Oral Answers to Questions

Catherine McKinnell Excerpts

Thursday 10th February 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

We have got the message about bottoming up; we are grateful.

[Catherine McKinnell (Newcastle upon Tyne North) (Lab)]

The north-east of England has a burgeoning offshore wind sector, supported by the new renewable energy centre in Blyth. What is the Department offering to support the growth of that industry now that the very successful regional development agency, One North East, which provided a lot of vital support, is being wound down?

[Charles Hendry]

As the hon. Lady will know, the £60 million for the building of the manufacturing facility on the ports could be of massive benefit to the north-east and to other parts of the country. Companies such as Gamesa, Siemens, Mitsubishi and General Electric are already looking at the United Kingdom because of the massive opportunities that they see here. We are determined to have the jobs coming to this country, whereas historically too many of them have gone overseas.