Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stephen Morgan and James Davies

Wednesday 24th May 2023 Commons Chamber

[Bill Esterson (Sefton Central) (Lab)]

11. What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help support the decarbonisation of energy-intensive industries in Wales.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales (Dr James Davies)]

This Government are committed to supporting the decarbonisation of Welsh industry. We have committed £20 billion over the next two decades to the deployment of innovative carbon capture technology. This builds on existing support for the HyNet cluster in north Wales and north-west England and the £21.5 million to develop the South Wales industrial cluster.

[Stephen Morgan]

The best way to bring down bills in the long term for businesses in Wales and across the UK is to help transition industries away from fossil fuels. That is why Labour is calling for a national wealth fund, so that we can help industries such as steel to win the race for the future. Will the Minister tell the House specifically what steps he is taking to help heavy industry decarbonise?

[Dr Davies]

I thank the hon. Gentleman for that question. He will of course be aware of the array of measures that are in place to help decarbonisation—the carbon capture, utilisation and storage infrastructure fund, the industrial fuel switching fund, the Industrial Decarbonisation Research and Innovation Centre, the competitive industrial energy transformation fund and the industrial strategy challenge fund among others.