Clean Energy Projects

Several Labour MPs, including Nick Smith, Gill German, Bill Esterson, and Henry Tufnell, asked the Secretary of State for Wales, Jo Stevens, about the government's discussions with Cabinet colleagues regarding support for clean energy projects in Wales. In her response, the Secretary of State welcomed the newly elected Welsh MPs, particularly the 84% who sit on the Labour benches. She also paid tribute to the Welsh Olympians and Paralympians. The Secretary of State explained that she had recently met with the Energy Secretary and visited the energy cluster in Pembrokeshire with the Deputy Prime Minister. She highlighted the government's establishment of Great British Energy, which aims to drive down bills, create jobs, and deliver energy security. The Secretary of State noted that the new partnership between Great British Energy and the Crown Estate will boost new green technologies, such as floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea, building on the work already undertaken by the Welsh Government. In follow-up questions, the MPs welcomed the Secretary of State's response and sought further details. Nick Smith asked about jobs and investment in the clean energy sector, to which the Secretary of State responded that several Welsh tidal, solar, and offshore wind projects had secured contracts, supporting the government's mission to deliver clean power by 2030 and creating high-quality green jobs. Gill German highlighted the work being done in Clwyd North to develop the skills needed for the green energy sector and invited the Secretary of State to visit the Creating Enterprise project. Bill Esterson asked about the discussions with the Crown Estate regarding maximizing the benefits from offshore wind opportunities, and the Secretary of State outlined the plans to bring additional offshore wind capacity to market by 2030. Henry Tufnell inquired about how Great British Energy will deliver benefits to the port of Milford Haven and families in his constituency, and the Secretary of State emphasized the critical role of the port in securing the UK's energy supply and the government's commitment to delivering sustainable skilled jobs in Pembrokeshire and across Wales. Llinos Medi, the Member for Ynys Môn, raised the issue of delays on the Wylfa nuclear project, which have cost the island over 400 jobs since 2010. The Secretary of State acknowledged the government's manifesto commitment to delivering new nuclear power and stated that the government has now completed the purchase of the Wylfa site, ending over a decade of inaction by the previous government. Finally, John Lamont, the shadow Secretary of State, congratulated the new Ministers on their appointments and recognized the previous Conservative government's efforts in delivering clean energy schemes for Wales, including the Celtic freeport. The Secretary of State responded that the government does not intend to make any changes to existing freeport commitments and that she is backing the delivery of the two freeports in Wales, with the involvement of the Welsh Government.