Oral Answers to Questions

Greg Hands Excerpts

Tuesday 22nd October 2019 Commons Chamber

[James Cartlidge (South Suffolk) (Con)]

11. What support her Department is providing to the offshore wind industry.

[Greg Hands (Chelsea and Fulham) (Con)]

22. What steps she is taking to support exports from the offshore wind sector.

--- Later in debate ---

[Kwasi Kwarteng]

My hon. Friend can rest assured that the Government continue to upgrade and invest in the electricity system to ensure that it can deliver additional generation. Of course, battery storage technology and other forms of storage are at the centre of any strategy to reach the net zero carbon target.

[Greg Hands]

The offshore wind sector has been one of the Government’s biggest success stories, with the delivery of the world’s largest capacity. When I was at the Department for International Trade, we also made it a priority to be able to export that capability. Could the Minister tell us a bit about the work that BEIS is doing with the DIT to continue that work so that we also deliver real economic benefits for our country’s exporters?

[Kwasi Kwarteng]

I pay tribute to my right hon. Friend, who spent two years in the Department for International Trade and was an excellent Minister. He has driven a great deal of progress in this area. As he will know, increasing competitiveness and the capability of our supply chain are key to increasing our exporting power, and, through the offshore wind sector deal, the sector will invest up to £250 million for that purpose. I continue to work with my right hon. Friend’s former Department to identify opportunities, and I regularly meet my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for International Trade, in his capacity as Minister for investment.