Tuesday Volume 626 27 June 2017 No. 7 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Tuesday 27 June 2017 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2017 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 439 27 JUNE 2017 Oral Answers 440 far, and when we can expect the outcomes of its House of Commons deliberations to be made public, as it says they will be on the gov.uk website? Tuesday 27 June 2017 Richard Harrington: I thank the hon. Lady for that question. She and I have worked together in previous The House met at half-past Eleven o’clock roles, and I look forward to visiting Aberdeen, where hopefully she will be able to explain this further. As far PRAYERS as late-life assets are concerned, we realise how important it is to get this right, and not just for the jobs and tax revenue, but for generating further investment. The [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] discussion paper and the panel of experts are considering this. We look forward to hearing a wide range of views Speaker’s Statement and will report our findings at the autumn Budget. Mr Speaker: I have a short statement to make. I Stephen Crabb (Preseli Pembrokeshire) (Con): The would like to draw Members’ attention to the fact that Minister will be aware that over the past decade Qatar the book for entering the private Members’ Bills ballot has become an increasingly important source of gas for is now open for Members to sign in the No Lobby. It the UK, not least from imports of liquefied natural gas will be open until the House rises today and when the through my constituency. What steps is he taking to House is sitting on Wednesday 28 June. The ballot itself ensure that the current diplomatic crisis in the Gulf will be drawn at 9 am on Thursday 29 June in Committee affecting Qatar does not lead to any disruption of Room 10. An announcement setting out these and energy supply into the UK? other arrangements, and the dates when ten-minute rule motions can be made and presentation Bills introduced, Richard Harrington: As my right hon. Friend will be is published in the Order Paper. aware, the Government are monitoring the situation very carefully, and we do not believe that it will make any difference whatsoever to liquefied gas supplies. Oral Answers to Questions Drew Hendry (Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey) (SNP): I welcome the Minister to his new post. Getting back to the North sea, the kind of action BUSINESS, ENERGY AND INDUSTRIAL described by my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeen STRATEGY North (Kirsty Blackman) is vital, especially to help along the return optimism. The Scottish Government The Secretary of State was asked— have invested £5 million to explore decommissioning North Sea Oil and Gas opportunities in oil and gas that could grow many new jobs. When will we get action from the UK Government, and when will we see a robust and comprehensive future 1. Kirsty Blackman (Aberdeen North) (SNP): What energy strategy from the UK Government? recent discussions he has had with trade bodies and companies involved in extracting oil and gas from the Richard Harrington: As the hon. Gentleman will be North sea. [900016] aware, the Government have been very actively involved The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, in funding seismic surveys and the 3D visualisation Energy and Industrial Strategy (Richard Harrington): centre at Heriot-Watt University. I am looking forward My Department is in regular contact with the oil and to the next licensing round and to dealing with the gas industry. As hon. Members will be aware, my strategy he mentioned. I should mention the Kraken predecessor, my hon. Friend the Member for Hereford development, which the Government have supported, and South Herefordshire (Jesse Norman), met industry because the first barrels of oil were produced last week, representatives regularly,both in London and in Aberdeen. and we look forward to there being 50,000 barrels a day On 23 March the Oil and Gas Authority awarded at peak. licences for 111 blocks to enable exploration and production across frontier areas—the first licensing round to focus Drew Hendry: The fact is that the UK Government on frontier areas in two decades. I look forward to have been slow to realise the potential of decommissioning, continuing this relationship, which is very important for pulled funding from vital carbon capture and storage jobs and the wider economy. Indeed, in my first week in pipeline projects, failed adequately to address the drop post I attended a reception at Imperial College London in renewable energy investment and plunged public and met several companies and trade bodies in the field. funds into risky and poor-value nuclear power projects against the advice of experts. When will this Government Kirsty Blackman: I thank the Minister for that answer wake up and take our energy opportunities seriously? and warmly welcome him to his new post. In 2016 the Chancellor announced that action would be taken to Richard Harrington: I am afraid that I must completely improve the tax regime for late-life asset transfers. In disagree with the hon. Gentleman’s view of things. We the 2017 Budget he re-announced the same policy, but are committed to supporting the development of a now an expert panel is to be set up. Can the Minister let decommissioning industry.I think that there are significant me know how many times the expert panel has met so opportunities. We are currently considering options for 441 Oral Answers 27 JUNE 2017 Oral Answers 442 the delivery of a port and yard, and we will continue to Greg Clark: My hon. Friend makes an excellent engage closely with all relevant stakeholders as we point. If he has the continued privilege to chair the develop our options. Select Committee on Justice, I am sure that it will provide some help in this. Leaving the EU: Business Consultation Rachel Reeves (Leeds West) (Lab): Many businesses 2. Jo Churchill (Bury St Edmunds) (Con): What steps are particularly concerned about additional checks on he has taken to consult businesses on the process of the trade imports and exports if we leave the customs UK leaving the EU. [900017] union. Can the Secretary of State give businesses any The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial reassurance at all that there will not be additional Strategy (Greg Clark): Since the referendum, I have checks if and when we leave the customs union? held discussions with businesses, workers and local leaders across the UK, and investors all around the Greg Clark: I have always been clear, as have the world. These will continue over the coming months, Government, that we want not only no tariffs, but no including my weekly meetings with the directors general bureaucratic impediments of the type described by the hon. of the five main business organisations. The Government Lady. That is one of the objectives set out by the are creating a new EU exit business advisory group to business organisations. As she knows, the negotiations ensure that business is not only heard but is influential have just started, but we are clear that that is our throughout the negotiations. objective. Jo Churchill: My particular interest is in the UK’s life Mr Jacob Rees-Mogg (North East Somerset) (Con): science sector, which is worth some £30 billion to the Will my right hon. Friend be asking businesses to list economy and involves nearly half a million jobs, many the most egregious and restrictive EU directives that of which are in my constituency of Bury St Edmunds. may be removed once we leave in order to make British Will the Secretary of State tell me how he will ensure business more competitive and efficient? that there is continued support to this vital leading research and science sector as we leave the EU? Greg Clark: I am sure that my hon. Friend will be an assiduous contributor to the scrutiny of the repeal Bill. Greg Clark: I will indeed. My hon. Friend is a great The approach is to transfer into UK law that which was champion of the sector. In our negotiations, we want to part of EU law precisely so that this House can scrutinise ensure that we can continue these successful collaborations, and consider what should be continued. as well as making further investment in the future of research through our industrial strategy. The House Bill Esterson (Sefton Central) (Lab): The Government may be interested to know that I can announce today said yesterday that EU citizens will be able to apply for that the Government’s commitment to underwrite the what they called “settled status”, so that they can continue UK’s fair share for the Joint European Torus costs—the to live and work in the UK. Application processes can leading nuclear fusion facility in Oxfordshire, supporting be time-consuming, not to mention complicated, expensive 1,300 jobs—will be made. The facility is funded through and off-putting, especially when this Government are a contract between the European Commission and the involved. How can the Secretary of State guarantee that UK Atomic Energy Authority.In making this commitment, all EU nationals working in the UK will be allowed to the Government hope to provide the certainty and stay not just in theory but in practice, to the benefit of reassurance needed for a mutually beneficial extension the many businesses that rely on EU workers? of the contract.