Great British Energy Bill: Lords asks government to think again

The Great British Energy Bill seeks to establish Great British Energy (GBE) as a publicly owned and operationally independent energy company.

Detailed scrutiny

Report stage is an extra chance for members to closely scrutinise elements of the bill and make changes.   

Proposed changes

Members speaking at report stage put forward amendments (PDF) to the bill on subjects including:

• increasing clean energy levels and long-term storage
• government reporting on GBE priorities within six months of new the law
• consultation with the devolved administrations.

Lords divisions

There were eleven divisions (votes) on proposed changes to the bill.

Members voted to agree to an amendment to ensure financial assistance cannot be provided if there is credible evidence of modern slavery in the energy supply chain of any company designated Great British Energy.

Members also voted to agree a government amendment which would require Great British Energy to keep under review the impact of its activities on achieving sustainable development in the United Kingdom.

Nine further changes - on subjects including emergency home insulation, financial assistance, reducing household bills, creating new jobs, the GBE chair, environmental duties, construction of pylons, food security and jobs in Aberdeen- were put to a vote but disagreed to by members.

Catch up

• Watch the Parliament TV recordings - part one, part two and part three.
• Read the Lords Hansard transcript - part one and part two.

Next steps

Third reading, a final chance to 'tidy up' the bill and make changes, is scheduled for Tuesday 25 February.

What's happened so far? 

Committee stage 

Line-by-line examination of the bill took place during committee stage between Tuesday 3 December 2024 and Wednesday 15 January 2025.

Second reading

Second reading, the main debate on the key principles and main purpose of the draft law, took place on Monday 18 November.

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