Oral Answers to Questions

Bill Esterson Excerpts

Wednesday 24th May 2023 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Morgan (Portsmouth South) (Lab)]

10. What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help support the decarbonisation of energy-intensive industries in Wales.

[Bill Esterson (Sefton Central) (Lab)]

11. What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help support the decarbonisation of energy-intensive industries in Wales.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales (Dr James Davies)]

This Government are committed to supporting the decarbonisation of Welsh industry. We have committed £20 billion over the next two decades to the deployment of innovative carbon capture technology. This builds on existing support for the HyNet cluster in north Wales and north-west England and the £21.5 million to develop the South Wales industrial cluster.

--- Later in debate ---

[Bill Esterson]

The UK is the only country in the G7 whose steel industry is currently in decline. Why will the Government not end their sticking-plaster approach, match Labour’s commitment to a £3 billion green steel fund, and invest in a long-term plan to decarbonise the vital steel sector in Wales?

[Dr Davies]

Let me I repeat what I said earlier. The Secretary of State visited the plant in Port Talbot recently, and is committed to it. We need to see an electric arc furnace, because that is the way to protect jobs and ensure that we have steel production in the UK.