Speeches by Crichton.

“And retrofit as well.”

“What would help in this just transition would be a national workforce strategy from your Department. We have not seen it.”

“My question is, are you going to prioritise communities?”

“Time is short, so I will move on to the workforce. I am encouraged by what you said, Secretary of State, about wanting to encourage all companies in the energy sector to take seriously the role of trade unions. Those trade unions—the GMB, of which I am member, among them—want you to keep the North sea open and keep the…”

“Let me give expression to it. It gives communities a right to take part in energy projects on their doorstep. That would really enhance support for any project.”

“Jeremy, here is a bit from the Infrastructure Act 2015. It says, “The Secretary of State may make regulations which give individuals resident in a community or groups connected with a community…the right to buy a stake in a renewable electricity generation facility that is located…in the community (if it is a land-base…”

“I must declare an interest as a crofting tenant of Knock and Swordale common grazing, as good a definition of a community as you can ever get, but Knock and Swordale, along with several other community power schemes in my constituency, cannot get grid connections except through active network management connections, wh…”

“13. What discussions she has had with local authorities in Scotland on community regeneration funding.”

“The £20 million community regeneration partnership with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, the Western Isles council, will help develop the marine economy of Vatersay and Barra, the cultural heritage of Eriskay and North Uist and the spinal route through the islands. It puts islanders in the driving seat using the muscle of th…”

“We islanders have always been international ambassadors, and I am delighted that some of the Lewis chess pieces are going to France—a little bit of Gaelic Scotland in President Macron’s pocket. Gaelic broadcasting also has a global reach: 1.8 million viewers watched “An t-Eilean”, MG Alba’s detective series. Gaelic is …”

“3. What recent discussions he has had with representatives of the broadcasting sector in Scotland.”

“We have experienced some cruel heat in this Chamber this week, but in Na h-Eileanan an Iar schools have already broken for the summer. Before they left for their holidays, the P5 pupils of Stornoway primary gave me a lesson, in Gaelic and in English, on their anti-bullying strategy. Does the Leader of the House agree t…”

“You have defined it perfectly. What would you call the agency?”

“That is exactly where I was going next. You talked about changing the performance rating of houses to being a carbon rating, and it rang a distant bell from evidence that we had some months ago about green mortgages, so that mortgages are more easily accessible if you had upgraded your house.”

“You mentioned earlier a scheme in Scotland.”

“There is also a national expert advice scheme in Scotland. Could we benefit from that in England?”

“What is wrong?”

“There is a big gap in trust here among consumers and industry in transmitters, generators and Government. You have given one example of how that could be filled by local government. Are there other things that could be done?”

“There is also a national expert advice scheme in Scotland. Could we benefit from that in England?”

“You have defined it perfectly. What would you call the agency?”