Vauxhall at Ellesmere Port and Battery Manufacturing Strategy

Sarah Olney Excerpts
Monday 1st March 2021

(3 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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Kwasi Kwarteng Portrait Kwasi Kwarteng
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I am very pleased that my hon. Friend has raised that question. I had an excellent visit a few months ago, as he remembers, in his constituency in Culham. I spoke to many business people who are driving the net zero agenda, and, alongside him, I am very happy to support those efforts.

Sarah Olney Portrait Sarah Olney (Richmond Park) (LD) [V]
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Increasing demand for electric vehicles can help to create the green jobs that we need, as we transition away from carbon-emitting industries. Will the Secretary of State agree that cutting VAT to 5% on electric vehicles can help to stimulate that demand?

Kwasi Kwarteng Portrait Kwasi Kwarteng
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The hon. Lady is right. We are considering many ways to stimulate the demand to drive this critical agenda. It was a big step for the Prime Minister to announce that we would try to phase out the purchase of internal combustion engine cars by 2030. There was some opposition to that, but it was clearly the right move and we are looking at all sorts of other measures to promote the demand that she wants to see.