AQW 1794/17-22

Mr Stewart Dickson
Alliance Party
East Antrim

Tabled Date: 10/02/2020
Answered On Date: 25/02/2020
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Infrastructure to outline what support is currently available to local councils for installing new electric car infrastructure.

Answer:

The Road to Zero Strategy outlines how the UK Government will support the transition to zero emission road transport and reduce emissions from conventional vehicles during the transition. The Office for Low Emission Vehicles continues to provide a broad range of funding UK wide including Plug-in grant for cars, vans, taxis and motorcycles, the provision of grants for home, work and on-street residential charging infrastructure and a £400 million infrastructure investment fund to support private sector investment in charging infrastructure by providing greater access to finance on a commercial basis.

The UK Transport Secretary also announced on 21 January 2020 that government funding UK-wide will be doubled to £10 million for the installation of charge points on residential streets next year.

My officials liaise regularly with councils and have recently met with a number of councils, including Mid & East Antrim Borough Council, to provide advice and guidance on a range of e-car related matters including charge point infrastructure. My officials will continue to provide advice and guidance to councils as requested as I am keen to see the electric car infrastructure network improved.