Asked by: Sharon Hodgson (Labour - Washington and Gateshead South)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, for what reason the investment reserves for the (a) Mineworkers Pension Scheme and (b) British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme were not transferred to members at the same time.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The transfer of the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme investment reserve was a manifesto commitment which the Government has fulfilled. The BCSSS scheme has some differences to the MPS, but we are working with the BCSSS Trustees to consider their proposals.
Asked by: Sharon Hodgson (Labour - Washington and Gateshead South)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the transparency data entitled DESNZ ministerial travel, January to March 2023, published on 20 July 2023, what meetings took place during the visit to India by the then Secretary of State from 9 to 23 March 2023; and how much was spent on (a) overnight accommodation, (b) plane tickets and (c) other expenses.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The then Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero visited Mumbai and New Delhi from 19-22 March 2023. During the visit, he opened the new British International Investment office in Mumbai and met India’s Minister for Power and New and Renewable Energy, Raj Kumar Singh. He also met India’s G20 Sherpa, Amitabh Kant. He held engagements with a range of representatives from businesses and the third sector, including green investors. The total cost of the Secretary of State’s flights and accommodation was £9,346.
Asked by: Sharon Hodgson (Labour - Washington and Gateshead South)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, to which (a) businesses and (b) locations his Department provided funding through the Offshore wind manufacturing investment support scheme.
Answered by Graham Stuart
Through the Offshore Wind Manufacturing Investment Scheme fund, SeAH Wind received £17 million to build an XXL monopile foundation manufacturing facility in Teesside; JDR Cable Systems received £14 million to build a subsea cable factory in Northumberland; Smulders received £7 million to enable the manufacture of transition pieces at their facility in Wallsend and South Tees Development Corporation received £20 million for work at the Teesworks Offshore Manufacturing Centre.
Asked by: Sharon Hodgson (Labour - Washington and Gateshead South)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent progress he has made on each project funded through the offshore wind manufacturing investment support scheme; and whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of increasing private investment into those projects.
Answered by Graham Stuart
All projects funded through the Offshore Wind Manufacturing Investment Scheme are on track to meet the milestones agreed through the scheme. The grants for three manufacturing facilities, provided to SeAH Wind, JDR Cables and Smulders, are expected to leverage over £600 million of private investment.
Asked by: Sharon Hodgson (Labour - Washington and Gateshead South)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how much funding his Department has allocated to (a) Port of Sunderland, (b) Teesport, (c) Port of Tyne, (d) Port of Blyth, (e) Port of Hull, (f) Port of Grimsby and (g) Port of Immingham through the offshore wind manufacturing investment support scheme since its introduction.
Answered by Graham Stuart
None of the listed ports received funding through the Offshore Wind Manufacturing Investment Scheme fund.
Asked by: Sharon Hodgson (Labour - Washington and Gateshead South)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what funding has not been allocated from the 2021 offshore wind manufacturing investment.
Answered by Graham Stuart
£58 million of the £160 million Offshore Wind Manufacturing Investment Scheme budget was committed.
Asked by: Sharon Hodgson (Labour - Washington and Gateshead South)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how much offshore investment has been allocated to firms in (a) Teesside Combined Mayoral Authority area, (b) North of Tyne Combined Mayoral Authority area and (c) Wales.
Answered by Graham Stuart
In the Teesside Combined Mayoral Authority, grants from the Offshore Wind Manufacturing Investment Scheme (OWMIS) fund totalling £37 million supported South Tees Development Corporation’s Teesworks Offshore Manufacturing Centre and SeAH Wind’s monopile foundation facility. In the North of Tyne Combined Mayoral Authority, OMWIS fund grants totalling £21 million supported Smulders to enable the manufacture of transition pieces at their facility and JDR Cables to build a subsea cable factory. No OWMIS grants have been allocated to firms based in Wales.