Oral Answers to Questions

Matt Warman Excerpts

Tuesday 7th November 2017 Commons Chamber

The Secretary of State was asked—

[Matt Warman (Boston and Skegness) (Con)]

1. What steps he has taken to support the development of electric and autonomous vehicles.

[Andrew Lewer (Northampton South) (Con)]

6. What steps he is taking to support businesses that are developing connected and autonomous vehicles through the Midlands Engine.

[The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Greg Clark)]

Our industrial strategy capitalises on our strengths as we build the next generation of motor vehicles. In July, we committed £246 million to the Faraday Battery Challenge to make Britain a centre for the development of battery storage. I have also announced £51 million to fund automated vehicle testbeds across the country. I am delighted to say that in October Ford opened its new European Mobility headquarters in Britain.

[Matt Warman]

Whether lorries or tractors, it is in rural areas where autonomous vehicles have the potential to make a particularly profound impact. Will my right hon. Friend assure me that the research that he is funding will look in particular at rural areas rather than simply focusing on our very well connected cities?

[Greg Clark]

My hon. Friend makes an excellent point. He is right in saying that, if this is to apply right across the country, the opportunities in rural areas are very important not just for the vehicles he describes, but for public transport. He will know that at the University of Lincoln, not far from him, excellent work is being done through the Centre for Autonomous Systems on the future of mobility. I hope that it will be a participant in this great wave across the country of research and development in the technologies of the future.