Oral Answers to Questions

Alex Ballinger Excerpts

Tuesday 15th July 2025 Commons Chamber

The Secretary of State was asked—

[Alex Ballinger (Halesowen) (Lab)]

1. What steps he is taking to support workers’ rights in the renewable energy sector.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Michael Shanks)]

The Government are committed to strengthening collective bargaining and trade union recognition. The Employment Rights Bill and the plan to make work pay will modernise rights and improve conditions. The Office for Clean Energy Jobs engages unions to ensure that renewable energy jobs support economic growth, the net zero transition and workers moving from carbon-intensive sectors.

[Alex Ballinger]

Many of my constituents in Halesowen work in energy-intensive industries such as forges and heavy manufacturing. The Government are rightly supporting those industries to become more energy-efficient, but workers need new skills, as well as skills in the many new jobs in the renewable energy sector. As they make this transition, how is the Department supporting workers in the west midlands to get the right skills for these new industries?

[Michael Shanks]

My hon. Friend is right to raise that point. Supporting workers in energy-intensive industries is essential as we transition our economy. The Government will provide over £1.2 billion per year in skills funding by 2028-29, supporting training in renewables, low-carbon construction and advanced engineering. We are also investing over £100 million over three years to develop engineering skills in England and launching new technical excellence colleges to make sure that training stays aligned with employers’ needs. We will also push forward on the clean energy workforce strategy this year.