Oral Answers to Questions

Alexander Stafford Excerpts

Tuesday 16th April 2024 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Crabb (Preseli Pembrokeshire) (Con)]

10. What steps she is taking to help increase investment in green technologies.

[Alexander Stafford (Rother Valley) (Con)]

22. What steps she is taking to help increase investment in green technologies.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Andrew Bowie)]

The UK has already made tremendous progress in securing investment in green technologies. Recent figures indicate that the UK saw £60 billion of investment in 2023, meaning that since 2010 the UK has seen £300 billion of public and private investment in low-carbon sectors. As a Department, the ministerial team and I meet regularly with investors, such as through our second hydrogen investor forum event and regular roundtables to understand how we can better encourage investment.

[Andrew Bowie]

My right hon. Friend is right: we have a proud record of investment in green and clean technologies, and in many respects we are leading the world in that regard. Last year we launched our Giga project and this year we are launching CfD allocation round 6, which is the stand-out leader when it comes to enticing investors—but of course we can go faster and further, and where we can we will. That is why I am so pleased to see the work that is being done within my Department and, indeed, with industry with the aim of doing just that.

[Alexander Stafford]

Given that there is no more important technology in the UK’s green industries than hydrogen, I was pleased to note that, after much dilly-dallying, the Department had listened to my continued advocacy of hydrogen blending in pipes. I look forward to seeing its plans imminently, but what support is it giving to home appliance providers who want to take advantage of the benefits of hydrogen to create hydrogen-ready technology that can be used for both blended and fully hydrogen-powered appliances?