Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Charles Hendry and Peter Aldous

Thursday 12th July 2012 Commons Chamber

[Charles Hendry]

Let me reassure the hon. Lady that that is absolutely at the heart of what we are doing. We are determined that there will be a major industrial gain for this country from building the new low-carbon facilities, as well as some of the older type of facilities. We have strategies for the oil and gas sector, the nuclear sector and the renewable sector. Throughout this area we want to see real industrial gain, often bringing new employment to areas that have been hard hit for a very long time.

[Peter Aldous (Waveney) (Con)]

Following on from the CBI’s report, the New Anglia local enterprise partnership has just published its manifesto for promoting green growth over the next three years. Will the Secretary of State and his colleagues across Government work with the LEP to discuss how its manifesto can best be implemented?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Charles Hendry and Peter Aldous

Thursday 16th September 2010 Commons Chamber

[Peter Aldous (Waveney) (Con)]

14. What steps he is taking to increase the level of private sector investment in offshore renewable energy.

[The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Charles Hendry)]

We are committed to support for renewable electricity, through the establishment of a full system of feed-in tariffs—as well as the maintenance of a banded renewables obligation, with the aim of encouraging investment. The development of marine energy parks around the British coast will help promote rapid development of the sector. We are also consulting on a new licensing regime to facilitate the connection of offshore capacity to the national grid.

[Peter Aldous]

The Orbis energy centre in Lowestoft is the home of many businesses at the cutting edge of the new technologies that aim to capture the economic benefits of offshore wind, wave and tidal technologies. Will the Minister accept my invitation to visit Orbis to see for himself the vital role that those companies can play in the drive towards a low-carbon economy?

[Charles Hendry]

My hon. Friend has already established himself as an effective and vocal advocate for those interests in his constituency. I should be delighted to visit his constituency to understand more of the work that is being done, and the pioneering approach of his local businesses.