Oral Answers to Questions

Nic Dakin Excerpts

Thursday 7th July 2011 Commons Chamber

[Chris Huhne]

I hesitate to say this, but I entirely agree with my hon. Friend. We have set an ambitious target and there is more work to do. Whether that means getting people to put on woolly jumpers or getting them to turn the lights off, we will do it, and we shall continue our efforts.

[Nic Dakin (Scunthorpe) (Lab)]

4. What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on skills and employment in the energy sector.

[Catherine McKinnell (Newcastle upon Tyne North) (Lab)]

13. What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on developing skills in the low-carbon sector.

[The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Charles Hendry)]

My Department works closely with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to promote skills and employment in the energy sector. The Budget announced £180 million of funding for 50,000 additional adult apprenticeships, and we announced in March that at least 100,000 green deal apprentices could receive Government funding towards their training. There are many opportunities, with the new build nuclear programme alone expected to create 30,000 high-skilled new jobs nationally.

[Nic Dakin]

What steps are the Government and the Minister’s Department taking to ensure that jobs in the energy industry supply chain are developed in this country and not abroad?

[Charles Hendry]

I was very pleased indeed to have the chance to meet the hon. Gentleman, his local authorities and other Members of Parliament from Humberside to talk about the immense potential in those areas for developing the supply chain for the offshore wind sector. That is why we have put in place a £60 million programme to attract manufacturing investment to those sites, and it is encouraging to see the number of manufacturers looking to the United Kingdom.