Renewable Energy: Workers’ Rights

4 Feb 2025Energy & Net ZeroEconomy & Jobs (General)Jobs & Employment
Chris WebbLabour PartyBlackpool South15 words

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

Sarah JonesLabour PartyCroydon West87 words

The Government came into office six months ago and are determined to ensure that clean energy jobs are high quality, well paid and secure, with strong trade unions. I want to take this opportunity to commend EDF Renewables for its recent recognition agreements with three trade unions. Through the Office for Clean Energy Jobs, we are working with industry and trades unions to support fair pay and workers’ rights, and ensuring that workers across the country can benefit from the economic opportunities of the net zero transition.

Chris WebbLabour PartyBlackpool South76 words

Data centres at Blackpool’s proposed high-performance data centre campus Silicon Sands will be powered by renewable energy and cooled by liquid immersion techniques, with the excess heat repurposed into neighbourhood buildings and homes. Silicon Sands could lead the way in an environmentally friendly approach to data centres, while creating thousands of well-paid jobs for my home town. Will the Minister meet me to discuss how the Department can support my vision to build a better Blackpool?

Sarah JonesLabour PartyCroydon West57 words

I would of course be delighted to meet my hon. Friend to talk about this great project, Silicon Sands, which will bring jobs and be really innovative for his area. The wider point is really important—for too long, our coastal and industrial communities have not had the job opportunities they deserve. We are determined to change that.

Sir Desmond SwayneConservative and Unionist PartyNew Forest West19 words

Can the Minister assure the House that her ambitions for renewable energy can be achieved without Chinese slave labour?

Sarah JonesLabour PartyCroydon West62 words

Yes—of course, we ensure that the highest standards are kept in all these things. The Government’s position is to make sure that we are very careful about them. The right hon. Gentleman may be referring to solar, which is a particular issue that people have raised. We have a solar taskforce, which has been set up exactly to look at those points.

Caroline NokesConservative and Unionist PartyRomsey and Southampton North48 words

Order. I know that Members will find it unusual that Mr Speaker has left the Chair during questions. It is because he is going to attend the memorial service for Lord Hoyle, so I am sure that the whole House wants to send our best wishes to him.