Solar Panels

Lord Sharma Excerpts

Wednesday 12th February 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Taylor of Stevenage (Lab)]

My Lords, the Government are being quite clear on this: while we support ground solar installations, premium grade agricultural land should not be used for that purpose. We are very clear on that point and we continue to strive for the right balance right between ground-based solar and roof solar.

[Lord Sharma (Con)]

My Lords, can the Minister tell the House when the Government intend to publish their much-anticipated solar road map and whether that road map will contain a detailed plan to support investment in domestic UK solar supply chains and manufacturing?

[Baroness Taylor of Stevenage (Lab)]

The noble Lord makes a very important point. I am very interested in supply chains. Some fantastic, innovative technology is being developed in this country that I think will take us a long way ahead. There are significant issues about developing our manufacturing capability here, but we are working very closely with our colleagues in DBT and DSIT to do what we can to promote that. I cannot give the noble Lord an exact date for the solar road map, but I will come back to him in writing on that.