Oral Answers to Questions

Bridget Phillipson Excerpts

Thursday 24th March 2011 Commons Chamber

[Bridget Phillipson (Houghton and Sunderland South) (Lab)]

12. Whether he has made an assessment of the potential effects of the outcome of the 2011 Budget on the development of low-carbon technologies.

[The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Gregory Barker)]

The Budget announced several new policies which will support the development of low-carbon technologies including £2 billion of additional capital for the green investment bank, a carbon floor price to provide a stronger, more stable signal to investment in low-carbon generation, and preferential company car tax treatment for low-carbon vehicles. All that is in addition to the creation of 21 enterprise zones and a £100-million boost for science that will further drive green growth.

[Bridget Phillipson]

The north-east has led the way with the development of low-carbon electric vehicles, as the Minister will know, and with the network of charging points. He will be aware that if those vehicles are to have mass-market appeal there needs to be a comprehensive network of charging points. What further action will the Government take to support a nationwide roll-out of such charging points?

[Gregory Barker]

We are working closely with our colleagues in the Department for Transport because—the hon. Lady is absolutely right—there needs to be a concerted, joined-up strategy if we are to realise the potential of electric vehicles. There will be more details on that, but I assure her that a lot of work is going on in Government and that the Departments are working effectively together.