MP calls on PM to back Energy Institute in Scotland

2.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 13th Dec 2006

Malcolm Bruce questioned the PM about an important constituency issue

Aberdeenshire MP Malcolm Bruce today challenged the Prime Minister to ensure that Scotland had a key role to play in the Government's proposed Energy Technologies Institute.

In a question to the Prime Minister, Mr Bruce highlighted the critical mass of off-shore technology companies in Aberdeen stressing their capacity to support not just oil and gas but off-shore wind, wave and tidal technologies. He added that the cities two excellent universities made an ideal combination of academic and industrial capacity.

Mr Bruce said:

"Scotland is the energy powerhouse of the UK and has the leading edge expertise in the leading technologies to ensure success for the Energy Technologies Institute. The Prime Minister acknowledged this and we will therefore continue to press for the institute to be headquartered in Scotland and for Aberdeen to play a central role."

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

The full exchange follows:

" Malcolm Bruce (Gordon) (LD): The Chancellor has downgraded his forecast receipts from the North sea by £2 billion. Does that not highlight the need for us to diversify our energy resources, in which endeavour Scotland has a key role to play? Will the Prime Minister recognise the critical mass in offshore technology that exists in and around Aberdeen not only for oil and gas but in respect of offshore wind and offshore wave and tidal energy, and that that, along with our two excellent universities, makes Aberdeen a prime location to play a leading role in the Government's proposed offshore technologies institute?"

"The Prime Minister: I agree with the right hon. Gentleman on both the excellence of Aberdeen and the facilities there and the potential for renewable technologies. The difficulty is how long it will take to get those technologies to market. I also agree with him about diversity of energy supply. That is why we recently concluded the deal with Norway on the import of Norwegian gas into this country, which will meet about 30 per cent. of our gas needs. I also happen to believe that that is why we need to replace our existing nuclear power stations as well. But, whatever we do, the Government will make a significant additional investment in renewable technology, and co-operation between business and the academic world will be of prime importance."