Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to secure the future of ports and wharfs as key infrastructure in delivering the supply chain for the Industrial Strategy.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The Industrial Strategy recognises the importance of ports to the UK economy by their inclusion as a foundational industry, essential to enabling growth in the strategy’s eight sectors through providing critical inputs and infrastructure.

The UK’s ports industry is largely privately owned and operated, with government’s role primarily to ensure that the policy and regulatory environment supports efficient operation and investment. The Government is streamlining planning and regulatory processes for ports, including by updating the National Policy Statement for Ports. The Government is also committed to investing in road and rail connections to ports to improve the efficient and cost-effective transportation of goods and passengers.

In addition, the Government is working closely with Ofgem and the National Energy System Operator on fundamental reforms to the grid connections process that will release up to 500GW of capacity from the connections queue. This may enable ports to electrify more quickly where capacity is released in port locations.

Finally, the Government is deploying capital at scale through the National Wealth Fund, with ports being one of the five sectors to which it has committed at least £5.8 billion.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of changes to local planning authority agendas with regard to house building upon companies directly linked to the Industrial Strategy.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government is committed to building 1.5 million homes over this Parliament and delivering our modern Industrial Strategy.

Reforming the planning system is key to delivering on both of these commitments. The revised National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that planning policies should set out a clear economic vision and strategy which positively and proactively encourages sustainable economic growth, having regard to the national Industrial Strategy and any relevant Local Industrial Strategies. We will ensure that the planning system supports growth in our eight priority sectors, as reflected in the revised Framework. This prioritisation will be further embedded when we consult on a set of national policies for decision-making before the end of the year.

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill will also streamline the delivery of new homes and critical infrastructure – including infrastructure relevant to delivering the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy.

The Government engages regularly with relevant stakeholders to understand and monitor the impacts of our proposed reforms.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the importance of offshore wind to the UK’s electrification strategy.

Answered by Lord Whitehead - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Offshore wind provides the UK with secure, domestically generated electricity, and represents a core part of this Government’s mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower – delivering clean power by 2030 and accelerating to net zero.

This Government’s mission-driven approach will maximise the opportunity for economic growth, attracting vital investment to UK coastal communities. This Government estimates that the sector could support up to 100,000 direct and indirect jobs by the end of the decade.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the infrastructure and energy requirements of new housing developments, and how those requirements align with net zero and industrial growth strategies.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Reforming the planning system is key to building 1.5 million homes and delivering our modern industrial Strategy. The revised National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that planning policies should positively and proactively encourage sustainable economic growth whilst making sufficient provision for infrastructure and energy. These policies should also have regard to the national Industrial Strategy and any relevant Local Industrial Strategies.

The Government remains committed to meeting its target of net zero emissions by 2050 and recognises the importance of energy efficient buildings in meeting it. We are consulting on a set of national policies for decision-making before the end of the year. We intend to update the energy efficiency standards in the Building Regulations in the next few months.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government what processes are in place to assess the impact of new housing developments on existing local businesses and industrial areas, and how those assessments are considered when granting building permits.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Planning law requires decision-makers to consider the potential land-use impacts that proposals have on neighbouring development when determining planning applications.

Our National Planning Policy Framework sets out that planning policies and decisions should ensure that new development can be integrated effectively with existing businesses. Where the operation of an existing business could have a significant adverse effect on new development in its vicinity, the applicant (or ‘agent of change’) should be required to provide suitable mitigation before the development has been completed.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the importance of the secure supply of (1) critical minerals, and (2) industrial metals, to the delivery of the industrial strategy and net zero strategy.

Answered by Lord Stockwood - Minister of State (HM Treasury)

The Government is committed to safeguarding the UK's economic security and delivering on our industrial and net zero strategies. Critical minerals and industrial metals are essential for clean energy, green jobs, and future prosperity. That is why critical minerals were identified as a foundational industry to the Industrial Strategy's growth sectors.

Through the UK Critical Minerals Strategy, we are taking decisive action to strengthen domestic production, reduce overreliance on imports from any one country, and work with global partners to build resilient UK and global supply networks. We are also developing a Steel Strategy to create a competitive business environment to secure and expand UK steelmaking capability and capacity which is aligned with our Net Zero goals.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to strengthen domestic supply chains for net zero industries and ensure that UK businesses remain competitive and resilient in the face of global market pressures.

Answered by Lord Whitehead - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Taking action to ensure that our clean energy supply chains are resilient is a key priority as we deliver on our Growth and Clean Energy Superpower Missions.

The Trade Strategy sets out international and domestic trade levers, frameworks and trading relationships to drive growth. The Trade Strategy will support the Clean Energy Superpower Mission by bolstering supply chain resilience and ensuring we have access to the materials we need.

Our Clean Energy Industries Sector Plan announced a new £1 billion Great British Energy supply chain fund, which will catalyse investment into domestic supply chains; supported by a comprehensive offer from the National Wealth Fund, British Business Bank, and UK Export Finance.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to secure resilient supply chains of key materials required for their net zero agenda.

Answered by Lord Whitehead - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Taking action to ensure that our clean energy supply chains are resilient is a key priority as we deliver on our Growth and Clean Energy Superpower Missions.

The Trade Strategy sets out international and domestic trade levers, frameworks and trading relationships to drive growth. The Trade Strategy will support the Clean Energy Superpower Mission by bolstering supply chain resilience and ensuring we have access to the materials we need.

Our Clean Energy Industries Sector Plan announced a new £1 billion Great British Energy supply chain fund, which will catalyse investment into domestic supply chains; supported by a comprehensive offer from the National Wealth Fund, British Business Bank, and UK Export Finance.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to encourage domestic processing and manufacturing capacity for critical minerals and components essential to net zero technologies, including offshore wind.

Answered by Lord Vallance of Balham - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

A secure, diversified supply of critical minerals is vital for the UK's economic growth and security, industrial strategy, and clean energy transition. Within the Modern Industrial Strategy, the Clean Energy Industries Sector Plan highlighted the UK’s existing strengths in critical mineral mining and processing required for clean energy.

The UK government remains committed to further supporting the growth of UK processing capability. The new Critical Minerals Strategy, which has now been published, sets out how we will enhance the UK’s domestic capabilities, optimising domestic production across the supply chain. The Strategy supports delivery of the Industrial Strategy, recognising critical minerals are foundational to growth driving sectors such as clean energy industries.

Found: Members present: Lord Mair (The Chair); Lord Berkeley; Lord Lucas; Baroness Neville-Jones; Baroness Northover

Found: Members present: Lord Mair (The Chair); Lord Berkeley; Lord Lucas; Baroness Neville-Jones; Baroness Northover

Found: Chair); Lord Berkeley; Lord Borwick; Lord Lucas; Baroness Neuberger; Baroness Neville-Jones; Baroness Northover