Government ‘fighting for wind power plant’

MPs say they are encouraged after a meeting with Mr Cable yesterday in which he eased fears that Ministers were letting the issue drift amid concern that Siemens could be tempted to build the plant on the continent instead.

His reassurance comes on the back of Prime Minister David Cameron’s pledge last week that he was backing the bid and had held talks with bosses at the company to persuade them to build on land owned by Associated British Ports (ABP) at Hull’s Alexandra Docks instead of going to Denmark or Germany, which have also been bidding for the deal.

Hull North MP Diana Johnson said: “We’re feeling encouraged. We had the Prime Minister’s response last week and Vince Cable echoed that. I think that the Government is doing all they can to seal the Siemens deal.”

Hull East MP Karl Turner added: “We were concerned there was no ministerial grip. We’ve got the reassurances from Vince Cable that that’s not the position and what the Prime Minister said last week is absolutely correct. As far as Vince Cable says the Government are committed and just as keen as we are to see this happen.”

The pair met Mr Cable along with Hull West and Hessle MP Alan Johnson yesterday to push for a renewed focus on securing the deal, which could create hundreds of jobs and establish Hull as a major centre of renewable technology.

Siemens confirmed in January that Hull was its preferred location for the manufacturing plant, but a memorandum of understanding signed between Siemens, Associated British Ports and Hull City Council has now expired.

The region is seen as a key to supporting the renewable energy sector, with vast off-shore wind farms earmarked for construction off the coast. The world’s largest off-shore wind farm is due to be built at Dogger Bank, 80 miles off the Yorkshire coastline.

Last week Siemens said it was “continuing to work constructively” with ABP for the construction of the factory and said negotiations were “ongoing and on track”.