Oral Answers to Questions

Ian Levy Excerpts

Tuesday 16th November 2021 Commons Chamber

[Kwasi Kwarteng]

I completely refute the hon. Lady’s allegation that those things are all words. The innovation strategy is the first of its kind. It has been broadly welcomed across the sector, and she will know that dementia is one of the seven technologies in engineering and biology that we are pursuing in the innovation strategy.

[Ian Levy (Blyth Valley) (Con)]

2. What steps his Department is taking to help support the generation of offshore wind energy.

[Lia Nici (Great Grimsby) (Con)]

19. What steps his Department is taking to help support the generation of offshore wind energy.

[The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Kwasi Kwarteng)]

The Government recently announced £380 million for our world-leading offshore wind sector, which is boosting jobs and investment across the UK. My hon. Friend will know that the allocation round 4 opens in December, and we are very much looking forward to the bids in that round.

[Ian Levy]

The House has often heard me talk about Blyth Valley being at the heart of the green industrial revolution. Catapult, in the Port of Blyth, has tested the largest windmill blades in the world for years. We need to continue to be at the forefront of blade testing, to hold our No. 1 position on the global stage. Will my right hon. Friend agree to meet me and the management team from Catapult to make sure that we continue to lead in the race to a greener future?

[Kwasi Kwarteng]

I would be delighted to see my hon. Friend and the great people who are working on the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult in Blyth. It is a fantastic development and the people working there will surely allow us to hit the 40 GW target for offshore wind in 2030.