Westminster Hall debateWestminster HallTuesday, 30 June 202611:00

Contribution of nationally significant energy infrastructure projects to communities

Backbench debate (separate chamber, no votes)

A Westminster Hall debate on how communities should benefit from major energy infrastructure projects of national importance. Jenny Riddell-Carpenter (Labour, Suffolk Coastal) is seeking to establish how developers and government can ensure local areas hosting large-scale energy schemes—such as wind farms, solar installations, or grid infrastructure—receive tangible economic and social benefits rather than bearing costs and disruption alone.

Energy infrastructure is critical to meeting net-zero targets and energy security, but projects often face local opposition when communities see few direct gains. This debate examines whether there are fair mechanisms—community funds, local employment, investment in local services—to share benefits from nationally significant projects, and whether current policy adequately protects or compensates affected residents.

Energy & Net Zero Local Government Economy & Jobs (General)

MPs most likely to speak

Chris BryantLabour Party

Rhondda and Ogmore

Minister of State — portfolio topic overlap (35pts); Spoken on energy, local-government, economy-jobs (340 times, 40pts); Known positions: technology: supportive, economy-jobs: supportive, energy: supportive (30pts)Voting record

Michael ShanksLabour Party

Rutherglen

Minister of State — portfolio topic overlap (35pts); Spoken on energy, local-government, economy-jobs (397 times, 40pts); Known positions: energy: supportive, energy: neutral, energy: opposed (30pts)Voting record

Dame Harriett BaldwinConservative and Unionist Party

West Worcestershire

Shadow Business and Trade — portfolio topic overlap (35pts); Venue: 15 Westminster Hall debates (×0.7); Spoken on energy, local-government, economy-jobs (508 times, 28pts); Known positions: economy-jobs: opposed, fiscal-policy: opposed, economy-jobs: questioning (21pts); Committee: treasury committee (20pts)Voting record

David SimmondsConservative and Unionist Party

Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner

Shadow Levelling Up — portfolio topic overlap (35pts); Spoken on energy, local-government, economy-jobs (344 times, 40pts); Known positions: local-government: opposed, local-government: questioning, local-government: neutral (30pts)Voting record

Mr Alistair CarmichaelLiberal Democrats

Orkney and Shetland

Spoken on energy, local-government, economy-jobs (366 times, 40pts); Known positions: economy-jobs: questioning, agriculture: opposed, agriculture: supportive (30pts); Committee: environment, food and rural affairs committee (Chair) (25pts)Voting record

Contribution of nationally significant energy infrastructure projects to communities

MPs most likely to speak

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