Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans he has to promote green jobs and investment as part of the economic recovery from the covid-19 outbreak.

In his speech of June 30, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister made clear that in recovering from COVID-19, we must build back greener. This year alone, the government has set out billions in ambitious support for our low-carbon economy and green jobs. In the Chancellor’s economic update on July 8, over £3 billion investment was announced to decarbonise the UK’s buildings and transform energy efficiency in homes. This investment could support up to 140,000 green jobs.

In addition, on 30 June, the Prime Minister announced the £40m Green Recovery Challenge Fund. This will help to restore nature and tackle climate change while also creating up to 3,000 jobs and safeguarding up to 2,000 others in conservation organisations and suppliers.

These recent announcements build on investments outlined in the Spring Budget to support our low-carbon economy and green jobs including £1 billion for ultra-low emission vehicles including for charging infrastructure and plug-in grants and £800 million to capture carbon from power stations and industry.