Sustainable Aviation Fuel Bill (Second sitting)

Joe Robertson Excerpts

Committee stage
Tuesday 15th July 2025 Public Bill Committees

[Tom Collins]

Q Obviously, Innovate UK is our key player in that space. Do you see it as active in this space? Is there anything you would like to see us doing slightly differently to support SMEs and innovators better?

Professor Maslin: I have been very lucky, because in the past I have been able to get funding from Innovate UK and even from the TSB before that—that is how old I am. Innovate UK needs direction, with top-down prioritisation of this sector for the UK. Sometimes Innovate UK has stuff coming in, then selects what it thinks is good, but I think you need to mandate, in concert with the Bill, that it focuses on SAFs and makes that one of its priorities.

[Joe Robertson (Isle of Wight East) (Con)]

I have realised that Professor Maslin was an undergraduate tutor of mine quite a few years ago.

Professor Maslin: Oh, this is becoming a real embarrassment; it just makes me feel really old. But it is great to see you in a position of power.

[Joe Robertson]

Q By the look of it, you have had an easier life than I have had. I have a fairly brief question. This morning, we heard representations that the SAF mandate is enough in that it creates the demand and requirements that the market will adjust to and fulfil, and that the Bill is therefore not needed. I invite your thoughts and comments on that bold statement.

Professor Maslin: I think that is deflection. The Bill is absolutely required. You need to support this fledgling industry; as with any of our green industries, we need to support it so that we can be world leading.

SAFs are going to be the future. There are 14,000 planes in the air at any moment, and in 30 years’ time they will hopefully all be flying on SAFs. If we can get our industrial might to actually produce the technology, patent it and push it forward, we will be ahead of the curve, because everybody else is starting to throw money at it.

[Amanda Hack]

Q On the potential economic benefits of the Bill, you mentioned the other layer of infrastructure that we need to put in place. How do we ensure that we have individuals with the skills and smaller organisations with the financial capacity to ensure that we maximise the economic benefits from trying to be the market leader?

Professor Maslin: That is a huge, huge question.