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Offshore wind power is the way forward for the eastern seaboard, according to the Great Yarmouth MP but, he warns, we must not lose out to Scotland and the North East.

Brandon Lewis believes that the east's offshore industry will have a major role to play to help deliver the UK's target to increase offshore wind power from 1GW to 33GW over the next decade but he is calling for a level playing field.

"It's vital that we seize this opportunity, especially when we are excluded from the government's recent £60m funding aimed at the industry," he told the Westminster Hall.

He says that our region saw one of the first major offshore wind farm installations, with 40 turbines at Scroby Sands off Great Yarmouth. The new Greater Gabbard wind farm, off the Suffolk coast, is soon to go online with 140 turbines and the Round 3 windfarms planned in the North Sea will create the world's largest supply of offshore wind energy.

"As this market develops, the Carbon Trust estimates that over 70,000 jobs could be created or supported in the UK," he added. To that end, the Conservative MP is calling for "expansion in the available skill-base".

He wants a planned skills centre, which will act as a hub working directly with existing training providers as well as industry, to bridge the gap in skill shortages.

"Some energy companies already send staff to meet pupils in school and participation in the Forces 4 Energy initiative will help attract highly skilled engineers leaving the forces to join the industry; they are ideal candidates to retrain for key roles in the energy sector."

He called on the government to acknowledge the skill base in Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft but asked for an even playing field to ensure it will be one of the key areas creating green energy in the future.

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