Asked by
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of
the case for stronger consultation and co-operation with the
Welsh Government on energy policy to manage overlapping
responsibilities in that area.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Energy
Security and Net Zero () (Con)
My Lords, the UK Government are committed to strong, effective
co-operation with the Welsh Government on energy issues,
supporting our shared energy security and net-zero objectives. We
engage Welsh Ministers on a range of issues, and our support for
the energy transition in Wales includes Great British Nuclear's
recent purchase of the Wylfa site, the ongoing HyNet project in
north Wales and supporting the development of offshore wind in
the Celtic Sea.
(Lab)
My Lords, the port of Milford Haven brings in 20% of the UK's
energy. It is part of our critical UK infrastructure; there are
huge opportunities here. The Welsh Government made £1 million
available to support that emerging sector, yet the UK Government
have just rejected the port's bid for a share of £160 million to
help develop the technology. Can the Minister please explain why
the Government have left the port's hopes on offshore wind high
and dry, and what conversations the Government had with the Welsh
Government before making this decision?
(Con)
We have regular discussions with the Welsh Government. The noble
Baroness neglected to say that Port Talbot was one of the two
ports in the UK that was taken forward, with one in Scotland as
well. She is being slightly unfair in that assertion.
(Con)
My Lords, is the Minister aware that the UK burns about 50,000
tonnes of coal for the heritage steam sector, but due to the
closure by the Welsh Government of the Ffos-y-Fran colliery, that
coal now has to be imported from Colombia and South Africa, and
increases emissions rather than reduces them? Will my noble
friend the Minister have a chat with the appropriate Welsh
Ministers about that?
(Con)
The noble Earl makes an interesting point, and I am of course
aware of the requirements of the heritage steam sector. We would
be happy to take it up with the Welsh Government.
(PC)
Does the Minister accept that over recent years, there has been
immense frustration in Wales as projects involving tidal lagoons,
floating offshore wind—as highlighted by the noble Baroness, Lady
Wilcox, a moment ago—and inland hydro pump storage schemes have
failed to progress, partly because of the split of responsibility
between Westminster and Senedd Cymru? If the Government cannot
get their act together, will they please devolve full
responsibility to the Welsh Government, with the cash resources
needed to drive forward these much-needed projects?
(Con)
I am sorry that the noble Lord takes that attitude, because all
projects across the UK are evaluated on the same basis. Of
course, it is not possible to take forward every project, but the
assertion that projects in Wales are somehow discriminated
against is just not true. I could give him many alternative
examples of projects in Wales—from nuclear, to hydrogen storage,
to hydrogen allocation rounds, and CCUS projects—that are going
forward.
(LD)
My Lords, does the Minister agree with the Institute of Welsh
Affairs that Wales should retain, and local communities gain,
greater income from the renewable energy developments that they
host?
(Con)
I am not familiar with those particular circumstances; I would be
happy to chat to the noble Earl about it.
(Lab)
My Lords, is this not an opportunity for further investment in
west Wales, which by comparison with east Wales, which is closer
to the English border, has suffered considerably in economic
investment in recent years?
(Con)
There are opportunities with the energy transition for investment
in all communities throughout the UK, including, of course, in
Wales. There are considerable investments in north Wales, and I
mentioned some of those in south Wales as well. It is perfectly
possible that onshore wind projects are being taken forward in
west Wales, but I am not familiar with that particular area.
(Lab)
My Lords, further to the question from his noble friend Lord
Attlee, is the Minister aware that his colleague, the noble Lord,
of Whitley Bay, and , the Rail Minister, have written a joint letter to
the First Minister of Wales asking him whether the Welsh
Government would reconsider the closure of the Ffos-y-Fran pit in
south Wales? This pit would provide coal for the heritage sector
for many years to come. Would he chase that up and see whether we
can get a positive answer to it?
(Con)
I thank the noble Lord for that information. I was not aware of
that, but now that he has mentioned it, I will of course chase it
up.
