Wales is playing a key role in providing the UK with a secure and diverse energy system, says Fay Jones.
The Brecon and Radnorshire MP and Wales Office Minister was responding to questions from MPs in the Commons.
(Video from Parliament.tv)
The Brecon and Radnorshire MP and Wales Office Minister was responding to questions from MPs in the Commons.
(Video from Parliament.tv)
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00:00 Minister. Thank you Mr. Speaker that was lively. With your permission Mr. Speaker I
00:06 will answer questions 2 and 10 together. The UK has a secure and diverse energy
00:11 system and Wales continues to play a key role. The UK government is going further
00:14 to ensure our energy security by supporting our oil and gas industry and
00:19 investing to scale up our renewable energy production like floating offshore
00:22 wind in the Celtic Sea. Thank you Mr. Speaker many of my constituents make the
00:27 long journey round to work at Hinkley and yet we've had this government in
00:30 power for 14 years we've seen no new nuclear actually delivered in Wales
00:34 despite a proud history of generation. Significant opportunities to lower
00:37 energy bills and deliver high quality jobs and reduce carbon emissions. Where
00:40 on earth is their plan and why are they not getting on with delivering it?
00:45 I very much welcome that the Honourable gentleman is mentioning nuclear. I seem to recall
00:50 when his party were in power Labour did next to nothing to advance the cause of
00:54 nuclear energy in this country and it gives me ample opportunity to
00:58 pay tribute to the work of my Honourable friend the Member for Unis Morn who has
01:02 committed, she has committed the government to everything it has done on
01:06 Wilva so far and progress is being made in stark contrast to the record of his
01:10 party. 14 years of successive Tory governments have all had the chance to
01:17 invest in the transition to net zero instead they have chosen to backslide on
01:23 climate commitments and it's working people in my constituency and across
01:27 Cardiff North paying the price. With this government intent on issuing new
01:33 oil and gas licenses what does the Minister have to say to families in my
01:37 constituency now paying treble for their energy bills?
01:43 Well Mr. Speaker I would point out that it's this government that stepped in
01:47 with 96 billion pounds of support to mitigate the impact of those energy
01:51 bills but I completely disagree with the Honourable lady's assessment on our
01:55 record on net zero and I would point out that when her party were in power 7% of
02:00 our energy supply came from renewable sources it's now, if she'll let me
02:04 finish the point, it's now just under 15% that is the record of this
02:07 government's 14, this party's 14 years in power.
02:12 Thank you Mr. Speaker my Honourable friend mentions the new industry of floating
02:16 offshore wind which has huge potential to create large numbers of high quality
02:20 jobs in places like Milford Haven and Port Talbot given that those two ports
02:25 both currently got bids in with UK government to the Flomis port
02:29 infrastructure scheme which is going to be really keen to seeing this vision
02:33 realised when when can these ports expect to hear back from those bids?
02:38 Minister. I thank the Chair of the Select Committee and my Honourable friend for
02:42 that question I'm delighted today the Crown Estate are hosting a bidders day
02:45 to drive forward plans for innovative floating wind projects in the Celtic Sea
02:50 the UK government is supporting flow through our contracts for
02:53 different scheme securing a long-term pipeline of projects in the Celtic Sea
02:57 I'd be happy to write to him with a further update on when more progress can
03:01 be discussed.
03:02 Come to the Shed, Secretary of State, Jill Stephens.
03:04 On the issue of energy mix Mr. Speaker the Tata workers I met last week know the
03:12 Virgin Steel they make is vital to supporting our renewable energy
03:15 aspirations like offshore wind in the Celtic Sea so the loss of 3,000 jobs is
03:21 a kick in the teeth for our proud skilled Welsh steelworkers it will
03:26 devastate local economies and the sovereign steelmaking capacity that
03:30 would build the wind turbines we need yet the business secretary told us at
03:35 the weekend that and I'll quote it's not about the jobs lost does he agree with
03:41 her comments?
03:43 I'm sorry she's got me replying to that question not the
03:46 not the Secretary of State. I think what's important to recognize is that
03:50 the investment from this UK government has saved thousands of jobs across the
03:54 United Kingdom of course the transition board is now working with the
03:58 individuals affected in Port Talbot and that is a proper and right thing to do
04:03 I'm glad that both the UK and Welsh governments are working towards that
04:06 that is absolutely the right outcome I think we need to think of these things
04:10 in the context in the wider context which is our responsibility.
04:14 Jo Stevens
04:16 She boasts about the transition board but that only exists because of the
04:21 government's failure to project protect jobs and vital industries but let me ask
04:26 her this each year Port Talbot provides enough Virgin Steel to deliver the UK's
04:31 2030 wind targets by itself so when her government's intervention shuts the
04:37 blast furnaces early can she tell the house where that steel is going to come
04:41 from will it be coming from India and we will be surrendering our ability to
04:45 create jobs investment and cheaper bills here in Britain?
04:50 Minister
04:52 Mr. Speaker it won't surprise you to learn that I completely disagree with the
04:53 Honourable Lady's assessment and I would point out that the transition board
04:56 this government has provided 80 million pounds we haven't seen any of the 20
05:01 million pounds that the Welsh Labour government has promised but indications
05:04 so far are that moving away from iron making in the UK would not have a direct
05:09 impact on national security