Former Siemens boss appointed Great British Energy interim chief executive
A former chief of energy giant Siemens has been appointed interim chief executive of the Government's flagship Great British Energy company.
Dan McGrail, the current chief executive of trade association RenewableUK, will work for the new publicly-owned clean energy company from its Aberdeen headquarters.
He will take up his post in March on an initial six-month contract on secondment from RenewableUK, which supports businesses developing wind, wave, tidal, storage and green hydrogen projects in the UK.
Mr McGrail, who was previously chief executive of Siemens Engines and managing director of Siemens Power Generation, will 'draw on his wealth of experience in clean energy' to help 'rapidly scale up the new company so it can start delivering as quickly as possible', the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said.
The department said recruitment for the permanent chief executive will also begin shortly.
GB Energy was pitched as a key part of Labour's clean energy strategy during last year's general election.
The public body will invest in onshore and offshore wind and other projects to help speed up private investment in the sector, and has been promised £8.3 billion of public money over the next five years.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: 'With the appointment of Dan McGrail as interim CEO, we now have a fantastic team in place to lead Great British Energy and start delivering on our plan for change.
'Great British Energy is at the heart of our clean power mission, and will support thousands of well-paid jobs, drive growth and investment into our communities and deliver energy security for the British people.'
Mr McGrail said: 'Homegrown, affordable clean power has never been more important and it's a privilege to take up the role of interim CEO of Great British Energy at such a pivotal moment.
'Together with the talented leadership team, I'm excited to hit the ground running to scale up the company and work with industry to unleash billions of investment in clean energy, helping to grow new industries at scale with job opportunities for hundreds of thousands of people, as well as helping the Government achieve its clean power targets.'
It was announced in December that a £1.6 million centre for training wind farm workers would open in Aberdeen, and GB Energy would be based there.
The Great British Energy Bill is currently going through the House of Lords and is at the committee stage.
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Edinburgh Reporter
4 minutes ago
- Edinburgh Reporter
Winter fuel payment announced in England and Wales means uplift for Scotland
In England and Wales, people who are old enough to receive the State Pension and who have income of less than £35,000 will receive a Winter Fuel Payment this winter. This adds up to 9 million pensioners south of the border – which the UK Government says is around three quarters of all pensioners living there. Winter Fuel payments are no longer paid to Scottish pensioners. In winter 2024/25 pensioners were paid Pension Age Winter Heating Payment through the DWP, but in 2025 The Scottish Government announced that the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment will be paid by Social Security Scotland to all qualifying pensioners. The payment will be either £200 or £300 and £100 to other pensioners. Payment will be made to everyone born before 23 September 1958, who lives in Scotland – and who is in receipt of certain other benefits. The UK Government also confirmed that the change – which is a u-turn on Keir Starmer's previous announcement – will cost around £1.25 billion in England and Wales. It is believed that means-testing of the Winter Fuel Payment will save around £450 million, subject to certification by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) compared to the system of Winter Fuel Payments for everyone regardless of income. In Scotland this payment is devolved and the UK Government said the government will receive a 'mechanical uplift' in their funding as a result of the change in England and Wales. It is thought that might be around £100 million. Social Justice Secretary, Shirley Anne Somerville, said: 'The UK Government's decision to cut the winter fuel payment was a betrayal of millions of pensioners and that is why the Scottish Government took action to introduce a winter heating payment for all pensioners in Scotland. 'I welcome any extension of eligibility by the UK Government, but this is a U-turn the Chancellor should have made a long time ago. But there is still no detail about how the Chancellor intends to go about that. Unfortunately, it still sounds as if many pensioners will miss out. 'We have once again not been consulted on the policy and its implications in Scotland and will scrutinise the proposals carefully when then are announced. I would therefore urge the UK Government to ensure the Scottish Government is fully appraised of the proposed changes as soon as possible. 'The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government wrote to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury last week to urge the UK Government to share its plans with us as quickly as possible, so that we can understand any implications for our own programmes and, crucially, our budget.' Previously the UK Government announced that Winter Fuel Payments would be restricted to pensioners in receipt of Pension Credit. When First Minister, John Swinney, attended the round table meeting in London at the end of May he asked the prime minister to restore winter fuel payments to all pensioners regardless of means. The costs will be accounted for at the Budget and incorporated into the next OBR forecast. The Chancellor said she will take decisions on funding in the round at that forecast to 'ensure the government's non-negotiable fiscal rules are met', and confirmed that this will not lead to permanent additional borrowing. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, said: 'Targeting Winter Fuel Payments was a tough decision, but the right decision because of the inheritance we had been left by the previous government. It is also right that we continue to means-test this payment so that it is targeted and fair, rather than restoring eligibility to everyone including the wealthiest. 'But we have now acted to expand the eligibility of the Winter Fuel Payment so no pensioner on a lower income will miss out. This will mean over three quarters of pensioners receiving the payment in England and Wales later this winter.' HMRC will reclaim the payment from anyone earning more than £35,000 and no-one is required to take any action or register for the payment. Winter Fuel Payments are worth £200 per household, or £300 per household where there is someone over 80. Shared payments are made to pensioners not on an income-related benefit. Scottish Labour Scottish Labour Social Security spokesperson, Paul O'Kane, said: 'This is welcome news that will bring even more money to Scotland – on top of the record funding settlement Labour delivered in the budget. 'The last Tory government left our public finances in chaos but Labour has made good progress cleaning up the mess it inherited. 'The Winer Fuel Payment is a devolved payment in Scotland and Scottish Labour has long been clear that we want to see it reinstated for the majority of pensioners up here – but despite their loud spin, the SNP voted against our attempts to do so. 'The SNP must not go ahead with plans that would rob poorer pensioners in order to fund payments for millionaires. 'The SNP must re-examine their own proposals in light of this game-changing announcement, ensure payments reach those most in need, and give a cast-iron guarantee that no struggling Scottish pensioners will be left out of pocket under their plans.' Scottish Greens Scottish Greens Social Security spokesperson Maggie Chapman MSP said: 'Cutting the Winter Fuel Payment was one of the first acts of this Labour government. Elected on a promise of 'change' they brought in sweeping austerity that harmed older people across the UK at a time when the cost of living remains sky high. 'There is no doubt that the damage has already been done, families will have lost loved ones, and illnesses will have been caused over the winter months because of the brutal decision by Rachel Reeves and the Labour Government. 'Labour's cutting of the Winter Fuel Payment, refusal to end the two-child benefit cap and regressive austerity measures are forcing people into poverty in Scotland and across the UK 'The reinstatement of the Winter Fuel Payment for some is a welcome move, but we must go further, the Labour government must end the two-child benefit cap which hits working class families the hardest, and they must reverse their cruel austerity policies. 'Poverty isn't inevitable. It's a political policy, a policy which Rachel Reeves has forced upon hundreds of thousands of people across the UK. If Keir Starmer has any shame, he would finally call an end to her disastrous time as Chancellor.' Independent Age Chief Executive Joanna Elson, CBE, said:'We are pleased that the UK Government has listened to the voices of older people on a low income and reconsidered what was an incredibly damaging change to the Winter Fuel Payment. By widening the eligibility criteria, more older people in financial hardship will now receive this vital lifeline in time for winter. 'Our helpline receives thousands of calls from older people making drastic cutbacks just to get by and the changes to the Winter Fuel Payment made this worse. For millions living on low incomes, the entitlement supports them to turn their heating on and stock up on food during the colder months. 'While the changes to the Winter Fuel Payment are positive, they are not a silver bullet that will end pensioner poverty. Around 2 million older people still live in poverty, and measures must be taken to ensure the long-term financial security of all people in later life. There needs to be a cross-party consensus on the adequate income needed in later life to avoid financial hardship. Once this is established, every older person should be supported to receive this amount. Nobody should have to live in poverty as they age.' Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: 'Commonsense has finally prevailed as the winter fuel cut is reversed for most pensioners. Whilst this is an important step forward, questions will be asked about how this disastrous decision was made in the first place, the damage may not easily be reversed. 'Leadership is about choices and the choice to pit workers against pensioners was simply wrong. 'Instead of what seems to be a never-ending cycle of cuts, Labour needs to revisit the fiscal rules and bite the bullet on a wealth tax. Britain is the sixth richest economy in the world, the idea that we would be picking the pockets of our pensioners was unnecessary and unforgivable.' When the government announced it was cutting the winter fuel payment, Unite mounted a campaign to get the decision overturned. This included organising a vote at Labour conference opposing the cut in winter fuel payments, and grassroots campaigning which got the cut partially reversed in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Westminster Like this: Like Related
South Wales Argus
22 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Winter fuel payment changes welcomed by campaigners
The payment, worth up to £300, will be restored to the vast majority of pensioners - around nine million in total - who previously received it because anyone with an income of under £35,000 a year will now get the payment automatically. Simon Francis, coordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, commented: "Finally the Chancellor has seen sense. Axing the Winter Fuel Payment for so many pensioners was a cruel cut to make. "Millions of pensioner households faced unaffordable energy costs last winter. While the changes will provide some relief to these households, there will still be pensioners unable to afford the high cost of energy and living in cold damp homes. "So now the Government must focus on how it supports all households in fuel poverty and implements the long term measures needed to bring down the cost of energy for good. This includes full investment in the Warm Homes Plan to improve energy efficiency of homes and market reforms to bring down the price households pay for electricity." The full details were announced here. Millions of pensioner households faced unaffordable energy costs last winter. While the changes will provide some relief to these households, there will still be pensioners unable to afford the high cost of energy and living in cold damp homes. So now the Government must focus… — End Fuel Poverty Coalition (@EndFuelPoverty) June 9, 2025 Devolved authorities in Scotland and Northern Ireland will each receive a funding uplift so they too can meet the new threshold. Independent Age chief executive Joanna Elson said: 'We are pleased that the UK Government has listened to the voices of older people on a low income and reconsidered what was an incredibly damaging change to the winter fuel payment. 'By widening the eligibility criteria, more older people in financial hardship will now receive this vital lifeline in time for winter. 'Our helpline receives thousands of calls from older people making drastic cutbacks just to get by and the changes to the winter fuel payment made this worse. For millions living on low incomes, the entitlement supports them to turn their heating on and stock up on food during the colder months. 'While the changes to the winter fuel payment are positive, they are not a silver bullet that will end pensioner poverty.' She added: 'There needs to be a cross-party consensus on the adequate income needed in later life to avoid financial hardship. Once this is established, every older person should be supported to receive this amount. Nobody should have to live in poverty as they age.' Also welcoming the Government's announcement, Carole Easton, chief executive at the Centre for Ageing Better, said: 'The Government is right to revisit the eligibility of winter fuel payments. 'It was always clear that setting the pension credit eligibility as the threshold of support was too low and would put the health of millions of low-income pensioners at risk.' She said 'the dangers of cold homes are very real', adding: 'Living in a cold home can harm people in numerous ways, including increased blood pressure which increases heart attack risk, suppressed immune response which increases risk of respiratory infections such as pneumonia and chest infections. 'Cold conditions reduce dexterity and grip strength which can lead to dangerous falls, and they lead to worse mental health outcomes too. 'Reform of eligibility around the winter fuel payments will help avoid unnecessary suffering this winter. 'But we need a longer-term solution which eventually could reduce or remove the need for such payments.' Rachel Reeves said there was still 'work to do to ensure the sums always add up'. Caroline Abrahams CBE, Charity Director at Age UK said: 'The Government's Winter Fuel Payment announcement makes this a good day for older people. "The decision to restore the Winter Fuel Payment to 9 million pensioners - all but those on the highest incomes who should be able to pay their heating bills without it - is the right thing to do and something that will bring some much-needed reassurance for older people and their families. At Age UK we heard from many through the winter who were so frightened about their bills that they didn't even try to keep their homes adequately warm." The Chancellor told Sky News: 'The Office for Budget Responsibility increased the growth forecast for every other year in the forecast, they said that our reforms to the planning system would make the economy £6.8 billion bigger, bringing in additional tax revenue as well. 'And in the first quarter of this year, we were the fastest growing economy in the G7. 'There's still work to do to ensure that the sums always add up, but because of the decisions that we've made, because of the stability we've returned to the economy, we are now able to pay the winter fuel payment to more pensioners. 'We're not going back to the universal system. I don't think it is right that the very richest pensioners have their fuel bills subsidised, but this year nine million pensioners will get the winter fuel payments.' Pensioners who do not want to receive the payment will be able to opt out, according to the Treasury. The decision to limit the winter fuel payment to only those who claimed pension credit was one of Labour's first acts in Government, aimed at balancing what was described as a £22 billion 'black hole' in the public finances. This meant the number of pensioners receiving the payment was reduced by around 10 million, from 11.4 million to 1.5 million. The Treasury claims the new arrangement will cost £1.25 billion in England and Wales, while means-testing winter fuel will save the taxpayer £450 million. NEWS! Winter Fuel Payment to be reintroduced for all state pensioners but clawed back through tax if you earn £35,000+. My instant analysis of how it works, what it means and is it an improvement. (Still working on subtitled version, I will post a link to it in reply to this… — Martin Lewis (@MartinSLewis) June 9, 2025 Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: 'Targeting winter fuel payments was a tough decision but the right decision because of the inheritance we had been left by the previous government. 'It is also right that we continue to means test this payment so that it is targeted and fair, rather than restoring eligibility to everyone including the wealthiest. 'But we have now acted to expand the eligibility of the winter fuel payment so no pensioner on a lower income will miss out. 'This will mean over three-quarters of pensioners receiving the payment in England and Wales later this winter.' The news has also been welcomed by Money Saving Expert founder Martin Lewis, who said: "Winter Fuel Payment to be reinstated for all State Pensioners this winter, but then clawed back via tax system for all who earn over £35,000 (roughly average earnings). This is a big improvement." Age UK responds to news that nine million pensioners will receive a Winter Fuel Payment this winter — Age UK News (@AgeUKnews) June 9, 2025 Those with an income above this threshold will also receive the payment, but it will then be reclaimed from them in tax. To be eligible for the winter fuel allowance, a person will need to have reached state pension age by the week starting September 15 this year. Some two million pensioners who earn more than £35,000 will see their winter fuel payments clawed back via the taxman, the Treasury estimates. But, Kemi Badenoch, Leader of the Opposition, claimed the Prime Minister had 'scrambled to clear up a mess of his own making'. Recommended reading: Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Ed Davey said: 'Finally the Chancellor has listened to the Liberal Democrats and the tireless campaigners in realising how disastrous this policy was, but the misery it has caused cannot be overstated. 'Countless pensioners were forced to choose between heating and eating all whilst the Government buried its head in the sand for months on end, ignoring those who were really suffering. 'We will now study the detail of this proposal closely to make sure those who need support actually get that support. The pain they went through this winter cannot be for nothing.'
North Wales Chronicle
an hour ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Spending review is ‘settled', says Downing Street
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to announce funding increases for the NHS, schools and defence along with a number of infrastructure projects on Wednesday, as she shares out some £113 billion freed up by looser borrowing rules. But other areas could face cuts as she seeks to balance manifesto commitments with more recent pledges, such as a hike in defence spending, while meeting her fiscal rules that promise to match day-to-day spending with revenues. On Monday morning, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper was the last minister still to reach a deal with the Treasury, with reports suggesting greater police spending would mean a squeeze on other areas of her department's budget. Speaking to reporters on Monday afternoon, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'The spending review is settled, we will be focused on investing in Britain's renewal so that all working people are better off. 'The first job of the Government was to stabilise the British economy and the public finances, and now we move into a new chapter to deliver the promise and change.' The Government has committed to spend 2.5% of gross domestic product on defence from April 2027, with a goal of increasing that to 3% over the next parliament – a timetable which could stretch to 2034. Ms Reeves' plans will also include an £86 billion package for science and technology research and development. Last week the Chancellor admitted that she had been forced to turn down requests for funding for projects she would have wanted to back, amid the Whitehall spending wrangling. Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan's office is concerned that Wednesday's announcement will include no new funding or projects for London. The mayor had been looking to secure extensions to the Docklands Light Railway and Bakerloo line on the Underground, along with the power to introduce a tourist levy and a substantial increase in funding for the Metropolitan Police. A source close to the mayor said on Monday that ministers 'must not return to the damaging, anti-London approach of the last government', adding this would harm both London's public services and 'jobs and growth across the country'. They said: 'Sadiq will always stand up for London and has been clear it would be unacceptable if there are no major infrastructure projects for London announced in the spending review and the Met doesn't get the funding it needs. 'We need backing for London as a global city that's pro-business, safe and well-connected.'
