Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, which projects in Merseyside have been funded by the Green Investment Bank in each year of that bank's operation.

To date, the Green Investment Bank (GIB) has helped finance two projects in the Merseyside area.

In December 2013, GIB committed £20m to the design, build and operation of a new ‘energy from waste’ plant on behalf of the Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority. The facility, located in Teesside, will each year convert into energy more than 420,000 tonnes of residual waste from six boroughs in the Merseyside and Halton area. I understand the project is expected to create 49 permanent jobs and 2 apprenticeships at the Teesside plant and another 20 permanent jobs and 1 apprentice at the Merseyside rail freight facilities as well as many more jobs (approximately 100) during the construction phase.

In November 2014, GIB committed £30.1m to a new Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Plant in Widnes, the North West’s largest waste wood renewable power facility. I understand the project is expected to create 20 permanent jobs and many more jobs (approximately 200) during construction.