(Leeds Central) (Lab): I too
welcome this announcement. This is a significant day on the journey
that our country must make towards a zero carbon future, although
we recognise that some of the steps we have yet to take will be a
little more challenging than the ones we have already taken. May I
pick up the point that the Secretary of State just referred to?
Part of the green revolution will have to be built on electric
vehicles, not least because a third of our remaining emissions come
from transport. We are seeing new electric cars being developed and
the range extending, but having talked about responsibility of
local authorities, will he explain who is going to pay for the
charging infrastructure, particularly in residential areas, as this
will be essential if consumers are to have the confidence to buy
the cars, which will lead the manufacturers to make more of them?
The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial
Strategy (Greg Clark): The right hon. Gentleman makes an
excellent point. This is a shared responsibility, and part of the
funding that we have made available—more will be needed—is to
ensure that both the private and public sectors contribute to
establishing a network that is not only available but dependable
and also rapid in its ability to charge. That network needs to
cover every part of the country—cities as well as rural areas.
(North Wiltshire) (Con): Anyone
who truly cares about passing on a cleaner, greener, better globe
to our children and grandchildren will warmly welcome the content
of today’s statement and will be glad that the whole House has
risen above party-political bickering to do just that. The
Secretary of State mentioned the manufacturing of electric cars,
so will he congratulate Dyson in my constituency on investing
£250 million in research and development at Hullavington in my
constituency? Will he seek to try to persuade Dyson to make good
use of vacated automotive manufacturing facilities nearby,
perhaps by manufacturing vehicles at the Honda site in Swindon?
: I agree with my hon. Friend,
and I congratulate and praise Sir James Dyson. He is one of our
most brilliant inventors and entrepreneurs, and he makes a big
contribution to our country, not only through the people he
employs, but in the education training that he gives. I share my
hon. Friend’s ambition for us to be able to attract Dyson to
locate manufacturing facilities in the United Kingdom. We have
the research, the brains, the skilled workforce, and the
facilities. I hope, in time, that we will be able to celebrate
further opportunities that Dyson may have in the United
Kingdom.
To read all the exchanges, CLICK
HERE
