Mrs Sharon Hodgson
MP for Washington and Gateshead South · Labour · United Kingdom
“T5. I visited Newcastle Crown court before the summer recess, where I learned that the backlog of cases had reached an unprecedented high. As we have heard, measures such as the blitz courts in Teesside, which were mentioned earlier, and specialist sexual offences and domestic abuse courts can help with this backlog.”
“Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker; I will be very brief. Next Thursday is World Patient Safety Day. As the landmark Cumberlege review confirmed, patients—particularly women—have had their concerns dismissed and denied for far too long.”
“It would ensure that that support is actually accountable to Parliament, with an annual mandatory report highlighting the services that have been provided and the outcomes that they have achieved.”
“Getting this right matters because when we do not, children suffer. Research shows that 10% to 25% of children experience disorganised attachment with their main caregiver, putting them at greater risk of poor social, emotional and educational outcomes.”
“Parents are expected to know just by instinct how to fulfil this role, and that is where we have gone wrong. If we want a healthy and happy society, we need our children to be thriving and therefore our parents and carers to be supported from the very start.”
“If we instead focus on building conditions that allow parents, carers and babies to thrive, we allow children to thrive from the beginning, rather than waiting to intervene when they struggle later down the line. Babies should not be an afterthought.”
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“The changes were made as a result of a recommendation from the Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee, which the Government accept.”
“Someone is admitted to hospital almost every minute as a result of smoking, and up to two-thirds of deaths among current smokers can be attributed directly to smoking. Those are not abstract figures; they represent lives cut short by an entirely preventable harm. The Bill also takes decisive action to tackle the rapid rise in the use of vapes and other nicotine products, particularly among young people, protecting a new generation from nicotine addiction. All the amendments to be considered today have been accepted by the Government, starting with Lords amendments 1, 2, 39 and 40, which change the parliamentary procedure for age verification regulations from negative to affirmative in England and Wales, and in Northern Ireland. The regulations will set out how retailers may ensure compliance when verifying a customer’s age.”
“Before I address Lords amendment 1, I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to my predecessor, my hon. Friend the Member for West Lancashire (Ashley Dalton), for her work on the Bill and the wider prevention agenda. I also extend my thanks to Baroness Merron for her work in the other place, ensuring that the Bill was expertly steered through the legislative process. This is a landmark Bill, and I am honoured to have taken on responsibility for it as the House considers the amendments made in the other place. Creating a smoke-free generation is the most significant public health intervention since the ban on smoking in public places in 2007, under the last Labour Government. Tobacco claims around 80,000 lives every year, and in England it is responsible for a quarter of all cancer deaths.”
“The change was made in response to feedback from local government stakeholders that such a measure would strengthen the scheme and help it to be managed more efficiently following its introduction. Lords amendments 21 to 24 and 28 allow the proceeds from the £2,500 fixed penalty notice for licensing offences in England and Wales to be retained by local authorities for enforcement purposes. The Bill previously required them to be returned to the consolidated fund after costs were deducted. That aligns with the Bill’s approach to allow local authorities to retain proceeds from the £200 fixed penalty notices. Local authorities will be able to reinvest proceeds into strengthening enforcement of the Bill, and help to tackle the illicit market.”
“The Government remain committed to the wider ban on vending machines, to prevent children and young people from being able to bypass age restrictions on vapes and nicotine products. However, we are aware that adults with long-term mental health conditions have a much higher smoking prevalence than the general population, and ensuring that adult in-patients are able to access vapes from vending machines supports smoking cessation. Lords amendments 6, 7, 9 to 18, 20, 25, 27, 29 to 31, and 92 to 102 relate to the creation of a licensing scheme in England, and allow for the licensing authority to enforce the future scheme in addition to trading standards.”
“We do not intend to place undue burdens on retailers. Indeed, it should be easier because there is one only date that anyone will have to remember when verifying somebody’s age, which is 1 January 2009. It should be a lot easier as nobody has to do any complicated arithmetic in their head any more. I thank the hon. Gentleman for his intervention. Lords amendments 3 and 4 provide a narrow exemption to the Bill’s ban on vape vending machines, allowing them to be used in adult mental health settings in England and Wales, and only in areas “wholly or mainly” for patients. That aims to support adult in-patients who may face limits on accessing vaping products used to manage nicotine addiction.”
“Regulations could ban filters in the future, or regulate their packaging, advertising and display. The evidence on the effect of filters, including their direct health impact, is still emerging, so no decision has been made on the use of those powers. The Government will look to consult on using the powers only if we think that there is sufficient evidence to justify action.”
“They ensure that the policy works as intended by ensuring consistency of approach, and by taking account of changes to other legislation. They support the implementation and enforcement of the advertising provisions in the Bill. The issue of filters has been raised throughout the passage of the Bill, both in this House and in the other place. Action on filters has been proposed by parties from across the political spectrum, because of concerns about environmental harms and harms to health. However, parliamentarians have advocated for restricting filters in a number of different ways. Lords amendments 32 to 34, 37 and 38, 42 to 48, 51 to 59, 62, 77 and 78, and 103 therefore contain a suite of powers that will enable secondary legislation to regulate filters, should evidence suggest that this is necessary.”
“On the Bill’s ban on advertising vape and nicotine products, Lords amendments 72 and 106 to 109 create a specific defence and provide additional clarity for businesses, ensuring that they can promote non-branded vaping and nicotine products where that is done in an arrangement with a public health authority for public health reasons. It was always the Government’s intention to allow public authorities to continue to promote effective smoking cessation tools, and these amendments strengthen that. I am pleased that we can provide reassurances to healthcare professionals that they can continue to promote smoking cessation materials in agreement with public health authorities. There are also a number of more technical Lords amendments—71, 104, 105, 110 to 123—relating to advertising.”
“As far as I am aware, it is all local authorities—I am getting an affirmative nod from the Box, so I am happy to give my hon. Friend that reassurance. The Government have also tabled amendments (a) to (c) consequential on Lords amendments 28, and amendments (a) to (c) consequential on Lords amendment 29, to correct an error arising from changes made on Report in the other place. Without these amendments, trading standards officers in Wales would lose the ability to issue certain fixed penalty notices for a short period. The amendments resolve that issue and ensure consistency of approach between England and Wales.”
“The Government amendments tabled today will return to the other place for consideration, and I look forward to their timely agreement, and to the Bill completing its final stages.”
“We are content that the measures in the Bill, which are intended to apply to Northern Ireland, are compatible with the obligations under the Windsor framework. I hope that answers the hon. and learned Gentleman’s concern. We hope that the review will be a clear demonstration of the Government’s commitment to monitoring progress against our smokefree ambition. Finally, Lords amendments 5, 8, 36, 41, 60 and 61, 63 to 76, 79, and 81 to 88 are technical amendments, some of which are consequential to the commencement of several other Acts. They also improve consistency in drafting across the Bill. I encourage all Members to support all the amendments. These are meaningful changes that strengthen the Bill and respond to concerns raised by Members across the House and in the other place.”
“Despite significant progress, 5.3 million adults were still smoking cigarettes in 2024, and while tobacco remains the greatest threat, owing to its unique harms, we are also seeing a rapid rise in the use of vapes and other nicotine products, particularly among young people, creating a new generation at risk of harm and addiction. That is why this Bill matters, and why the action that we are taking today is so important. Let me now turn to the points raised by hon. Members, who were small in number but mighty in their contributions. The shadow Minister, the hon. Member for Hinckley and Bosworth (Dr Evans), made an excellent speech, and I enjoyed hearing his thoughts—but he is not listening while I am talking about him.”
“With the leave of the House, Madam Deputy Speaker, I would like to place on the record my sincere thanks to all Members who have contributed to this thoughtful and constructive debate, and throughout the Bill’s passage in this House. It has been a real privilege to take it through this stage, following in the elegant and tiny footsteps but great ability of my hon. Friend the Member for West Lancashire (Ashley Dalton), who, along with our colleague Lady Merron in the other place, has done sterling work. I am so grateful for the engagement of colleagues across the House, and for the shared commitment to improving public health and protecting future generations. As Members are aware, smoking remains the leading preventable cause of death, disability and ill health in this country.”
“The shadow Minister asked about an appropriate balance. The Bill rightly takes strong action against youth vaping while recognising the important role that vapes play in helping adult smokers to quit smoking. The Government have been cautious to strike the right balance between reducing the appeal to children and ensuring that vapes remain an accessible tool for smoking cessation. That is why the Bill provides powers to tackle the appeal of vapes to children through elements such as packaging, display, flavours and device features. However, in order to avoid unintended consequences for adult smoking rates, the scope of restrictions will be carefully considered and consulted on.”
“The Bill takes bold action to strengthen enforcement and crack down on rogue retailers. We are investing up to £10 million of new funding in trading standards annually until 2028-29 to tackle the illicit and under-age sale of tobacco and vapes, and to help enforce the law. That funding is being used to boost the trading standards workforce by hiring 120 apprentices across England. The illicit tobacco strategy establishes a cross-Government taskforce, enhancing the ability of His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs to disrupt organised crime. Between April 2015 and March 2023, over 10 billion cigarettes on which UK duty had not been paid were seized by His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs and Border Force. The hon. Member for Windsor (Jack Rankin) asked about the illicit market, so I hope that addresses some of his concerns.”
“I am trying to be nice, and the shadow Minister is ignoring me, but I really enjoyed listening to what he said about being a practising doctor, and about his concerns which made it so apparent that we had to do something about this. I am sure that, having got here, he is proud to have played a part in getting this legislation on to the statute book, for those very reasons. He asked me about the illicit market. The creation of a smokefree generation will prevent people from ever becoming addicted to smoking in the first place. When the age of sale was increased from 16 to 18, 1.3 million more people could no longer to be sold cigarettes, and would, in theory, be in the market for illegal cigarettes. In practice, the number of illicit cigarettes consumed fell by 25% between 2005-06 and 2007-08.”
“and learned Member for North Antrim (Jim Allister) called this a “socialist Bill”, but I remind the House that it started its life under a Conservative Government, and was lost in the wash-up prior to the general election.”
“My hon. Friend also asked about advertising. We must stop the advertising and promotion of products that risk addicting a new generation to nicotine. The Bill delivers on this Government’s manifesto commitment to stopping the blatant advertising of vapes to children while continuing to support adult smokers in quitting. She said that it would be appropriate for nicotine pouches to be in scope of the ban on advertising, and I can commit to that. My hon. Friend the Member for Chatham and Aylesford (Tristan Osborne) made a very thoughtful contribution, which sadly was followed by a not-so-thoughtful contribution from the hon. Member for Windsor. He and the hon.”
“I will definitely write to my hon. Friend, rather than just guess, but I suppose that we will see fewer young people vaping—the numbers should go down. To quote chief medical officer Chris Whitty, as someone did in an excellent speech earlier: “If you smoke, vaping is much safer; if you don’t smoke, don’t vape.” That is what we want the message to be, but I will commit to writing to my hon. Friend about how we will follow the metrics. I come to the contribution from my hon. Friend the Member for City of Durham (Mary Kelly Foy), who asked about the levy. The measures in this Bill to reduce the use of tobacco are world leading. Given that the Bill will create a smokefree generation, and that we have a proven and effective model for increasing tobacco duties, we do not think that introducing a new, bespoke levy is the best way forward.”
“I will finish responding to the hon. Member’s ideological arguments. This is not about liberty or choice for smokers. Up to two thirds of deaths among smokers can be attributed to smoking; three quarters of smokers wish they had never started; and the majority want to quit. That is not freedom of choice. The tobacco industry took away their choice by addicting them at a very young age.”
“83A(7)), That the following provisions shall apply to the National Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill for the purpose of supplementing the Order of 17 December 2025 (National Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill: Programme): Consideration of Lords Amendments (1) Proceedings on consideration of Lords Amendments shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion three hours after their commencement. Subsequent stages (2) Any further Message from the Lords may be considered forthwith without any Question being put. (3) Proceedings on any further Message from the Lords shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion one hour after their commencement. —(Imogen Walker.) Question agreed to.”
“Government amendments (a) to (c) consequential on Lords amendment 29 made. Lords amendments 30 to 123 agreed to, with Commons financial privileges waived in respect of Lords amendments 32 to 34, 37, 38, 43 to 48, 51 to 59, 62, 77 and 78. National Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill: Programme (No. 2) Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No.”
“We had really good contributions from my hon. Friends the Members for Dartford (Jim Dickson) and for Carlisle (Ms Minns). If I have not answered any of their questions because I was not quick enough to write stuff down, I commit to writing to both. I very much hope that this House will support all the amendments under consideration, and that the Governments amendments will return to the other place for due consideration. I hope that this landmark Bill can complete its passage shortly, and that we can move forward with delivering a smokefree UK. Lords amendment 1 agreed to . Lords amendments 2 to 28 agreed to, with Commons financial privileges waived in respect of Lords amendments 21 and 22. Government amendments (a) to (c) consequential on Lords amendment 28 made. Lords amendment 29 agreed to, with Commons financial privileges waived.”
“Certain EU member states issued opinions setting out concerns about the compatibility of the smokefree generation policy with EU law, and it is not unusual for member states to submit opinions on TRIS notifications. For instance, several member states recently wrote to France when it proposed a ban on nicotine pouches, despite several other member states having already introduced such a ban. The Government have provided a comprehensive response to the opinions that we have received, which sets out the strong public health justification for the policy, and explains why the smokefree generation policy complies with EU law as it applies under the Windsor framework, and the European Commission has now responded, noting our response. This concludes the TRIS process. I hope that answers some of the hon. Gentleman’s concerns.”
“Member for South Antrim (Robin Swann), in his really good speech, mentioned concerns about Northern Ireland. The Bill is UK-wide and has been developed in close partnership with the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government and the Northern Ireland Executive. We are content that the measures in the Bill, which are intended to apply to Northern Ireland, are compatible with the obligations under the Windsor framework, as I said earlier. The UK Government notified the EU’s technical regulation information system—TRIS—that certain provisions in the Bill relate to Northern Ireland; this is a standard process, not an approval process.”
“With regard to indoor spaces that are currently smokefree, we are consulting on making the majority free from heated tobacco and vape-free. The consultation does not consider extending the proposals to outdoor hospitality. Moving on to the excellent speech from my hon. Friend the Member for Falkirk (Euan Stainbank), I can confirm that, for smoking cessation purposes, flavoured vapes can still be promoted by businesses if they have an agreement with public health authorities. We recognise that vape flavours are an important consideration for adult smokers who are seeking to quit smoking, which is why the Government recently committed to consulting on regulating flavour descriptors as a first step before considering broader restrictions on flavoured ingredients. The hon.”
“The freedom to be addicted—I think that is what the hon. Member has just defended. I am sure that those on his Front Bench will take note of that. He also asked me about smokefree places. No smoker wants to harm people, but they do so through second-hand smoke, as we all know. On 13 February, the Government published our consultation on “free from” places. As we have previously set out, this Government are consulting on making outdoor public places smokefree and free from heated tobacco, including children’s playgrounds and spaces outside a number of health, social care and educational settings. Children and medically vulnerable people who visit such places should not be exposed to harm through no choice of their own. Additionally, we are consulting on making areas outside playgrounds and schools vape-free.”
“This work was channelled via social media and a cascade to clinical networks, as well as by updating the nhs.uk pages to make them clearer. A RightCare toolkit was also published by NHS England, which is designed to support integrated care systems to design, plan and deliver high-quality treatment and care for children with all types of diabetes.”
“I thank and pay enormous tribute to Lyla’s parents, John and Emma Story, who have campaigned so passionately and powerfully at a time of such unimaginable grief. It is truly inspiring, and we hope that it will help to ensure that no other families will suffer as they have. I am so sorry, and I offer Mr and Mrs Story my deepest sympathies. No child or their family should be let down in this way. We have started to make improvements to raise awareness, and this debate forms a very important part of that. During World Diabetes Day in November 2025, NHS England made a big push to raise awareness of the four Ts, which, as we have heard today, are the main symptoms of type 1 diabetes: thirst, tiredness, thinning, and an increased need to go to the toilet.”
“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship from the Dispatch Box, Sir Alec. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for North Ayrshire and Arran (Irene Campbell) for opening this important debate, following the petition related to funding for infants to receive type 1 diabetes testing and routine care. I am grateful to all hon. Members who have taken part and for all the heartfelt speeches that we have been privileged to hear. I am not surprised at all that the petition received 120,000 signatures after it was started, following—as we know—the tragic death of two-year-old Lyla Story from diabetic ketoacidosis mere hours after seeing her GP. I was deeply affected when I heard that a child so young had been taken so cruelly by a condition as common and manageable as type 1 diabetes.”
“However, we recognise that more needs to be done, and that is why NHS England is working on how we can better support NHS staff to diagnose patients as quickly as possible and raise awareness of symptoms for parents and families.”
“I thank the former Secretary of State for Health for her important intervention. I was not aware that she was type 1 diabetic herself, and the case of Levi that she mentioned is so pertinent to what we are discussing. Mr Story has been working with NICE, and that guidance is currently being updated. As the right hon. Member says, it is so important to get that information out there, so that all GPs are brought up to date and know that infections and viruses can be a trigger, so I thank her for that intervention. The RightCare toolkit that is being brought forward also contains important information for clinicians in setting out what good quality diabetes care looks like for children and includes guidance on timely and accurate diagnosis.”
“One Member raised the abolition of NHS England. I can reassure Members that, as part of that change process, policy functions will transfer into the Department as appropriate. Clinicians follow clinical guidelines set out by NICE, which are advisory and not mandatory. They are not mandatory because they are designed as evidence-based advice to inform rather than to replace clinical judgment, allowing for tailored care for individual patients. Guidelines cannot cover every unique patient scenario, and clinicians must therefore maintain responsibility for treatment decisions.”
“While we are working on options to improve type 1 diabetes diagnosis, a requirement for a mandatory finger-prick test for those presenting with possible symptoms of type 1 diabetes is difficult to enact and could not be delivered quickly. I hear the point made by the hon. Member for South Northamptonshire (Sarah Bool) in her excellent speech—many others also made this point—about how all GP practices should have the necessary equipment and finger-prick testing kits, and several hon. Members raised the issue of NHS funding for point-of-contact testing kits. I can reassure them that there is good clinician access to those tests. What we need to do is ensure that their use is at the forefront of clinicians’ minds when the symptoms present, which is exactly what Mr and Mrs Story called for in their petition.”
“If I may, I will write to the hon. Member on his important point, rather than giving a possibly unsatisfactory answer off the top of my head. The NHS is exploring how IT can be better used to support GPs in making more accurate diagnoses. That includes how existing electronic patient record—EPR— systems could be used more effectively to provide prompts for GPs to consider type 1 diabetes when particular symptoms are added. I can update the House that clinical leaders in NHS England are also working with digital diabetes education providers to develop a primary care healthcare professional education module.”
“Friend the Member for Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham (Dame Diana Johnson), who is here for the debate. I am sure that will be a very emotional and powerful meeting for Mr and Mrs Story. I wish them well and, in closing, pay tribute to them again for everything they have done in Lyla’s name to try to ensure that no other family follows in their footsteps.”
“In addition, NHS England is looking carefully to see what further improvements might be made to the red book and to support increased awareness for parents and families so that they can see what the symptoms of type 1 diabetes are. I know that was an important part of the petition. In closing, I thank all those present for taking part in this very important debate, as well as our constituents—all 120,000 of them—who took the time to sign the petition and press us all on this very important matter. I hope that the work that is currently being taken forward across diagnosis and awareness shows the seriousness with which this issue is being taken. I am pleased that John and Emma Story will be meeting the Secretary of State for Health tomorrow to discuss this further, along with their constituency MP, my right hon.”
“We are guided by the independent scientific advice of the UK National Screening Committee, as it is vital that screening programmes are evidence-based and evidence-led. The committee does not currently recommend screening for type 1 diabetes, due to a lack of evidence. However, the committee received a submission, via its 2024 open-call process, to consider screening for autoimmune type 1 diabetes through blood testing. Once NICE has published its recommendation on the drug teplizumab, which is expected this year, the National Screening Committee will consider whether a fresh review of the evidence for type 1 diabetes screening should be undertaken.”
“That includes how existing electronic patient record systems could be used more effectively to provide prompts for GPs to consider type 1 diabetes when particular symptoms are added. I can inform the House that clinical leaders in NHS England are working with digital providers of diabetes education to develop an education module for primary care healthcare professionals. A few Members mentioned screening, so I would like to take this opportunity to set out the Government’s position. Although we know that screening for antibodies would sadly not have helped Lyla, screening tests may help to improve our ability to identify those who are most likely to develop type 1 diabetes in future.”
“In addition, following the publication of NICE’s guidance recommending the use of hybrid closed loop systems as a treatment option for type 1 diabetes in children, the NHS began a five-year roll-out of HCLs in 2024. For those who are not familiar with that technology, an HCL acts as an artificial pancreas that lets a person’s insulin pump talk to their continuous glucose monitor. I am sure that adults in particular with type 1 diabetes are very aware of HCLs, but the use of HCLs in children under 19 has now increased from 36% in 2023-24 to 70% in 2025-26. That is significant progress in making that life-changing technology available to more children and young people. Returning to the issue of diagnosis, the NHS is exploring how IT can be better used to support GPs in making more accurate diagnoses.”
“Studies are also identifying ways to improve the diagnosis of type 1 and 2 diabetes based on genetics, making prediction more accessible and more effective. We are also supporting the delivery of research into type 1 diabetes treatment, again through the NIHR. That includes supporting a new UK-wide type 1 diabetes cell therapy clinical trials network. The aim is to ensure all people with the condition gain access to the latest cutting-edge treatments as early as possible. The NIHR’s research delivery network is also supporting the delivery of a study that aims to identify infants at risk of developing type 1 diabetes, and to study new treatments with the aim of preventing the development of the condition.”
“I know that Mr Story has raised further recommendations with NICE to improve that guidance. I am sure NICE will be considering it very carefully. I would like again to put on record my admiration for the huge effort and determination of Mr Story in campaigning to raise awareness and advocating for improvements. The updating of NICE guidance is tangible proof of his efforts; his time has not been wasted. I recognise that the immediate issue raised is point-of-care testing, but I should update the House in saying that, more broadly, we are also funding the delivery of research to develop and test novel approaches for diagnosing type 1 diabetes earlier and more accurately through the NIHR. That includes an investigation of the use of a new home test for type 1 diabetes in children and young people.”
“That might be a fair point on some treatments more widely, but funding is not an issue for the finger-prick test—it is very affordable for the NHS, and I am told that funding is not the issue on the point we are debating today. I am pleased that NICE has been able to respond very quickly to Mr and Mrs Story. It has engaged with them in detail and listened to their concerns about how the guidance could be clearer. I am very pleased that NICE has recently said it will update the guidance and guidelines on the diagnosis and management of type 1 and 2 diabetes in children, to raise the prominence of the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis in children with undiagnosed diabetes. I understand that the conversation Mr Story is having with NICE is ongoing, and that NICE is also considering an update to the adult guidance in due course.”
“Saturday marks the two-year anniversary of the publication of the Hughes report, which set out how the Government should offer financial compensation to those irreversibly and avoidably harmed by the mesh and valproate scandals. To not have an official Government response after two years is frankly insulting to the thousands of women and children whose lives have been changed forever through no fault of their own. These women have been systematically gaslit and have endured so much, all for trusting healthcare professionals, as we all have done and would do. Does the Leader of the House agree that the time for thinking is now over, and that the Government must provide an urgent response to this House?”
“I welcome this fantastic announcement, particularly regarding the Leamside line, which runs from Pelaw in Gateshead through my constituency in Washington and on to Ferryhill in County Durham, and it is the line that will finally bring the metro to Washington, which I have campaigned on since I first stood to be an MP back in 2005. This investment will be transformative for my constituents and the whole north-east, so although we are still a little way off spades in the ground, does the Secretary of State agree that this truly is the difference that a Labour Government—together with Kim McGuinness, our Labour Mayor of the North East—make?”
“I welcome the Government’s focus on improving survival rates for cancer, particularly in the forthcoming national cancer plan. Will the Minister agree to attend the campaign for Owain’s law event here in Parliament on 3 February and meet the families, who will have travelled from across the country to brief Members of this House on the urgent importance of fixing the current tissue freezing postcode lottery?”
“It also operates the UK’s largest mine-water heat pump, extracting renewable heat from flooded mines beneath Gateshead. Furthermore, Labour plans to ensure that clean energy jobs are always good jobs, by ensuring that companies receiving public grants and contracts must create jobs with decent pay, access to trade unions and strong rights at work. The clean energy economy is currently growing three times faster than the wider economy. Labour’s analysis shows that employment in clean energy jobs is expected to double to 860,000 by 2030. Our energy transition must not just be driven by the technologies we know; the Government must also keep an eye on emerging technology. I am impressed by the widespread uptake of heat pumps and happy to see that heat batteries are one the latest technologies added to the boiler upgrade scheme.”
“Nissan has also boldly embraced wind power to supplement its power supply. Across the UK, however, we are not using that energy efficiently. Octopus Energy has found that we are currently wasting more than £1.2 billion a year paying wind farms to turn off and gas plants to turn on. More broadly in the north-east, we are pioneering solar energy through companies such as Power Roll, while former coalfield communities such as mine are exploring mine-water heating as a potential heat and energy source of the future, rooted in our past. The award-winning Gateshead district energy scheme in the town centre supplies 24 buildings with heat and/or power, as well as more than 600 homes. That includes 4 MW of power capacity, forming part of the UK’s capacity market, and 5 MW of solar PV farms on urban brownfield sites.”
“Consumer-led flexibility is essential for a just transition. Unlocking just 10 GW of consumer-led flexibility by 2030 is equal to a third of the UK’s entire gas power station capacity. I will start by highlighting some of the impressive developments taking place in my constituency of Washington and Gateshead South. Nissan is leading the way by developing electric vehicles, while AESC is currently building a second battery plant in my constituency, supported by a Government-backed £1 billion funding plan, which will be the UK’s largest gigafactory. Those are proud additions to the north-east’s already impressive manufacturing history. EVs are an example of the smart technology we need to shift energy use intelligently to times when it is cheap, clean and abundant, as the hon. Member for Thornbury and Yate mentioned.”