§ Mr. BrakeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on public funding to manufacturers to establish or expand(a) fuel cell, (b) electric and (c) solar car or component factories in the United Kingdom in each of the last five years. [47725]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonFunding to develop new technologies for the automotive industry is available under the DTI Foresight vehicle LINK programme and fuel cells are also supported under the Advanced Fuels Cells Programme.
The DETR is providing £6.5 million to the Energy Savings Trust's Powershift programme to help stimulate the market for alternative fuels by providing grants towards the purchase of alternatively fuelled vehicles produced with proven technology which is already in the market place.
The DTI provides Regional Selective assistance for the safeguard and creation of jobs in Assisted Areas. All manufacturing industries could be eligible for support except those which are subject to special EU restrictions.