Oral Answers to Questions

Cherilyn Mackrory Excerpts

Thursday 9th September 2021 Commons Chamber

[Rachel Maclean]

I wish the hon. Gentleman a good journey. I hope his football team is successful. He has raised some vital issues, and I assure him that they are all ones we are addressing in our infrastructure strategy. We are also addressing reliability in our consumer experience consultation. We intend to lay legislation later this year to deal with many of the issues he has raised.

[Cherilyn Mackrory (Truro and Falmouth) (Con)]

2. What steps he is taking to decarbonise the maritime industry.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Robert Courts)]

We have set out our plans in the transport decarbonisation plan, and have committed £20 million through the clean maritime demonstration competition.

[Cherilyn Mackrory]

The port of Falmouth has a wonderful maritime heritage and huge potential in the industry. It has already done some fantastic environmental work, including the preservation of more than 100 acres of sea grass. Will my hon. Friend commit to working closely with ports such as Falmouth to ensure that we can sustainably decarbonise the maritime industry, while continuing to enable the industry to grow and prosper?

[Robert Courts]

I can absolutely commit to that. It is vital that we work with all elements of the maritime industry to accelerate the transition to net zero and to take advantage of the very real opportunities for green growth. Both the British Ports Association and the UK Major Ports Group are represented on our clean maritime council, and I and my officials regularly engage with the trade associations and individual ports on environmental issues.