Question
The Labour Government’s answer to energy independence was to create GB Energy, which we were told was going to create 1,000 jobs in Aberdeen. Two years in, it has just 132 employees, and only 86 of them are based in Scotland. The chairman and the chief exec are not based in Aberdeen—the people of Aberdeen were sold a lemon with GB Energy. Does the Secretary of State now accept that the best way to boost employment in Aberdeen is to get Britain drilling again?
Answer
I understand that Conservative Members speak with some authority, given that the Conservatives grew the size of the civil service after Brexit. For us, the measure of the effectiveness of GB Energy was never the number of officials working in the headquarters in Aberdeen; it was how many jobs are created in the north-east, across Scotland, and across the whole of the United Kingdom. We are proud of having a publicly owned energy company that is getting down to work, and proud of the fact that consent has been granted for Jackdaw. I think the Conservatives could do better.40% point-scoring 20% vibes
Verdict: RED (15/100)
The question asked whether the Secretary of State accepts that resuming drilling is the best way to boost employment in Aberdeen. The reply never says whether it accepts or rejects that claim. It mentions the approval of the Jackdaw gas field, which hints at support for new oil and gas development, but mostly discusses GB Energy staffing and criticises the Conservatives. The response is therefore only indirectly related to the question, and the person who asked would likely need to ask again for a clear position.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whether the Secretary of State accepts that the best way to boost employment in Aberdeen is to get Britain drilling again (resuming oil and gas drilling). | Partially Addressed | Hedged | The item asks whether the Secretary of State accepts that resuming drilling is the best way to boost Aberdeen employment; the reply never states whether it accepts or rejects that claim. The only related content is the pride in Jackdaw's consent (statement 4), which hints at support for new oil and gas development but does not engage with the 'best way to boost employment' premise, and statements 1, 2, 3 and 5 are about GB Energy headcount and point-scoring against the Conservatives. |