshire and beyond have been blighted by the inconsiderate construction that has taken place with HS2, and HS2 just couldn't have cared less. And take, for example, Denham. This community has borne the brunt of construction disruption, years of upheaval and constant noise, dust and heavy machinery which have transformed the once peaceful neighbourhoods in

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Denham into an industrial corridor. Carla Lockhart. Madam Deputy Speaker, I'm very

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Madam Deputy Speaker, I'm very grateful to my hon. Friend for giving way. I'm also grateful to her for coming out to help us her for coming out to help us campaign in the local elections. I know she helped Tommy Balham win his seat in Harefield, but does she his seat in Harefield, but does she recall, as I do, the ongoing strength of feeling of people in that village, which is right next that village, which is right next to Denham, about the continued consequences of that construction work? The late night noise, the disruption and in particular, the very large, very heavy vehicles that are occupying what are otherwise suburban transport routes that are causing risk and concern to people on the school run, to people going about their normal business.

And it's not just the damage that they do to the roads, it's also the risk and disruption they create to other road users in our neighbourhood.

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So thank. You and my hon. Friend makes an excellent point. And because our constituencies And because our constituencies border one another, and I remember visiting my hon. Friend in his visiting my hon. Friend in his constituency and the Dogs Trust and seeing the vibrations and the noise and the disruption from HS2, one and the disruption from HS2, one could feel the vibrations when one was visiting and and, and it wasn't was visiting and and, and it wasn't just the construction, but the noise pollution and the disruption to normal residents, both in Hillingdon and in Buckinghamshire, that share a border and our communities were completely disrupted because of HS2 construction.

And there was very little regard until my hon. Friends council took HS2 to court, which was a great moment. Regard for the amount of countryside and land and green belt that was being destroyed by HS2 and again, I will give way.

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Can I commend the hon. Lady does not agree that the United Kingdom has become so entangled in planning has become so entangled in planning delays, legal challenges, environmental regulation, bureaucratic red tape that we're bureaucratic red tape that we're now struggling to build even the most basic strategic infrastructure in a reasonable time frame, and

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in a reasonable time frame, and lessons just have to be learned UK wide from that failure. Thank you for that. Excellent

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Thank you for that. Excellent point, and I would like to pay tribute to what my hon. Friend has said. But also I'd like to pay tribute to the first person who sort of who radicalised me to the importance of fighting HS2, which was the former MP for Chesham and Amersham, Cheryl Gillan. And before I even became a member of Parliament, Madam Deputy Speaker, she made sure that I knew what and my hon. Friend knew the importance of fighting for HS2 no matter who's supporting it.

We needed to stand up for our residents and put our residents first. And Cheryl knew that this was going to be a terrible blight on Buckinghamshire and she was right. So she was ahead

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of the curve there. I will give way. I'm grateful to. The hon. Lady.

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The hon. Lady. I also have fond. Memories of Cheryl. Gillan. Who I stood against in 2005, and

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Who I stood against in 2005, and just I wondered if she knows my seat very well. The thing she's describing have a lot of residents. Sorry. Resonance with Wells House road n w ten. I think it's the most road n w ten. I think it's the most blighted road in England. An email from there today said we were told to expect six years of disruption. Now they're asking us to live with 16. And they point out that although the cost of this has tripled, the community funds haven't.

So Buckinghamshire is. Recipient. Euston is. But Ealing Old Oak Common? Not at all. Would she not agree with me. It's a travesty.

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And thank you for that excellent point. And, Madam Deputy Speaker, I know the Member for Ealing Central know the Member for Ealing Central and Acton seat very well, and. And that old Oak common area has been that old Oak common area has been an area where the member you've you've has fought for that seat for the constituents for many, many, many years. And it is fair that compensation be given continuously compensation be given continuously to the disruption in Old Oak Common.

And that is an area that is very difficult because it it actually isn't just Ealing, but it is Hammersmith and Fulham and several other areas that intersect. So it. It creates a problem that no one really takes the leadership for, and no one is actually making sure that those residents are taken care of. And I know that the Member for Ealing Central and Acton has long advocated for that compensation. And we stand here in agreement that HS2 really has not cared about our residents and has not cared about the compensation, and we have seen other infrastructure models that have given the compensation that residents need and they want.

I

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will give way. The hon. Lady for giving way. Very generous of her time and thank

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her for bringing this important debate. She's expertly described the ongoing impacts in communities such ongoing impacts in communities such as ours. Residents around West Ruislip in Ickenham, in my constituency, live day in, day out constituency, live day in, day out with the consequences of the works of HS2. As she rightly points out, residents often ask what compensation is there, what support is there? And it's in that regard that the, the and the funds, the business and the community funds that were allocated across the country significantly remain unspent.

There's large millions of pounds still There's large millions of pounds still unspent, despite our communities being blighted. And does she agree with me? It's frustrating for our communities, for local organisations who could benefit from them being shut out of those funds. And does she agree with me that perhaps the geographical remit needs to be slightly widened, and we need to do

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more nationally to ensure those funds get to communities? So I think it's incredibly frustrating that those funds are not open and available. Specifically, when I think as members of Parliament, we've come members of Parliament, we've come forward with very good ideas of how that can be spent on road infrastructure, on paving, potholes that have been destroyed by the that have been destroyed by the lorries that have passed through. And it is very, very difficult to access that funding. And that would access that funding.

And that would go a long way in in bridging the sort of community relations that have broken down anywhere where HS2 has started. Another issue has been where HS2 has taken over a property in the old days, when they would just take it over and not pay for it and sort of just occupy it indefinitely. I will give way.

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I'm grateful for giving way. Does she agree with me that a really good example of where this money can be better used is in the support for the Hillingdon Outdoor Activity Centre, which I know her constituents and mine have used for constituents and mine have used for many years. It sits directly on the border between our constituencies and where there is now an opportunity. Because of the proactive work of Hillingdon Council in granting planning permission for a new facility. But we need to make sure the funds are available to keep that centre running, so it's able to provide that opportunity for young people in the future.

Does she agree with me? That's something where government might be able to help in giving HS2 the steer, that that

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purpose. That's an excellent example of something that has been an ongoing dispute with HS2 and has different sort of leadership has taken control. That issue of the final control. That issue of the final sort of payment and settlement for the relocation of the centre has been an ongoing dispute and things like that. We're getting the final payments over the line for community centres, for roads and community centres, for roads and infrastructure, for individuals who still haven't had the compensation

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paid for their home or for their. Yes. Thank you. This is a very southern centric debate so far. So southern centric debate so far. So can I take the hon. Lady up to Staffordshire? Madam Speaker, in Newcastle we continue to feel the Newcastle we continue to feel the very worst effects of the HS2 debacle, and I wonder whether the hon. Lady would share my outrage that my constituents, Mr. and Mrs. that my constituents, Mr. and Mrs. Kettle and Maldon Newcastle-under-Lyme, have been waiting for years for compensation for the.

They're due for the for the. They're due for the compulsory purchase of their land. They've been forced to declare bankruptcy because they've been waiting for so long. And the financial strain they've been put under stinks. And the sooner that

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HS2 is held to account, the better. That is an excellent point and thank you for standing up. Thank you for being an advocate for your residents, but I am. I think this residents, but I am. I think this issue of not purchasing the land, Madam Deputy Speaker, is something that has forced constituents into that has forced constituents into bankruptcy, has forced relationship breakdowns. It has meant that that no one can move forward with their no one can move forward with their properties or sell them or rent them.

And it really has created so much breakdown in in community relations with HS2. And it didn't need to. And you can see when highways have come in, there has been compensation offered. There have been other things that have been given that have allowed for community relations to be restored. And the problem with HS2 is the level of statutory ability that it had in an arm's length body. To put these things into action meant that they didn't have to follow through on the community relations side of it, and that's where I think moving forward for all of us across this House, that could really benefit in if this project is moving forward, how relations between communities, MPs and councils could be restored.



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In that way. Yes. I thought, you know, the lady for giving way. I think that's a really important point. The communication element, point. The communication element, whether it's villagers in Greatstone or Greatworth or Radstone in my Northamptonshire, Radstone in my Northamptonshire, who have been massively isolated by the works that have been carried out, or alternatively, residents from Brackley who wanted to see an active travel route, but is something that hasn't been able to be achieved because it's bypassed by HS2. So does she agree with me by HS2.

So does she agree with me that communication and actually integrating with the community is a vital thing they must take forward going on.

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And I think that the communication issue can be very, communication issue can be very, very poor in certain regions and then it can improve and then it can be even worse. And then, well, be even worse. And then, well, there'll be isolated incidents where you will will have one specific constituent who has been specific constituent who has been completely left out in the cold and is being forced into bankruptcy and is being forced into bankruptcy and feels so desperate.

And until an MP gets involved, they may feel that there's no hope. And that's a terrible feeling for something that we should be able to find a solution for. And I think it's also had a very negative impact on green spaces, green corridors. For example, in my patch, the Colne Valley Regional Park, we're having, they they were opposed to it because of the impact that all of this construction would have across the wildlife and the sanctuary that we have as the sort of corridor and the green space that separates us

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from London. Yes. Thank the hon. Member for giving way. She's been very generous with her time. She talks about green her time. She talks about green spaces in my Mid Cheshire constituency, which is in a section of the route that's now been cancelled and is being in the process of being removed from the bill. We still have planning safeguards in place. We still have safeguards in place. We still have uncapped boreholes from ground investigations. And in a mirror to my hon. Friends, for Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency, Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency, we have void properties both in mine and my neighbour, the hon.

Member for Tatton Constituency. We have void properties that have been void for quite a long time. HS2 aren't letting them out, they're just leaving them empty. Does she agree with me that there needs to be a proper wind up plan for the sections of the route where construction hasn't started, and

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will never start because it's been cancelled? Absolutely. And this wind up

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Absolutely. And this wind up contingency plan for areas where HS2 is not continuing absolutely needs to be put in place, because needs to be put in place, because having properties that everyone knows are not going to be used but are still sitting there is both infuriating and maddening for the entire community, and it also creates values and property depletion and wildlife issues, conservation issues. There are just ongoing issues that need. Residents need to have that reassurance. And I think we're agreeing across this House on that need moving forward.

And in Colne Valley, for example, with this issue, they. HS2 was doing a 3.5km concrete viaduct that will blight the area of natural beauty both across my my area and also Hillingdon. And that construction alone. Sure, I will

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give way. I thank the hon. Member for giving way. She's been very generous with her time and I generous with her time and I appreciate that. And in my area of the world in Southern Staffordshire, we've had massive problems with HS2 and particularly the route that and particularly the route that it's had to take. It's on a very wide arc around the city of Lichfield, but because of the Lichfield, but because of the speeds that it has to go at, they can't make those corners that tight.

So there's a really significant piece of engineering work where piece of engineering work where tunnels had to go under the A38 and the railway and a canal all at one at one point, all at different heights, specifically because they couldn't move it further up the way. So it had to go under two sliproads as well as the main carriageway. It's been an absolute nightmare. Recently led to the closure of the A38 and 70,000 vehicles a day being pushed onto my local roads. Really, really, really difficult.

Specifically because of the speeds that this thing was designed to be going at. They couldn't make sure they put in those mitigations. They had to go through areas of outstanding natural beauty. They couldn't avoid problems. And it's led to some of the cost overruns. So does she agree with me that that decision to try and put it at the fastest railway in the world was a

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mistake when it was made, and it was a mistake not to unwind it sooner? Yeah. Thank you for that point. And I

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Thank you for that point. And I think it has been a mistake not to work with local communities, because I think there would have been a point where most of us been a point where most of us across this House would have worked with HS2 in some capacity to find a solution that didn't destroy our solution that didn't destroy our natural beauty and our key in infrastructure that's already established. But there was no give established. But there was no give and take.

There was just simply take from our from our areas, from our communities. And I think the frustration that obviously members feel across this House is palpable. And, and moving forward, I think time. The reason, Madam Deputy Speaker, I brought this debate forward is time is running out on HS2 planning powers, which expire February 2027, and their power may expire. But the legacy of community destruction and environmental vandalism that we've seen delivered will continue long into the future, and Hs2's failure to resolve specific issues with residents now faces a ticking clock.

And that is why tonight, I urge the Ministers to support my constituents and others across this House from from every side of the House. To get an urgent resolution to the issues

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that HS2 has left unresolved for for all of us. I will give way. I'm grateful to my hon. Friend for giving way again. Does she for giving way again. Does she agree with me that it is patently absurd that we had the Secretary of State at the government despatch State at the government despatch box earlier, casually saying that the overall bill for phase one is going to breach £100 billion, going to breach £100 billion, something I predicted years ago. Yet the money's not there.

Even though the taxpayer will keep bailing out phase one, it's not there to actually fund the mitigation projects that were actually promised to our communities and to actually fix our roads. It seems the taxpayer will

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bail out everything else, but not community impact. I think the community impact and

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I think the community impact and the mitigation are key to this project moving forward in a successful way, because that is the successful way, because that is the that is how trust can be restored and the breakdown in community and the breakdown in community faith in this project and a trustworthy relationship has been broken down. And I think that is broken down. And I think that is the best way to restore it and making sure that our roads, if there are hundreds of lorries passing over our roads, that all of us have the ability to fix those potholes, to fix those roads, to make sure that areas that are being blighted by HS2, there's compensation for that.

Those communities, whether it be parks or green spaces or extra available funding for our infrastructure, I think that is a fair and reasonable request that we're all making, so that this can be something that everyone can benefit from, not just all of us who have it sort of forced through our constituencies with absolutely zero benefit. Yes, sir.

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I know incredibly loving everybody can get in. This debate has to conclude at 746. It is her

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has to conclude at 746. It is her time, but she may want to consider giving some time to the Ministers at the end. David Simmonds Madam Deputy, I'm

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David Simmonds Madam Deputy, I'm incredibly grateful to my constituency Labour for giving way once again. Does she agree with me? A positive that could come out of this process is if the work which she has been trenchantly doing to she has been trenchantly doing to secure an upgrade to the status of the Cole Valley Regional Park, moving it to a position where it enjoys a high degree of planning protection would be a significant win for my constituents and for hers and for other members constituents.

And perhaps that is something where the Ministers, in her response, might consider putting a little bit of pressure on the rest of government to ensure that that is secured. So there is a positive benefit that future

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generations can enjoy. Protecting. The Colne Valley Regional Park is something that we have from across this House that we all share in wanting that extra protection and to mitigate both the protection and to mitigate both the impact of HS2 and all of the other infrastructure projects. And just to give one poignant example, and the reason I called this debate today is a very, very difficult HS2 today is a very, very difficult HS2 example of one of my constituents, Luke Oldfield, who has been struggling against HS2 for 12 years in a dispute with HS2.

And yes, that is 12 years. Mr. Oldfield has a home recording studio business that predated the white elephant that is HS2. From the onset, he raised concerns over the impact of construction and future rail noise on his home and recording studio business, although he secured assurances that HS2 would address noise concerns, in his view, monitoring methods failed to properly capture the noise affecting his studio and that HS2 later privately accepted there would be an impact. The only viable solution identified has been to construct a new replacement studio and despite years and years of design, work and cost assessment, and the Department of Transport has repeatedly delayed progress and pushed back on cost, what is clear is that Mr.

Oldfield, and I am sure he is not alone on this, is a victim of a national infrastructure project that doesn't care and has not been subject to sufficient independent oversight. It will soon be too late, so the government must act. I would be grateful, therefore, if the Ministers could confirm in their reply tonight that they will urgently take up the case of Mr. Oldfield with me and secure final and just resolution for the building of the new studio so he can carry on with his business, that they will urgently set out a timeline for the final resolution of all disputes outstanding alongside the HS2 line.

So my constituents and others across this House can finally put the nightmare of HS2 behind them. HS2 is a project that should never have been, but now we must act to bring the nightmare to an end for people like Mr. Oldfield. I urge the Ministers to do just that. Thank you.
19:37
Lilian Greenwood Portrait Lilian Greenwood MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport) (Nottingham South, Labour)
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Lilian Greenwood Ministers. >> Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I'm grateful to the hon. Member for Beaconsfield for securing this debate and indeed for the contributions of other hon. Friends contributions of other hon. Friends and hon. Members. I will try to address the points that she raised she and others have raised. I want to begin by fully recognising the change and upheaval that major infrastructure projects like HS2 bring to the communities they pass to, I pass through, I understand the concerns raised by hon.

Members on behalf of their constituents. As my right hon. Friend the Member for Swindon South set out to the House earlier today. Taxpayers, passengers and communities along the route have been let down by years of mismanagement on HS2. The failures of the past mean that HS2 will now cost more and take longer to be delivered. And the most important thing that we can do for communities now is to get a grip on the programme so that the job can be done and the disruption brought to an end.

Over the past year, the government has been working Knowsley on a full reset of HS2 to bring effective oversight and start rebuilding public trust. And whilst HS2 has faced significant challenges, this government has been clear that infrastructure development is the heart of its strategic missions and priorities. It will deliver significant benefits once delivered and I think those. Whilst those benefits are undeniable, we know that they come at the cost of disruption caused by construction. We have to do right by the residents who are impacted through a range of programmes made available to them, and I appreciate that.

Right now, HS2 construction is at its peak in many areas and so regrettably, is the level of disruption that does include things like road closures and lorry movements and other visible and audible signs of construction in affected areas. And she and indeed the hon. Member for Buckinghamshire, I forget his constituency title, mentioned the damage done to done to the highways. And of course HS2 has put in place measures to address that with the establishment of a highway deterioration fund to resolve some of those issues, and it should be done quickly and easily through funding that's available.

But inevitably there will be some unwelcome impacts on local people when you have major projects, and I know that the Rail Ministers is determined to make sure that HS2 limited does its utmost to ensure that impacts are reduced as much as is reasonably possible. HS2 limited must be a good neighbour to affected communities and treat them with respect, even if that has not always been the people's experience of residents who constituent Who members here are representing. They should listen to local concerns and be accountable for their actions at all times, and we expect communities affected by the construction of the railway to be at the heart of HS2 Limited's delivery plans, and I know that both my hon.

Friend, the Rail Ministers and Mike Brown, the chairman of HS2, are taking a personal interest in these issues. They want to ensure that residents who we know have endured sometimes very lengthy periods of disruption, are treated with fairness and respect and the issues around compensation are resolved as promptly as possible. And indeed, we want to see HS2 limited leaving a positive legacy through for communities such as through the community and business funds, which have already provided millions of pounds in support of local projects, from sports clubs to children's play facilities.

Now the hon. Lady raised the specific case of one of her constituents, who we know runs a music studio, and his experiences. My officials have briefed me on this situation and I appreciate that. It's been a very long standing case and a difficult one to resolve. I am pleased to hear that based on these discussions, HS2 limited and her constituent are on a path to resolution. My department is committed to resolving this situation whilst ensuring value for money for the taxpayer and fairness for her constituents.

The long term solution that HS2 limited is focussed on is facilitating and funding an alternative studio in the grounds of her constituents property. I appreciate that this is taking some time and there may be a difference in expectations between HS2 limited and her constituent as to what constitutes a reasonable replacement of the existing studio. However, we are committed to doing the right thing and delivering this at pace, and I am aware that there is a further on site meeting planned shortly.

I'm hopeful that an agreement on the way forward will soon be reached, and alongside this, I understand that HS2 limited has made further commitments in recent weeks to carry out any vibration causing works earlier in the day, in order to avoid the times that would be most disruptive to her constituents business. Frankly, I have great sympathy with the constituent in question. Disruptive works have continued longer than anticipated, and this has obviously taken longer to resolve than we would wish, and we hope to find resolutions that would expedite this in further cases.

I just want to turn to more general concerns about compliance with undertakings and assurance. The Secretary of State takes compliance with HS2 undertakings and assurances very seriously. There are rigorous structures in place to manage compliance, and its performance is monitored closely by the department and in the vast majority of cases, compliance has been good. Out of nearly 5000 undertakings and assurances on HS2 compliance has fallen short in less than 1% of cases. However, that is 1% to too many.

But the department does remain confident that people can rely on the commitments that were made to them, and those commitments and assurances are given by the Secretary of State to Parliament during the HS2 bill process. And that's why HS2 limited delivery of them is overseen by our department, and why the Secretary of State is ultimately answerable to Parliament in these matters. I'm really regretful that we have very limited time to to answer these questions. I just want to assure her and other hon.

Members that there are layers of independent scrutiny. So HS2 limited is held to account by the Secretary of State, who has that independent statutory appeal function between HS2 limited and other parties. And it's notable, I think, that there is only one assurance compliance case, the one that the hon. Member refers to, that's been escalated beyond the department. To the speaker as the representative of Parliament, we need to ensure that these cases are dealt with and dealt with properly, so that people have a fair outcome.

I'm very conscious of of time. Madam Deputy Speaker, let me just say we recognise the impact that construction of HS2 has on communities living along the route. We do thank them for their patience and we understand how frustrating this prolonged disruption. It is and we will ensure that the all all the issues that have been raised by hon. Members today are considered by the Department and that we will continue to do that job of holding HS2 to account, monitoring their performance and ensuring that where they've fallen short, they do better in the future.



**** Possible New Speaker ****

The question is that this House do now adjourn as many that opinion say I. The ayes have it, the ayes say I. The ayes have it, the ayes
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