Oral Answers to Questions

Rachel Hopkins Excerpts

Tuesday 14th October 2025 Commons Chamber

[Jacob Collier (Burton and Uttoxeter) (Lab)]

11. What steps Great British Energy is taking to help public services use more renewable energy.

[Rachel Hopkins (Luton South and South Bedfordshire) (Lab)]

19. What steps Great British Energy is taking to help public services use more renewable energy.

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

Earlier this month, Great British Energy jointly funded 46 new community energy projects in Scotland, including an island solar farm, a community ice rink and a small community wind farm. Great British Energy is also helping public services in England with their energy bills through its solar for all programme, which benefits schools and hospitals. In this way, GBE is transferring money from the pockets of energy companies to local communities and frontline services.

--- Later in debate ---

[Ed Miliband]

The hon. Gentleman says that we did not need GB Energy to do that, but the Conservatives never did it—not in 14 years. It is precisely through a publicly owned energy company that we are doing this, to the benefit of citizens across our country. I agree with my hon. Friend the Member for Burton and Uttoxeter (Jacob Collier) that there is huge opportunity here, and we intend to expand the plan.

[Rachel Hopkins]

I for one welcome the announcement that the publicly owned Great British Energy will roll out solar panels to more schools and hospitals in the coming year. What benefits will that bring to our communities, and what can places such as Luton South and South Bedfordshire do to take advantage of the clean power transition?

[Ed Miliband]

This is really important. Public institutions face significantly high energy bills because of the legacy of the last Government. GBE, with its programme, is cutting those bills. That is a transfer of resources from energy bills to frontline public services. The hon. Member for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine (Andrew Bowie) is chuntering from the Front Bench. He should visit some of the teachers and NHS staff who think that this is a brilliant programme.