Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department has taken to safeguard the Green Investment Bank's headquarters in Edinburgh and the jobs it supports after the planned privatisation of that bank.

Scotland has a strong renewable energy sector, and Edinburgh continues to offer a great deal in terms of renewable energy expertise and attractive investment opportunities. We have asked potential investors to confirm their commitment to the Green Investment Bank’s (GIB) green values and investment principles, and how they propose to protect them, as part of their bids for the company.

GIB is being sold as a going concern and potential investors will be buying into the company’s green business plan and forward pipeline projects. The Green Investment Bank’s Chairman, the noble Lord, Lord Smith of Kelvin is strongly committed to the Edinburgh office.