Queens Speech Reaction

Queens Speech Reaction 

Government Must Tie Subsidies for Offshore Wind Manufacturing to UK Supply Chains to Achieve 30,000 Steel Fabrication Jobs 

Responding to today’s Queen’s Speech and the UK Government’s plans for the future of subsidy controls as part of the country’s economic programme, GMB Scotland Secretary Gary Smith said: 

“The UK Government must tie subsidies for offshore wind projects to domestic job creation and supply chain investment, ensuring the tens of thousands of steel fabrication jobs needed to manufacture thousands of giant wind turbines are delivered in Britain and not Asia.” 

Earlier this week (See Notes to Editors) GMB Scotland identified areas in the UK with access to sea and with steel fabrication skills, which could manufacture the thousands of giant wind turbines needed to help achieve the 2050 net zero targets. 

The areas identified with existing steel fabrication skills and / or access to the sea include: Clydeside, Western Isles, Dundee, Fife, Tyneside,  Wearside, Teesside, Humberside, King's Lynn, Great Yarmouth, Lowestoft,  Felixstowe, Harwich, Medway, Portsmouth, Southampton, Weymouth, Plymouth, Falmouth,  Appledore, Avonside, Milford Haven, Pembroke, Anglesey,  Merseyside, Barrow, and Belfast.

ENDS 

Contact: GMB Scotland Communications on 07976 447077 or email gmbscotcampaigns@gmb.org.uk

Notes to Editors: 

“30,000 New Steel Fabrication Jobs Needed To Deliver 8,000 Offshore Wind Turbines, And Help UK Meet It’s 2050 Net Zero Target”, GMB Scotland Media Release, Monday 10 May 2021, access at: <<https://www.gmbscotland.org.uk/newsroom/new-steel-fabrication-jobs-needed-to-deliver-offshore-wind-turbines-and-help-uk-meet-net-zero-target>>