To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent steps his Department has taken to encourage employers in the energy sector to create new jobs in the UK. (270831)

[holding answer 24 April 2009]: The UK has led the world in taking a strategic and long-term approach to the problem of climate change. Existing policies are already enabling £50 billion of low carbon investment over the three years to 2011, and helping to support 900,000 jobs. Budget 2009 builds on these foundations and provides over £1.4 billion of extra targeted support in the low carbon sector. Together with announcements made last autumn, these measures will enable an additional £10.4 billion of low carbon and energy investment over the next three years. This will help protect investment and jobs in the low carbon sector in the short term and provide the foundations for strong growth in the future.