Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Energy-intensive Industries

Tuesday 28 November 2023 · 5 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 3 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government is committed to supporting energy-intensive industries to decarbonise and secure high-wage jobs for the future.
  • UK Government is supporting Tata Steel's investment of 1.25 billion, including a grant of up to 500 million.
  • Ministers are engaging with businesses daily to discuss investment plans and ensure they meet decarbonisation targets.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Gill Furniss Lab Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough
Economy Employment Energy
Context

The question arises due to the government's commitment to support early development of CCUS and industrial energy transformation fund, but there are concerns about its actual implementation.

Question

What steps her Department is taking to help energy-intensive industries to decarbonise. Sheffield has a proud history of steelmaking, supporting thousands of jobs today, but repeated failures by this Government mean families worry about the future of the industry and livelihoods dependent on it. Will the Minister commit to giving this vital sector support for decarbonisation?

Answer from Andrew Bowie

The Government are committed to engaging with companies across the UK to support their decarbonisation efforts and deliver secure, high-wage jobs for the future. We are supporting Tata Steel's investment of £1.25 billion, including a UK Government grant worth up to £500 million in a new electric arc furnace.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answerer did not directly commit to ensuring a green and sustainable future for the steel industry as requested.

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Q2 Alex Cunningham Lab
Energy Business & Trade
Context

There are ongoing closures of energy-intensive companies in Tees Valley, citing high energy costs compared to competitors abroad. The region lost steelmaking and ammonia manufacturing plants recently.

Question

The Tees Valley hosts a huge number of energy-intensive industries but has seen recent closures due to higher than competitive European and American energy costs. What are Ministers doing to prevent further closures as a result of policy failures?

Answer from Andrew Bowie

We are engaging with the steel industry on its sustainable future, including Tata Steel's investment in a new electric arc furnace worth £1.25 billion, supported by a UK Government grant of up to £500 million.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answerer did not address preventing further closures due to high energy costs.

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Q3 Gill Furniss Lab Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough
Economy Energy Environment
Context

There is ongoing concern about the future of steelmaking in Sheffield due to repeated government failures, with thousands of jobs dependent on it.

Question

To this day, steel supports thousands of jobs in Sheffield. Will the Minister commit to giving this vital sector support for decarbonisation and ensuring a green, sustainable, and prosperous future?

Answer from Andrew Bowie

Yes, I can give that commitment because we are already engaging in work with companies up and down the UK to ensure they can decarbonise and deliver secure, high-wage jobs for the future.

Answered
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Q4 David Duguid Con
Climate
Context

There is ongoing support for CCUS projects, such as the Acorn project in David Duguid's constituency.

Question

Does my hon. Friend agree that CCUS needs to be developed across the UK at pace? Does he recognise the particular value of new CCUS power stations like the planned 900 MW emission-free plant in Peterhead?

Answer from Andrew Bowie

Yes, I agree that CCUS needs to be developed at pace across the UK, including supporting power CCUS plants by the mid-2020s. Power CCUS will be vital for our route to net zero.

Answered
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Q5 Alun Cairns Con
Climate Business & Trade
Context

There are significant steps to support industrial clusters around the UK, each at different stages of development with close 2030 targets and billions in investment.

Question

The Government are taking steps to support industrial clusters. What engagement is my hon. Friend undertaking to discuss investment plans with businesses to meet the target and use latest technologies?

Answer from Andrew Bowie

We are engaging with companies daily, inspecting their investment plans to ensure they fit this country's future needs and will deliver ambitious world-leading targets for decarbonisation and jobs.

Answered
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