Oral Answers to Questions

James Cartlidge Excerpts

Tuesday 22nd October 2019 Commons Chamber

[Andrea Leadsom]

The hon. Gentleman will know that the gender pay gap is now the smallest it has ever been and that the Government have required reporting of the gender pay gap. Such transparency can partially solve the problem, but we are not resting there: we are doing as much as possible to get more women to become entrepreneurs and to help women to acquire the skills they need to lead some of our fantastic UK businesses.

[James Cartlidge (South Suffolk) (Con)]

11. What support her Department is providing to the offshore wind industry.

[Greg Hands (Chelsea and Fulham) (Con)]

22. What steps she is taking to support exports from the offshore wind sector.

[The Minister for Business, Energy and Clean Growth (Kwasi Kwarteng)]

As a result of the Government’s support, the UK is a world leader in offshore wind and a leader in tackling climate change. The third contracts for difference auction in 2019 delivered 5.5 GW of new offshore wind capacity, and the price was £39 per megawatt-hour, which was two thirds less than just four years ago. Our sector deal also paves the way to increase exports fivefold to £2.6 billion a year by 2030.

[James Cartlidge]

In East Anglia, we want to be champions of clean growth and are very proud that off our coast we are generating 52% of this country’s offshore wind output, but we want to go much further. Can my right hon. Friend assure me that the national grid will be able to keep pace and that we will support technology such as battery storage that will enable us to make the most of our natural asset?

[Kwasi Kwarteng]

My hon. Friend can rest assured that the Government continue to upgrade and invest in the electricity system to ensure that it can deliver additional generation. Of course, battery storage technology and other forms of storage are at the centre of any strategy to reach the net zero carbon target.