Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made on the potential impact of net zero policies on (a) the chemical industry on Teesside and (b) the existing industrial base.

Just last month [13th November]], I was delighted to accept invitations from the chemicals sector in Teesside, and met with over 15 firms from the sector and their supply chain. I was able to see first-hand some of the outstanding firms, facilities, projects and opportunities at Wilton International. I also held a roundtable convened by the North East of England Process Industry Cluster (NEPIC) , where I had the chance to hear personally from leaders in the chemical industry.

The Government continually assesses the impact of industrial and decarbonisation policies on the chemical industry and broader UK manufacturing sector. This includes through the Chemical Innovation Forum, which is a forum for gaining policy feedback, collaborating and understanding how best to support innovation in the industry to support growth and net zero goals. It is attended by senior-level stakeholders across the chemical industry, including companies active in the Tees Valley.

Government is committed to supporting UK industry to decarbonise and protecting and creating hundreds of thousands of jobs in regions across the UK. We are taking ambitious steps to lay the groundwork for further industry investment to reap the benefits of industrial decarbonisation. Building on engagement with industry, a refreshed Industrial Decarbonisation Plan will set the strategic direction for our approach to working with industry towards a competitive and low carbon industrial base in the UK, ensuring growth opportunities are captured in tandem with emissions reductions.