Contributions
1,014 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDPrax Lindsey Oil RefineryI wrote down the hon. Gentleman’s points, and then he came on to specific questions, but I will respond to the points. He rightly says that this has been devastating news for the…22 Jul 2025HANSARDPrax Lindsey Oil RefineryI also declare that I am a member of the GMB trade union; that is recorded in my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. I have engaged with both the Unite trade…22 Jul 2025HANSARDPrax Lindsey Oil RefineryFirst, I think the hon. Gentleman is misjudging the mood of this question, which is about workers affected by redundancy. I hear nothing from him on those workers who are hearing…22 Jul 2025HANSARDPrax Lindsey Oil RefineryOn redundancy, because of how the company went into insolvency, the workers will be entitled to statutory redundancy. That is not acceptable, given the role that they played in…22 Jul 2025HANSARDPrax Lindsey Oil RefineryMy hon. Friend is right, and it is deeply frustrating that we inherited many of these issues, which were unresolved for such a long time. These are not problems that arrived in…22 Jul 2025HANSARDPrax Lindsey Oil RefineryI thank the hon. Gentleman for his questions, and for meeting me to discuss the matter yesterday. I appreciate the impact that the closure will have, not just on those refinery…22 Jul 2025HANSARDPrax Lindsey Oil RefineryI think the hon. Lady slightly misses the point. The company went into insolvency. The workers are therefore entitled only to statutory redundancy. I do not think that that is…22 Jul 2025HANSARDPrax Lindsey Oil RefineryI thank my hon. Friend for both those points. My understanding from the sector and from the Department is that a meeting has not happened in the past 13 years. [ Interruption. ]…22 Jul 2025HANSARDPrax Lindsey Oil RefineryI take the hon. Gentleman’s point about the importance of recognising that the most important thing to get right is the transition of workers. I have said that in other answers.…22 Jul 2025HANSARDPrax Lindsey Oil RefineryI am happy to follow up on anything specific with the hon. Gentleman, but I can tell him that I get daily updates on assessments on exactly that point. Clearly, the first week of…22 Jul 2025HANSARDPrax Lindsey Oil RefineryA key objective of this Government is to deliver good, well-paid trade-unionised jobs, and we have been driving that forward. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has been…22 Jul 2025HANSARDPrax Lindsey Oil RefineryThe Government have pushed, over the past four weeks we have been aware of this issue, to try to find a route whereby the refinery can continue as a going concern. That was…22 Jul 2025HANSARDPrax Lindsey Oil RefineryOn Monday 30 June, I made a written ministerial statement and gave an oral statement regarding the deeply disappointing news that Prax Lindsey oil refinery had entered insolvency.…22 Jul 2025HANSARDPrax Lindsey Oil RefineryI agree with the shadow Minister, who was right to point out the impact that news like this will have on the workforce, who are hearing it this week, as well as the wider impact…22 Jul 2025HANSARDPrax Lindsey Oil RefineryIn my oral statement on 30 June, I informed Parliament of the deeply disappointing news that the Prax Lindsey oil refinery had entered insolvency and that the court had appointed…22 Jul 2025HANSARDElectricity Grid CapacityI thank my hon. Friend for the question and for the work that he and the whole Committee have been doing on this matter. His report has been my bedtime reading every night this…15 Jul 2025HANSARDNew NuclearI regularly engage with Ministers in the Northern Irish Executive, including in the Department for the Economy, which has responsibility for energy policy in Northern Ireland, and…15 Jul 2025HANSARDElectricity Grid CapacityThat sounds like a fantastic opportunity. Our ambition is to see solar panels on as many rooftops across the country as possible. It is a win-win opportunity, as the hon.…15 Jul 2025HANSARDElectricity Grid CapacityWe are working with Ofgem and the National Energy System Operator to accelerate network infrastructure through reforms to planning, supply chains and other areas, delivering the…15 Jul 2025HANSARDRenewable Energy Sector: Workers’ RightsMy hon. Friend is right to raise that point. Supporting workers in energy-intensive industries is essential as we transition our economy. The Government will provide over £1.2…15 Jul 2025