Oral Answers to Questions

Stephen Metcalfe Excerpts
Thursday 11th March 2021

(3 years ago)

Commons Chamber
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Virginia Crosbie Portrait Virginia Crosbie (Ynys Môn) (Con)
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What steps his Department is taking to increase the use of electric vehicles.

Stephen Metcalfe Portrait Stephen Metcalfe (South Basildon and East Thurrock) (Con)
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What steps his Department is taking to increase the use of electric vehicles.

Andrew Jones Portrait Andrew Jones (Harrogate and Knaresborough) (Con)
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What steps his Department is taking to increase the use of electric vehicles.

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Rachel Maclean Portrait Rachel Maclean
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My hon. Friend is absolutely right that the UK is at the forefront of the electric-vehicle industry, and I want her constituency to play its part. We are working with the Institute of the Motor Industry to ensure that the UK’s mechanics workforce is well-trained and has the skills needed to safely repair electric vehicles. Through consultation with the automotive sector, the IMI has developed Techsafe, a register and professional standard for electric vehicle technicians that the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles has endorsed.

Stephen Metcalfe Portrait Stephen Metcalfe [V]
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To be able to truly embrace the EV revolution, does my hon. Friend agree that there needs to be a comprehensive network of on-street residential charging points close to where people live, especially where they have no dedicated parking space? Will she work with local authorities to start this work now, so that that is one less barrier to EV adoption?

Rachel Maclean Portrait Rachel Maclean
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My hon. Friend is absolutely right and we are already working closely with local authorities. Our on-street residential charge point scheme has so far supported more than 105 different local authorities to fund more than 3,800 charge points. We have recently announced that £20 million will be made available under this scheme for the year 2021-22. We are working so closely with local authorities to ensure the maximum take-up of the scheme, because we do not want a lack of charging infrastructure to be a barrier to anyone wanting to transition to an EV.