To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change

(1) when he plans to start the tender process for the UK carbon capture and storage demonstration project;

(2) whether the UK tender process and associated funding for the carbon capture and storage programme will be completed in time to meet the deadline for the European Union ER300 programme.

The Government remains firmly committed to carbon capture and storage (CCS) and there are a number of promising projects proposed in the UK. We will launch a streamlined selection process for future CCS projects as soon as possible and my Department will expand on our plans later this year. I can confirm that the £1 billion remains available for this. We recognise the benefit of aligning the UK selection process with the NER300 programme and are making every effort to achieve this.