Net Zero Businesses and Investors 2024-05-21
2024-05-21
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Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
The question arises from discussions with businesses and investors regarding the government's strategy on achieving net-zero emissions.
What recent discussions has the Minister had with businesses and investors on the Government's net zero targets?
Our Department's ministerial team meet regularly with industry, for example through the hydrogen investor forum, the Offshore Wind Industry Council, the solar taskforce, the green jobs delivery group, and the cross-cutting Net Zero Council.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Stellantis, the owner of Vauxhall car plant in Ellesmere Port, announced that it would import electric vehicles despite local production capabilities. This raises concerns about the impact on the UK car industry.
Does the Minister think that reaching our net zero targets through the import of cheaper Chinese vehicles will be a good or bad thing for the UK car industry?
The hon. Member raises a very important point. One of the Opposition's main pledges, which is to fully decarbonise the grid by 2030, could be met only by opening the floodgates to cheap Chinese imports—the exact thing he is opposed to.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific impact on the UK car industry was not addressed.
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
There are concerns about speculative investors funding large-scale solar farm developments, such as the Lime Down application in the constituency.
What meetings has the Minister had with speculative investors to ensure that the people who build solar farms will be there in 40 years to make sure they are removed?
My hon. Friend and constituency neighbour raises an important point about speculative development. As part of speeding up the grid queue, in which we have somewhere in the region of 700 GW of power capacity coming forward, we wish to prioritise shovel-ready schemes, not speculative schemes.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific issue about long-term obligations was not addressed.
Response accuracy