Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between George Freeman and Greg Smith

Wednesday 15th March 2023 Commons Chamber

[George Freeman]

That is an excellent question because skills are key. All around the country we are growing space clusters. Just yesterday we launched Leicester Space East, which is part of the national network. We prioritised skills in the science and technology framework, published last Monday. The UK Space Agency has an active skills programme and we are working with UKspace to set out a map of the jobs that are being created—380,000 in this economy over the next 10 years. We intend to ensure that our higher education and further education sector is supplying them.

[Greg Smith (Buckingham) (Con)]

The Westcott Space Cluster in my constituency is a tour de force of innovative excellence, with a particular focus on ensuring small and medium-sized enterprises can use open access testing facilities, such as through the satellite applications catapult DISC. Does my hon. Friend agree that that open access support is essential? Will he visit Westcott to see it for himself?

[George Freeman]

Yes and yes.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between George Freeman and Greg Smith

Tuesday 29th March 2022 Commons Chamber

[George Freeman]

My hon. Friend is absolutely spot on. It is surprising not to hear the Scottish nationalists welcoming the North sea transition deal a bit more. To remind the House, it is a programme that will draw on the expertise in Scotland’s offshore North sea oil and gas sector and help it to lead the transition to carbon capture and storage, hydrogen, offshore wind and tidal, and it is set to create over 40,000 jobs and attract £14 billion of investment. That is the best way—and frankly, the best thing the SNP here could do is to help their colleagues in Scotland to support it.

[Greg Smith (Buckingham) (Con)]

12. What assessment he has made of the potential role of synthetic fuels in achieving net zero targets.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between George Freeman and Greg Smith

Thursday 2nd July 2020 Commons Chamber

[Greg Smith (Buckingham) (Con)]

What steps he is taking to increase the use of hydrogen vehicles.

[George Freeman (Mid Norfolk) (Con)]

Whether the transport decarbonisation plan will support the UK to become a world leader in hydrogen technology.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between George Freeman and Greg Smith

Thursday 30th January 2020 Commons Chamber

[George Freeman]

The hon. Gentleman is bowling outside my off stump, but he knows that we are deeply committed to rail, to connectivity, and to sustainable transport. I cannot pre-empt the Secretary of State’s announcement on the expressway, but let me be very clear: we are committed to sustainable integration of housing with public transport, and that rail link is an absolute priority.

[Greg Smith (Buckingham) (Con)]

My constituents were very relieved when my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State visited Verney Junction during the general election and said that there would be a priority review of the expressway. He gave a commitment that were the expressway to be cancelled, funds would be made available for improvements to existing roads. Can my hon. Friend give an assurance that, should it be cancelled, those funds will be available?

[George Freeman]

I am delighted to give an assurance that, were the expressway to be cancelled, we would absolutely recognise that significant investment in other and even more important road links in that corridor would be needed.