Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent assessment he has made of the Government's progress in building a low-carbon economy; and if he will make a statement. [116731]

Gregory Barker MP; Minister of State: The UK's low carbon and environmental goods and services sector grew 4.7% in 2010-11 to £122 billion-and is the sixth largest in the world. We already have a £5 billion export surplus and are outpacing global growth rates for this sector.

We are creating the right market conditions for low carbon investment. Our electricity market reform will secure £110 billion of investment in low carbon energy over the next decade. And the Green Deal is expected to kick start around £10 billion worth of private sector investment in home energy improvements-supporting up to 60,000 jobs in the insulation industry. Energy efficiency improvements are reducing emissions-and costs-for businesses across all sectors of the economy.