Vauxhall at Ellesmere Port and Battery Manufacturing Strategy Debate

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Department: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Vauxhall at Ellesmere Port and Battery Manufacturing Strategy

Peter Gibson Excerpts
Monday 1st March 2021

(3 years ago)

Commons Chamber
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Kwasi Kwarteng Portrait Kwasi Kwarteng
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We are talking about it—we are talking with the company directly to secure vital investment. We want those jobs, and we have said time and again that we are 100% committed to the energy transition and to having world-class automotive manufacturing in the UK.

Peter Gibson Portrait Peter Gibson (Darlington) (Con) [V]
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A key component of battery manufacturing is rare metals. Will my right hon. Friend outline what support he is giving to British businesses that seek to harvest polyhalite nodules from our sea bed?

Kwasi Kwarteng Portrait Kwasi Kwarteng
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The Government are committed to exploring opportunities that will support the next generations of clean technologies, and we are looking very much at the field of critical raw materials. My hon. Friend will remember that when I was Minister for Business, Energy, and Clean Growth, I was particularly committed to that form of technology. It is an exciting development, admittedly in its early stages, and I am always looking to drive innovation in that area.