Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking to encourage green investment in the South East. [115801]

Gregory Barker MP; Minister of State [holding answer 6 July 2012]: The Department for Business. Innovation and Skills (BIS) leads on UK Green Growth, and the Department of Energy and Climate Change work with BIS to encourage green investment.

Government initiatives, such as the Regional Growth Fund (RGF). the Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain (AMSC) fund and the work of UK Green Investment Bank plc, are able to encourage investment across sectors and regions, including green or low carbon sectors in the South East.

The RGF supports projects and programmes that lever private sector investment creating economic growth and sustainable employment. It aims particularly to help those areas and communities currently dependent on the public sector to make the transition to sustainable private sector-led growth and prosperity.

An additional £l billion has been allocated for a further round of the RGF; this takes the fund total to £2.4 billion.

There have been several successful bids for the RGF in the South east and East of England, of which some include green projects.

Furthermore the Government announced in March that up to £3.5 million would be made available to train up to 1,000 advisors and installers in readiness for the Green Deal. Funding will be allocated across Great Britain, including in the South East.