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Tuesday Volume 686 15 December 2020 No. 152 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Tuesday 15 December 2020 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2020 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 121 15 DECEMBER 2020 122 hon. Friend made of the potential opportunities presented House of Commons for the manufacture of blue hydrogen at Bacton, creating low-carbon jobs for the east of England? Tuesday 15 December 2020 Alok Sharma: My hon. Friend again raises the issue The House met at half-past Eleven o’clock of jobs. Of course, creating these low-carbon jobs across the country is a priority for the Government. As I have PRAYERS set out, in our 10-point plan and the energy White Paper we have put forward policies for the creation of a significant number of jobs. The Oil and Gas Authority [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] is currently conducting an in-depth feasibility study Virtual participation in proceedings commenced into blue hydrogen at the Bacton gas terminal. I very (Order, 4 June). much welcome that work, and my officials and, indeed, [NB: [V] denotes a Member participating virtually.] Ministers would be very happy to engage further with my hon. Friend on this matter. Oral Answers to Questions Dr Alan Whitehead (Southampton, Test) (Lab): I am pleased to see that the net zero hydrogen fund that the Secretary of State just mentioned will support, among BUSINESS, ENERGY AND INDUSTRIAL other things, the production of hydrogen. Will he commit STRATEGY today to using that fund to prioritise the production of green hydrogen, as opposed to blue hydrogen, in the future? The Secretary of State was asked— Hydrogen Energy Alok Sharma: We will have to look at what bids come in in respect of how that funding is used, but I say Dr James Davies (Vale of Clwyd) (Con): What steps again—I made this point yesterday at the Dispatch his Department is taking to support the development of Box—that it is not just public money; we are also hydrogen energy. [910294] talking about private sector money coming alongside it. The hon. Gentleman will know that Hydrogen Strategy Duncan Baker (North Norfolk) (Con): What steps his Now, a campaign group of more than 50 companies, Department is taking to support the development of has said that it is ready to invest £3 billion in hydrogen hydrogen energy. [910309] projects, and that was after the publication of the 10-point plan. The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Alok Sharma): Both the Prime Minister’s Low-Carbon Industries: Employment Growth 10-point plan and our energy White Paper, which we published yesterday, set out our bold ambition for the Peter Aldous (Waveney) (Con): What steps his UK to be a world leader in low-carbon hydrogen. As set Department is taking to support employment growth in out in the White Paper, we are determined to make low-carbon industries. [910295] tangible progress in this important sector, including by investing £240 million through the net zero hydrogen The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial fund and supporting industry to begin a hydrogen Strategy (Alok Sharma): Our 10-point plan for a green heating trial in an entire neighbourhood by 2023. We industrial revolution, which we set out last month, has will publish a comprehensive hydrogen strategy early an ambition to support 250,000 highly skilled green next year. jobs across the UK by 2030. The plans we published yesterday in the energy White Paper will further position Dr James Davies: The development of hydrogen energy the UK as a global leader in the future energy industry, can lead to thousands of new jobs UK-wide, including not least by supporting the development of jobs and an estimated 6,000 in my region through the HyNet green infrastructure in low-carbon energy such as hydrogen, project. Will my right hon. Friend do all he can to help carbon capture, usage and storage, and of course nuclear. HyNet access industrial decarbonisation challenge funding to allow it to progress? Peter Aldous: I am grateful to the Secretary of State for that answer. The scale of the opportunity for Alok Sharma: My hon. Friend is absolutely right: this employment growth in low-carbon industries is immense. is all about jobs—high value-added jobs. He, along with If the right approach is adopted, there can be enormous other colleagues in the House, makes the case at every benefits to coastal communities such as Lowestoft and opportunity for the HyNet project, and it is very lucky Waveney. How does the Secretary of State intend to to have him as a champion. As he will know, HyNet has transform the UK’s approach to energy skills in order already received funding through phase 1 of the industrial to capitalise on these great opportunities? decarbonisation challenge, as well as £13 million of support through the Department for Business, Energy Alok Sharma: Once again, a Conservative colleague and Industrial Strategy energy innovation programme. talks about jobs, which is what the energy White Paper We will announce the winners of the next phase of the and the 10-point plan are all about. My hon. Friend is a industrial decarbonisation challenge in spring next year. tireless champion for offshore wind, and for jobs and growth, in supporting his constituency. He will know Duncan Baker: Bacton gas terminal in my constituency that we have set up the green jobs taskforce, which was harbours a significant percentage of the natural gas launched in November and is led by the Minister for intake into the UK. What assessment has my right Business, Energy and Clean Growth, my right hon. 123 Oral Answers 15 DECEMBER 2020 Oral Answers 124 Friend the Member for Spelthorne (Kwasi Kwarteng). Minister agree that now is the time to look back at The taskforce brings together businesses and trade unions schemes to ensure that those who are excluded are to assess how our jobs and skills should adapt to allow supported, too? us to build back greener, and how the Government can support people in transitioning industries. Paul Scully: I thank the hon. Lady for her question. We will always look for and listen to suggestions on Covid-19: Hospitality how we can improve schemes, and I will continue to work with Treasury colleagues to reflect that. James Daly (Bury North) (Con): What steps his Department is taking to support hospitality businesses Covid-19: Effect on Business in areas under tier 3 covid-19 restrictions. [R] [910296] The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck (South Shields) (Lab): What Energy and Industrial Strategy (Paul Scully): I commend assessment his Department has made of the effect of my hon. Friend for his work as the voice of the hospitality tiered covid-19 public health restrictions on businesses’ sector in Bury and the surrounding area. The Government ability to trade. [910298] have provided an unprecedented package of support to hospitality businesses, including almost £10 billion in Alex Norris (Nottingham North) (Lab/Co-op): What rates relief. Those under tier 3 may be eligible for a local assessment his Department has made of the effect of restrictions support grant of up to £3,000 per month tiered covid-19 public health restrictions on businesses’ and the additional restrictions grant. ability to trade. [910323] James Daly: Hospitality businesses in Bury,Ramsbottom The Minister for Business, Energy and Clean Growth and Tottington have spent thousands of pounds to (Kwasi Kwarteng): We know that certain areas of the make their premises covid-secure. If Bury remains in economy have faced enormous challenges this year, and tier 3 during the Christmas period, many of those that is whythe Government have provided an unprecedented businesses will face financial ruin. Will my hon. Friend range of support packages to help businesses precisely therefore work with the Treasury to ensure that adequate to continue trading. financial support is given to those otherwise viable businesses? If we do not act now, these important Mrs Lewell-Buck: Wet pubs in South Shields spent community assets will be lost forever, with the devastating money making themselves covid-secure, only to have an loss of thousands of jobs. Please save our pubs. arbitrary curfew imposed on them and then to be forced to close completely, yet there is no evidence at all that Paul Scully: I am grateful to all the hospitality businesses they are contributing to the spread of the virus. This across the country, including in Bury, that have done so was a policy, not a health decision. I heard the Minister’s much work to become covid-secure. I am in contact earlier response, but if the Government really do not with Treasury colleagues who know that businesses want to see our pub doors closed forever, why have they need support in those higher tiers, and that is why we not listened to the requests from the British Beer and are giving additional support for wet-led pubs worth up Pub Association and uplifted the current grants on to £40 million in grants. offer? Covid-19: Support for the Self-employed Kwasi Kwarteng: As the Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, my hon. Friend Wendy Chamberlain (North East Fife) (LD): What the Member for Sutton and Cheam (Paul Scully), has steps he is taking to support the self-employed during suggested, there is a considerable measure of support the covid-19 outbreak. [910297] for pubs that are suffering at the moment.