Oral Answers to Questions

Neil Carmichael Excerpts

Thursday 12th July 2012 Commons Chamber

[Charles Hendry]

I had never seen the hon. Gentleman as an advocate of alternative energy policies.

I had a meeting yesterday with the head of the National Union of Mineworkers and the head of the National Association of Colliery Overmen, Deputies and Shotfirers, but if the hon. Gentleman feels that it is time for another meeting, I will of course consider that.

[Neil Carmichael (Stroud) (Con)]

17. What assessment he has made of the likely implications for his Department’s energy policy on the green investment bank.

[The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (Mr Edward Davey)]

The UK green investment bank policy is one of a number of policies that together will support the Government’s green and growth objectives. The bank, funded with £3 billion over the three years to 2015, will tackle gaps in the financing of green infrastructure projects. It will operate to a “double bottom line” of both achieving green impact and making positive financial returns. The initial priority sectors for the bank are offshore wind, waste and recycling, energy from waste, non-domestic energy efficiency, and support for the green deal.

[Neil Carmichael]

Does the Secretary of State agree that the green investment bank is emblematic of the Government’s determination to promote economic growth, and does he recognise the importance of ensuring that small and medium-sized enterprises are part of that story?

--- Later in debate ---

[Charles Hendry]

I am interested to hear the hon. Gentleman’s comments. I am not aware that he has written to me on the subject. If he has done so, I will be very keen to talk to him to see if there are things that we can do to speed up the process, because I understand the impact that it could have on employment in his constituency.

[Neil Carmichael (Stroud) (Con)]

Does the Minister welcome the news that nearly a third of the 900,000 new jobs have come into the green economy, which is obviously underlined by the excellent news that Sharp is moving to this country from Germany?

[Mr Davey]

I strongly agree with my hon. Friend. The House recently debated the green economy, and Members on both sides of the House gave examples from their constituencies of big investments and job creation as a result of our policies and the green economy.