Speeches by Hobhouse.

“If I may quickly come back to the CBAM issue, I know the UK is currently considering whether we should follow the EU’s regulations or whether we should do our own. Before we can make a request to the UK Government to consider refining within carbon border adjustment mechanisms, should there not first be a discussion ab…”

“You mentioned the international competition in refining, but that international competition is not so much in Europe. Lots of refineries have closed in Germany, and the refineries in France are diversifying into making products that help the transition to a zero fossil fuel future. Is it not slightly unfair to compare …”

“If it is the responsibility of the oil and gas sector and employers to prepare their workforce for the jobs of the future, would only 15 workers have gone to work in the offshore wind or renewables industry? What is it? Who should be reskilling? You have just said that, yes, it should be the employer.”

“We were hearing about projects in the previous panel through contracts for difference. We are getting many more offshore wind projects going. What prevents workers from the oil and gas industry from working in the supply chain to help ensure that new energy projects are constructed? What stops them? I am still not gett…”

“But who should then be responsible? The oil and gas industry has lately cut 250 jobs at Harbour Energy, although it makes quite a lot of profit and has also given out quite a lot of dividends to its shareholders. Who should be responsible for the reskilling and transition that we are talking about, and making sure that…”

“You admit, you acknowledge, that we need the transition—”

“Jobs supported by the UK’s oil and gas industry have significantly declined for a decade at least, long before there was a windfall tax and despite hundreds of new licences being issued. You are claiming that current Government policy is creating these concerning situations in the North Sea but is that not because it i…”

“Are you particularly talking about a hydrogen market, for example, which you know is currently very low? Is that something where you could play an important role?”

“Fair enough. It was a question of how it would ultimately work if we were to follow the EU carbon border adjustment mechanisms. My question is about how the UK producing less crude oil and gas has impacted you, but you have already answered quite a lot of questions on that. It is ultimately a global market, and imports…”

“If I may quickly come back to the CBAM issue, I know the UK is currently considering whether we should follow the EU’s regulations or whether we should do our own. Before we can make a request to the UK Government to consider refining within carbon border adjustment mechanisms, should there not first be a discussion ab…”

“You mentioned the international competition in refining, but that international competition is not so much in Europe. Lots of refineries have closed in Germany, and the refineries in France are diversifying into making products that help the transition to a zero fossil fuel future. Is it not slightly unfair to compare …”

“I remind Members to please stick to the informal time limit. If they do not, I will have to make it a formal time limit.”

“Jim Shannon will still have two minutes, and then I will impose a formal time limit of 90 seconds.”

“Order. I remind Members that they should bob if they wish to be called in the debate. It is a very popular debate, for good reasons. I will impose an informal time limit of two minutes per speaker. I intend to call the Front Benchers at 6.58 pm, so you can make the calculations yourselves. As we get further into the de…”

“Before I call the Liberal Democrat spokesperson, I thank you all for making sure that everyone got in. I hope you forgive me for being tough about it.”

“Last week I visited ReMind, a dementia charity in Bath. In an earlier answer, the Leader of the House mentioned the modern service framework for dementia and frailty that was promised in the NHS 10-year plan. Can we have a statement from the Health Secretary when that framework is forthcoming, given the urgent need for…”

“I remind Members that we have to finish the statement at 1.50 pm. Anyone who wishes to speak, please bob—including the Minister, if she wishes to ask a question. Please keep comments short, and Members can only ask one question.”

“We begin with a Select Committee statement. Andy Slaughter will speak on the publication of the second special report of the Justice Committee, “Work of the County Court: Government Response”, HC 1387, for up to 10 minutes, during which no interventions may be taken. At the conclusion of his statement, I will call Memb…”

“I remind all Members that they should bob if they wish to speak. The debate will run until 3.10 pm, and I intend to call the Liberal Democrat spokesperson at 2.38 pm.”

“Thank you. That ends the statement.”