Oral Answers to Questions

Richard Graham Excerpts

Wednesday 6th March 2024 Commons Chamber

[Mr Jack]

My right hon. Friend should write to the Cabinet Secretary and ask him to do that very thing.

[Richard Graham (Gloucester) (Con)]

8. What recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the adequacy of support for the marine energy sector in Scotland. [R]

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (John Lamont)]

The Government are firmly committed to supporting Scotland’s marine energy sector to grow. Around 80% of tidal stream contracts awarded through contracts for difference in the last two rounds will be deployed in Scotland. In addition, Horizon Europe selected two Scottish-based UK tidal stream developers to deliver projects in Orkney. They will lead construction on two £17 million projects, funded by the UK Government’s financial guarantee.

[Richard Graham]

The Minister knows that successive Energy Ministers have hugely helped the development of the marine energy sector in Scotland, as elsewhere in the United Kingdom. Does my hon. Friend agree that there is an opportunity in the next round of the renewables auction to allow for wave technologies alongside tidal stream technologies? Will he encourage the Scottish Government to speed up approvals of sites to get great green energy projects started as soon as possible in Scotland, as elsewhere?

[John Lamont]

I am grateful for that important question. The Government are undertaking analysis of the technology pipeline available for contracts for difference auction round 6 against our legal obligation to ensure that the auction round is competitive. We are considering the appropriate parameters for all technologies, including tidal stream and wave energy. The final parameters will be published in the budget notice this month, ahead of the auction round opening.