Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Wales Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Alan Brown Excerpts
Wednesday 24th May 2023

(11 months, 1 week ago)

Commons Chamber
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David T C Davies Portrait David T. C. Davies
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To that wonderful question, I can only reply “Yes.”

Alan Brown Portrait Alan Brown (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP)
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13. What discussions he has had with the Welsh Government on support for renewable energy in Wales.

David T C Davies Portrait The Secretary of State for Wales (David T. C. Davies)
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The UK Government are committed to supporting renewable energy generation in Wales—including the innovative tidal stream technologies at Morlais, through our flagship contracts for difference scheme—and supporting the huge potential of our floating offshore wind industry through the £160 million in floating offshore wind manufacturing investment scheme funding for port infrastructure.

Alan Brown Portrait Alan Brown
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The devolution of the Crown Estate in Scotland has allowed the Scottish Government to have a more coherent supply chain development for renewable energy, and 75% of the Welsh public want to see it devolved in Wales so that it too can benefit from those natural resources. Will Westminster listen to the people of Wales, or is this another case of “Westminster knows best”?

David T C Davies Portrait David T. C. Davies
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Devolving the Crown Estate would be very risky for Wales, given that at present the revenue spent by the UK Treasury is invested across the whole United Kingdom, but I can assure the hon. Gentleman that this UK Government will be committed to seeing renewable energy spread across the UK, alongside our other priorities of halving inflation, cutting debt, ending small boat crossings and reducing NHS waiting lists in the areas where we are responsible for doing so.