Extract from Oral answer
(Lords) on Green Finance
(LD): My Lords,
the Government will be aware from the Ernst & Young report
that investment in green projects in the UK is down by nearly 70%
this year. Does the Minister believe that that is in any way
related to the Government’s decision to sell off the Green
Investment Bank, which at one time provided essential seed money
and leverage to give these projects lift-off?
The Minister of State, Department for International
Development (Lord Bates) (Con): The investment going in
is substantial. We are a leader in this area. Since 2015, the
rate of emissions has fallen faster in this country than in any
other G20 country, which we can be proud of. The fact that one in
five electric vehicles sold in Europe is manufactured here in the
UK is again something that we can be proud of, and we are
investing heavily in that. We have a clean growth strategy, and
an industrial strategy that has these issues at its heart.
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Extract from Budget
debate (Commons)
(St Austell and Newquay)
(Con):...This is not just about manufacturing. If we are
going to be successful, we are going to need the raw materials.
As the Secretary of State will be aware, there is great potential
in Cornwall for lithium mining, which will become ever more
important with all the electric vehicles we are going to have. So
does he share my enthusiasm for that potential, not just for the
Cornish economy but in securing a domestic supply of this ever
more important metal for the UK?
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Extract from end of day
adjournment debate (Commons) on Air Pollution: A10 and
Broxbourne
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Dr Thérèse
Coffey):...Air pollution has reduced significantly since
2010—emissions of nitrogen oxides have fallen by almost 27% and
are at their lowest level since records began. But there is
clearly more to do. That is why the Government have committed
£3.5 billion to transport and improved air quality, including
£1.5 billion support for electric vehicles, £1.2 billion for cycling
and walking, and £475 million specifically in support of the
activity resulting from the UK plan for tackling roadside
nitrogen dioxide emissions. I should remind myself that, after
the votes tomorrow, a further £20 million in funding will be
allocated by the Budget to support more local authorities to meet
their air quality obligations...
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