Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Renewable Energy: Exports

Thursday 5 March 2020 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is working to support UK renewable energy sector exports through trade missions and promotion activities.
  • All investments by the prosperity fund are assessed against UK Government policies, objectives, and aims.
  • UK Export Finance is financing major offshore wind investments in Taiwan and other regions.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Stephen Morgan Lab Portsmouth South
Climate Business & Trade
Context

The question arises from the need to support and enhance the export capabilities of the UK's leading renewable energy sector. The MP is concerned about maximising economic impact through exports.

Question

What steps her Department is taking to support exports by the UK renewable energy sector?

Answer from Graham Stuart

We are working with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to maximise the overall economic impact of our world-leading renewable energy sector, including that of exports. The Department undertakes a range of promotion activities, including running trade missions and dedicated workshops.

Partly answered
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Q2 Stephen Morgan Lab Portsmouth South
Foreign Affairs Energy Environment
Context

The MP is questioning the support given to fossil fuel projects abroad and seeking clarity on how such funding is assessed for environmental and social impacts.

Question

What support has the prosperity fund awarded to fossil fuel projects in developing countries, and how was that funding assessed in terms of the environmental and social impacts of those projects?

Answer from Graham Stuart

All investments by the prosperity fund are examined against the raft of UK Government policies, objectives and aims, and we do that in all cases in each continent of the world.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific support details to fossil fuel projects and their environmental impacts were not provided

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Q3 Martin Vickers Con Brigg and Immingham
Climate Energy Business & Trade
Context

The MP seeks a meeting to explore ways smaller businesses in the renewable energy supply chain can get more involved in exports.

Question

Will the Minister agree to meet me and a delegation from the local industry to explore the possibilities?

Answer from Graham Stuart

I am grateful to my hon. Friend. He will be aware that the offshore wind sector deal, published in March 2019, sets an ambition of increasing exports fivefold to £2.6 billion by 2030. We are now seeing UK Export Finance financing major investments in Taiwan and other parts of the world, with UK expertise at the heart of it. I would be delighted to meet him.

Answered
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Q4 Kerry McCarthy Lab Bristol East
Climate Business & Trade
Context

Concern over the environmental impact of funding provided to oil and gas companies through UK Export Finance, as reported in a recent investigation.

Question

Will the Minister commit to phasing out this support by 2021?

Answer from Graham Stuart

The Government are investing £2.5 billion in clean growth innovation by 2021, as set out in the industrial strategy. The offshore wind sector deal commits the sector to investing up to £250 million, building a stronger UK supply chain.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Commitment to phase out support for oil and gas companies by 2021 was not provided

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