Oral Answers to Questions

Duncan Baker Excerpts
Tuesday 16th January 2024

(3 months, 4 weeks ago)

Commons Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Watch Debate Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Andrew Bowie Portrait Andrew Bowie
- View Speech - Hansard - - - Excerpts

As the hon. Gentleman knows, just last week we unveiled our civil nuclear road map. I committed to meet him and, indeed, anybody else from Northern Ireland to seek to build up the manufacturing and supply chain workforce in Northern Ireland, so that all parts of our United Kingdom can benefit from the once-in-a-generation investment that we are making right now.

Duncan Baker Portrait Duncan Baker (North Norfolk) (Con)
- Hansard - -

3. What recent assessment the Government have made of the environmental impact of onshore wind farm cables.

Graham Stuart Portrait The Minister for Energy Security and Net Zero (Graham Stuart)
- View Speech - Hansard - - - Excerpts

The environmental impact of onshore windfarm cables is assessed through the consenting process. Minimising potential environmental impacts of new infrastructure is a Government priority. We are committed to ensuring that new electricity network projects mitigate environmental impacts at every opportunity.

Duncan Baker Portrait Duncan Baker
- View Speech - Hansard - -

Although I am a huge supporter of offshore wind, there is no doubt that the trenching through my beautiful countryside is not without its own set of problems. Flooding, agricultural run-off and pollution have all been hugely exacerbated since the summer with what has happened in North Norfolk. What measures do we really have to force wind companies to clean up and repair the countryside after the damage they cause when they trench through it?

Graham Stuart Portrait Graham Stuart
- View Speech - Hansard - - - Excerpts

I thank my hon. Friend for his question and for persistently raising these issues to make sure that we get the transmission infrastructure that we need, but in a way that has the minimum negative impact on his constituents and others. I will follow up his question today by looking specifically at the regime, making sure that the companies concerned not only go through all the correct permissioning ahead of time, but are properly followed up to ensure that they deliver it in a way that does not leave the problems that he has itemised.

--- Later in debate ---
Duncan Baker Portrait Duncan Baker (North Norfolk) (Con)
- View Speech - Hansard - -

T4. The Prime Minister recently visited Bacton gas terminal in North Norfolk, which is home to a third of the UK’s gas supply and in the future could be an enormous hub for green energy production in the east of England. Will Ministers reassure me that they will continue to consider Bacton as the future home for carbon capture, usage and storage technology as well as a hydrogen hub for the future in the east of England?

Graham Stuart Portrait Graham Stuart
- View Speech - Hansard - - - Excerpts

I agree with my hon. Friend and the Prime Minister on the importance of Bacton, which, like all gas terminals across the country, has the potential to play a crucial role in our energy security. The decarbonisation of these terminals is vital to delivering both economic growth and net zero. The Hewett field, 20 km offshore from Bacton, was awarded a licence for carbon sea storage by the North Sea Transition Authority in 2023. I hear his loud voice—it will be heard on the Government Benches—about its potential to be a hydrogen hub as well.