Speeches by Young.

“You have already mentioned the voluntary 50% UK local content rules. Olivia, what is your perspective on local content rules, especially for new and upcoming clean energy technologies?”

“You say it is about sending signals, but are there any more concrete things that you are doing from your side?”

“If I can stay with you, Darren, the voluntary targets included in the supply chain plan under the CfD auction are difficult to enforce, as they do not directly score UK content. Ultimately, the tendency is to drive you back to choosing on price rather than origin. How can the Government improve the overall effectivenes…”

“The key word in what I said there was “improve”. Acknowledging where we are now, what more could the Government be doing?”

“Moving on now to the question about the circular economy, we have been told about the importance of developing a circular economy and embedding better recycling practices to alleviate pressures on the domestic supply chains. How could that be implemented?”

“You have already mentioned the voluntary 50% UK local content rules. Olivia, what is your perspective on local content rules, especially for new and upcoming clean energy technologies?”

“Where the UK is innovating in emerging technologies, what is the potential for that UK innovation setting future international standards for other materials or products in wave, tidal and floating offshore wind?”

“Yes.”

“Yes.”

“Can any of you comment on the EU green industrial plan and the EU Net-Zero Industry Act?”

“Just to follow on that point, given we have moved on to the issue of Trump, what impacts do you think the changes that he has made will have on the global supply chain for materials and skills?”

“What lessons can be learned for UK manufacturing from the US Inflation Reduction Act, the EU green deal industrial plan and the EU Net-Zero Industry Act? Just to clarify, I am talking about the IRA as it operated under the previous Administration.”

“Yes, particularly about being able to reuse and recycle.”

“Should we be developing standards in this area?”

“Chopping and changing home upgrade schemes, as we saw under the previous Conservative Government, causes uncertainty and confusion, which is damaging for both consumers and installers alike. Will this Government avoid that mistake by setting out long-term plans for energy efficiency schemes that go beyond 2026?”

“NATO countries bordering Russia are understandably stepping up their defences without waiting for others to take action. Will the Foreign Secretary update the House on the discussions he has had with those countries?”

“Finally, a question for all of you. Is it possible to keep rogue traders out of the sector? Shall I start with Simon this time?”

“The Government immediately suspended 39 installers for poor practice under the ECO4 and GBIS retrofit schemes. Given that we are already facing a shortage of workers in this sector, how can we meet the level of retrofitting required in the UK to meet environmental targets?”

“Andy, you have already indicated that you do think that it is wrong that companies are still free to operate outside of the government schemes. Do you have anything to add on that about what you think should happen?”

“Is there a role for TrustMark and MCS in rescinding certification for individuals who are identified as below standard traders, and preventing them from operating elsewhere? Ian, you have already touched on this.”