Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment her Department has made of the implications for her policies of the proposals by Scottish Renewables to export Scotland’s renewable energy skills to countries which are seeking to undertake green economic recoveries from the covid-19 pandemic; and if she will make a statement.

I welcome Scottish Renewables commitment to supporting Scottish businesses to export their knowledge, goods, and services to markets around the world. Trade will play an important role in delivering an economy that is stronger, cleaner, more sustainable, and more resilient across the UK after this crisis.

My Department has a team dedicated to supporting renewable energy exports and works closely with the Scottish enterprise agencies, for whom energy is a key sector. To support an international low carbon recovery, the UK Government recently announced the Green Recovery Challenge Fund to disburse £12 million, over two years, to projects that will help countries accelerate their low-carbon transition.