Oral Answers to Questions

Selaine Saxby Excerpts

Tuesday 19th September 2023 Commons Chamber

[Peter Aldous (Waveney) (Con)]

1. What recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the contracts for difference scheme in supporting low-carbon electricity generation.

[Selaine Saxby (North Devon) (Con)]

2. What assessment she has made of the potential implications of the outcome of the contracts for difference allocation round 5 on the future development of floating offshore wind.

[Mr Speaker]

I welcome the Secretary of State.

--- Later in debate ---

[Claire Coutinho]

I thank my hon. Friend for his long-standing support in this area and I can confirm that we are wasting no time in engaging the sector in advance of AR6. I personally spoke to offshore wind stakeholders following AR5 and confirmed our commitment. The Minister for Energy Security and Net Zero held a roundtable with the sector on 12 September. We are listening to the sector and annual auctions mean we can respond quickly.

[Selaine Saxby]

Question 2 please.

[Claire Coutinho]

I know that as chair of the all-party group on the Celtic sea my hon. Friend is a long-standing supporter of offshore wind. We have announced that AR6 will open in March 2024 and we have published an indicative timetable. We are supporting research and development in floating wind technology via the floating offshore wind demonstration programme, announcing up to £160 million in capital grant funding.

[Mr Speaker]

Can we work to the order, as it is a grouped question? The question should not be answered in that way. Selaine Saxby should be asking a direct question.

[Selaine Saxby]

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I am keen to understand better what more can be done to assist floating offshore wind in AR6 following what happened in AR5.

[Claire Coutinho]

I know my hon. Friend is a long-standing supporter of offshore wind. We have announced that AR6 will open in March 2024 and we have published that timetable. We are supporting floating wind technology through different programmes and manufacturing investment schemes too.