Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Decarbonisation Technologies

Wednesday 19 July 2023 · 2 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 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • UK Research and Innovation is investing 800 million annually on research and innovation in net zero.
  • Scotland is acknowledged as a leader in research for decarbonisation technologies.
  • The Industrial Decarbonisation Research and Innovation Centre at Heriot-Watt University is noted as a focal point for collaboration and innovation.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Joanna Cherry SNP
Climate Science & Technology
Context

The question arises from the need to assess the effectiveness of current UK Research and Innovation funding allocated towards decarbonisation technologies.

Question

What recent assessment has been made of the effectiveness of UK Research and Innovation funding for decarbon-isation technologies?

Answer from George Freeman

This country is leading the global charge on net zero with a historic uplift in R&D expenditure to £20 billion a year—£52 billion over the consolidated spending review period. UK Research and Innovation is investing £800 million annually on research and innovation in net zero, and £210 million through the industrial decarbon-isation fund. Scotland has been at the forefront with more than 1,400 projects funded and £1.3 billion received.

Answered
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Q2 Joanna Cherry SNP
Climate Scotland Science & Technology
Context

The IDRIC at Heriot-Watt University has become a focal point of collaboration and innovation for UK industrial clusters but faces a funding gap, putting its progress at risk.

Question

I am delighted to hear the Minister acknowledge that Scotland is in the vanguard of research in this area. The Industrial Decarbonisation Research and Innovation Centre at Heriot-Watt University in my constituency has become a focal point of collaboration and innovation for UK industrial clusters, but the excellent progress it is making is at risk owing to a funding gap. Will the Minister meet me to discuss the vital work being done at Heriot-Watt University, and how the Government can support it better in its efforts to help them reach their industrial decarbonisation targets?

Answer from George Freeman

Brevity, Mr Speaker: yes, with pleasure.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific details on how the Government will support the centre's efforts were not provided

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