Ministerial role

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Energy)

Responsibilities

The minister is responsible for:

  • Great British Energy
  • renewables and biomass
  • energy systems, the grid and networks
  • energy market reform including Review of Electricity Market Arrangements
  • North Sea transition
  • energy security, resilience and preparedness

Current role holder

Michael Shanks MP

Michael Shanks was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 9 July 2024. He was elected as the MP for Rutherglen in October 2023.

Education

Michael graduated from the University of Glasgow with a degree in history and politics. He then studied for a PGDE at Glasgow.

Political career

Michael served as the Shadow Minister of State for Scotland from October 2023 to May 2024.

Career outside politics

Michael was a secondary school teacher and previously worked in the third sector on reducing offending. He ran a charity for disabled children for 15 years and is a trustee of 3 other charitable organisations.

More about this person