Live Energy and Climate Change Questions House of Commons

Prout, and her ministerial team. The first question comes about new

energy technologies. Order, order. Questions to the

Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change. Thank you. Question

number one. Thank you. Encouraging and supporting innovation is central

to everything we do. The UK has a proud record of leadership in energy

and innovation, for example, through driving down costs of offshore wind

technology. The Government took steps to build on this last year's

Spending Review, more than doubling our innovation budget to a total of

?500 million over the next five years. In this way, we can continue

to support the development of clean, cheap and rival technologies. Thank

you. I recently visited to farmers in my constituency. They are

generating electricity through any real big digestion and another who

is using the same process. To generate bio gas. This is connected

to the national grid. With the Secretary of State joining

congratulating these entrepreneurs who have shown considerable

innovation in the use of neat analogy. Catch you when what further

support Government is giving? Thank you. My honourable friend is correct

that one of the biggest challenges we face is how to decarbonise our

energy supply. We have provided low carbon heat and electricity and I

would like to congratulate employers such as those mentioned, who make

use of food and farm waste, to help deliver renewable energy. Can I ask

the Minister to get out a bit more? Because I walk around my

constituency and I talked to the big companies who invest in new

technology. They think the stop start nature of Government policy,

especially from the Treasury, has deeply harmed innovation and

research in this area. I am sorry to hear that. The facts speak for

themselves. Investment in renewable technology and energy is at a record

high in the UK. This Government is always careful to consult before

making changes. That is to ensure that we take industry with us and

deliver the stability they need. The most dominant form of low carbon

electricity is meagre power. In terms of innovation, the Secretary

said updaters on the competition in nuclear power? Thank you. Nuclear

power is an important part of the energy mix. We continue to need it

and this Government supports going forward, to replace our ageing

nuclear fleet as it comes off, over the next decades. We have launched

this competition and have had 38 expressions of interest and we will

work closely with those companies to make sure we are plans the

competition to bring on the most likely investment. Last month, the

US Senate passed an Energy Bill in a rare occurrence of bipartisan

cooperation. This bill could potentially unleashed billions of

dollars in research and development on new energy technologies,

including energy storage, hydro- kinetic and advancing the electric

grid in the United States. Can the UK Government Act in a similar

manner, investing in the future and addressing the myriad of problems

with our energy infrastructure? The Climate Change Act underpins the

drive towards renewable energy in this country and it was indeed

passed a cross-party and this area is developing in low carbon and

remains cross-party and this Government is committed to making

sure we make the investment and plan for the long term, to ensure we

develop renewable energy, whilst always ensuring we do it at the

least possible cost and putting energy security first. Will my

honourable friend agree that supporting innovative electric

vehicles is an excellent way to protect the environment and UK

business? Will the Government do all I can to support this new

technology? The future for transport is indeed electric. The Department

for Transport has clear plans to make sure that we develop that and

support that industry. One in four electric cars is driven around

Europe at the moment and made in the UK. I hope the UK will continue to

be a leader in this developing area. The honourable gentleman may be

aware that we have recently launched a consultation on tidal energy. That

is being headed by Charles Hendry. In terms of tidal stream, which he

may also be asking about, we have yet to decide how allocations will

be taken forward. I welcome the support for smart meters and I'm

sure you will agree the role it is vital to put consumers in control of

energy use. Consumers need ready access to data from smart meters. If

we're going to achieve this, and that is why all households will be

offered an in-home displays to allow them to see the energy they are

using in real time. As well as its cost. It will also allow suppliers

to trial innovative technologies alongside. Smart meters can

transform domestic energy consumption and help save the

planet. But only if consumers are given secure control and ownership

of their own data. The display options she refers to will still

allow smart meters to be a back door into our homes for hackers. Can she,

before it is too late, overcome her ridiculous complacency and announce

measures which will give consumers the digital rights that they

deserve? The honourable lady should know that privacy is absolutely

protected and at the heart of the smart meter programme. She should be

careful not to put fear into the hearts of people, where none should

exist. The data is protected and the data belongs, not to Government,

which some people might not unreasonably fear, but to the energy

companies. So, we will make sure that we always reassure consumers

that privacy is at the core of delivering safe meters in the

future. The Competitions and Markets Authority has recommended a

temporary safeguard for vulnerable users on prepayment meters. This

safeguard could be worth savings of up to ?300 million a year for those

on prepayment meters. The secrecy committed to implement it as as

possible? Thank you. You are correct. The preliminary report

addresses head on the difficulties of higher costs paid by people with

prepayment meters. We blame them and those recommendations and look

forward to seeing the final recommendations. According to

Government's calculations, smart meters installed could save ?17

billion in collective energy bills over the next 15 years. Does the

minister recognised that consumers have access to data usage? This

allows them to shared with third parties, to improve competition.

Yes, the Government will be glad to see the fact that Competition and

Markets Authority has said they will make available in a controlled way

the details of people who have not switched. We have to make sure it is

done in a way that does not result in consumers viewing overwhelmed by

the jesters. The Competitions and Markets Authority has yet to come

out with final solution but I am confident it will do so and when it

is measured and will help to make sure that people who have not been

switching have access to switching and the opportunities that are

there. Thank you. The Government has announced up to ?730 million of

contracts for different support. For offshore wind and others. The first

option will offer ?299 and I expect Scottish projects to bits. This is a

huge opportunity for the UK supply chain and I am doing every day I can

to persuade developers to buy British. The Government has

cancelled the CFC for a wind farm in eastern Scotland. Without it, there

will be no project at all. Can the Secretary of State and that's why

this has been cancelled? And will be committed to redeploying funds to

another Scottish project? Well, what I can say is that it is not the

Government that decides whether delivery milestones are met, it is

the low carbon contracts company who manages those CFT 's. That

cancellation was a result of the milestone delivery date, not being

met. There are ongoing discussions about it. I absolutely recognise the

termination of a CFD is disappointing. There is a big

project pipeline of Scottish onshore wind and I expect to see other

projects coming forward next auction. I am happy to hear the

mellifluous tones of the honourable gentleman but his inquiry must

relate to Scotland, brother and Cleethorpes. There is a direct link.

Clearly, developments in the industry in Scotland will impact on

the success or otherwise of developments of the energy estuary,

which is the Government ambition for the Humber. Could the Minister give

an update on how developments in Scotland might impact on the Humber?

Very neat. I commend my honourable friend for both his tenacity and his

command of the English language. I can certainly say to him that this

project pipeline, whether from Scottish projects, from the Humber

region, will enormously benefit the UK supply pipeline and that is what

we really want to do. I am talking with individual developers. He will

be aware of the East Coast review that is ongoing, to try to make sure

that wherever possible, we buy British. That is this UK fabricators

and opportunities to get more of this valuable business, which has

been a real success story for the United Kingdom.

Scotland's and doubted potential in renewables is being squandered by

removed control from here in Westminster. -- undoubted. When will

Scotland be treated better? Mr Speaker, I'm not sure if it is

Parliamentary language to say, what a rubbish, but that was absolute

rubbish. There is no sense in which the UK Government treats Scotland as

an absentee landlord, and the honourable gentleman will absolutely

be aware that 60% of the renewables obligation has gone to Scottish

projects, how on earth he can think that Scotland is somehow losing out

is absolute nonsense! Thank you, Mr Speaker. If we are not being run

from removed control, can the Minister tell us hammy times the

Secretary of State has been to Dublin since the last election? I

can tell the honourable gentleman I have been to Scotland a number of

times. I do not know the answer to his question, I can write to him on

that point. But my right honourable friend is absolutely committed, as

am I, to the success of not just the renewables sector in Scotland, but

also to the oil and gas sector, and he will be aware of the hours she

and I have spent in this chamber desperately trying to get the

authority sorted out through the Energy Bill that he and his

colleagues have absolutely tried to delay and discover at every turn! Dr

James Davies. Question number four, Mr Speaker. Minister. Thank you, Mr

Speaker. It is quite right that network companies give proper

consideration to protect immunities in sensitive areas, and my

honourable friend is right to speak up for his local residents. I hope I

can reassure him and his constituents that legislation does

already put this requirement on them. Local communities will always

be properly consulted on how new transmission networks might affect

their local environment. Dr James Davies. I am grateful for this

reply. She will be aware that many miles of new Alec Issigonis will be

required across the country for new projects including in my area of

North Wales. Would she agree that where there is controversy, the cost

of delays to such infrastructure projects could far outweigh the

costs of putting cables underground to overcome such controversy? Would

she also agree that planning guidance may need firming up to

enable clarity around this requirement? Minister. I certainly

agree that getting on with project and avoiding delays is important,

and I am sure he will appreciate that there is a balance to be

struck. A recent independent study shows that under grounding of

transmission lines can cost up to ?24 million per kilometre, compared

to 4.4 million for overhead lines. These costs are ultimately paid

through consumer bills. I do want to reassure him again that existing

planning guidance will make sure that undergrounding is always fully

considered. Thank you, Mr Speaker, I wanted to ask the Minister about

broader vertical infrastructure. We have pylons, as you know, coming

through Cumbria, but in my constituency we also have a lot of

wind farms and telephone masts. My question to her, how do we mitigate

bringing all of those together when we look at new panning? That

planning. I hope I can reassure the honourable lady that local authority

planning processes do always take into account the cumulative impact

of yet one more project that is under way. I mean, I suppose this

is, quite rightly, a question for the see Elche, but I think that the

existing planning arrangements will certainly always allow for proper

consideration of alternatives, but also to look at one more project

does and whether somehow it can be brought together so that, if there

is an area that is affected, it can have, you know, several different

projects in the same place, rather than spreading it out and ruining

the landscape. The best way to deliver energy bills for businesses

and households is to have a robust and competitive energy market. In

2010, the big six controlled 99% of the domestic market, but this year

consumers can choose from over 30 independent suppliers who between

them control over 15% of the dual fuel market. Competition is

improving, but we cannot be complacent, and that is why I look

forward to the final report of the Competition and Markets Authority,

and I would encourage consumers to switch. I agree with the Secretary

of State and banker for the answer, and the best way for consumers to

get a good deal is to consider switching. -- and thank her. Can my

right honourable friend confirm that the Government remains committed to

reducing the time it takes for customers to switch? The fact is

that consumers are sometimes put off from switching not only by the

complications which they perceive but the length of time which it can

take, and we are confident they will reach revival next day switching by

2018. My friend the shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate

Change recently visited the warning Trego house in my constituency where

heating and lighting bills are kept and ?100 per year. -- the

award-winning eco house. I thank the honourable lady for her question,

and she's absolutely right that there are fantastic taking place

through private sector investment to make sure they deliver innovations

in this sector which will drive down bills. In terms of zero carbon

homes, I can reassure heard there is a EU directive which calls for near

zero carbon emissions which will reduce the cost of bills. Does my

right honourable friend agreed that it is important to give more power

to price comparison websites to give consumers more knowledge? Well, I

agree that we have to have as many choices as possible for people, and

Competition and Markets Authority have made some proposals, but we

also have to be careful to make sure it is fairly addressed and the

cheapest tariff is indeed available and there is full disclosure. What I

intend to do is encourage people to go to the Ofgem website, be an

energy shopper. Thank you, Mr Speaker. The Secretary of State is

fond of telling us how keen she is to cut energy bills, but last Friday

her department, when attention was diverted elsewhere, reveal that

families in this country will be asked to pay an extra up to ?38 on

their energy bills in order to fund her failure to get new power

stations built. Can she now confirm to this House that not only is she

asking families to pay more to fund her policy of closing coal-fired

power stations, but now, at exactly the same time, she is also asking

them to pay more to keep them open? What the honourable lady is faring

too is changes in the capacity market, and she has not grasped the

facts of the situation. -- is referring to. The consequences of

wholesale prices falling is that coal and gas prices become an

economic goal. Because we will take no risks with energy security, and

because we are clear that energy security must be the number one

priority, we have brought forward a new capacity market which will stop

their being sort of price hikes which are most and welcome and

actually my department estimates this will save consumers up to ?46

on their bills. Mr Speaker, the absurdity of the situation appears

to be lost on the Secretary of State, but since she has been on

this panicked spending spree, perhaps I can ask another question.

She recently announced generous subsidies to EDF, the big energy

company that operates British nuclear facilities. She has agreed

to hand over ?153 million in subsidies in 2018, a further ?139

million the following year, to subsidise nuclear power stations

that would have been open anyway. Is she now also aware of the recently

breaking news that the cost of Hinkley Point C is now set to rise

to ?21 billion? That is ?3 billion more than was forecast. And can she

tell us what she estimates the cost to bill payers and taxpayers in the

UK will be of this new revised estimate? I am concerned the

honourable lady did not hear my answer to the earlier question.

Energy security has to be the priority of Government. What we have

done in bringing forward changes to the capacity market is make sure

that, because of low wholesale prices, we have sufficient energy

coming forward June be next two years. The honourable lady reveals a

total lack of understanding of getting the right balance between

secure electricity, nuclear and, yes, in the short-term coal, which

supports our renewable investment, keeps bills low and ensures

customers always have a good supply of electricity. Question number six.

Indeed! Mr Speaker, the most effective way for consumers to

ensure they are on the best value tariff is by engaging the energy

market and switching supplier. I would encourage all members to

encourage their constituents to make use of websites. We will make it

easier for consumers to switch and we are planning to move to next day

switching by 2018. My constituency is one of the coldest constituencies

in England, so household energy costs are properly

disproportionately higher compared to other areas in the country. As

she made an assessment of the trends are people changing suppliers,

whether they are actually keeping costs down? Well, I thank my

honourable friend for his question, and I can reassure him that

switching was at a four year high in 2015, six .1 million switches across

Great Britain, a 15% increase. -- 6.1 million. I am aware some people

are not willing to switch, which is why we have the big energy saving

network programme, which this year gave ?10,000 of funding to two

champions in the area who reached over 350 customers directly and

trained 111 front line staff. Over the year, 1900 vulnerable customers

were supported. It is important to reach all consumers. Last week the

honourable gentleman the member for Lichfield and up to having brought a

hedgehog into the chamber some years ago, I am pleased to say not during

my tenure! With all the reference to to price comparison websites, I'm

glad no-one has thought it necessary to bring a meerkat into the chamber!

Jessica Morden! Secretary of State. The Government agrees with the

Competition and Markets Authority that consumers on prepay meters are

getting a poor deal and supporting such consumers was at the heart of

the decision to support the CMA investigation in the first place.

The honourable member may have seen the estimate by Citizens Advice that

23% of households in her constituency have prepayment meters,

above the national average of 16%. It is important we take on board the

CMA recommendations after their report is published. In Wales, a

staggering one fifth of households are on prepayment meters, paying up

to ?330 per year more for gas and electricity than those on the

cheapest tariff, so it is important for Wales and those 700 households

in my constituency that we know which of the recommendations the

Government is working on the CMA with and when constituents will

start to see the benefit, can the Minister be specific? Well, Mr

Speaker, I say to the honourable lady, we don't yet have the specific

recommendations, but she will be aware, as I am, that what we have

had proposed so far in the draft recommendations as a safeguard

tariff for those people on prepayment meters. It is not clear

yet whether that will be temporary or long-term, but we will look

carefully at the recommendations of the CMA in order to get the best

outcome for the most vulnerable customers, which I know is a desire

she shares as well. Can I push the Secretary of State on that once more

if possible? There are four million households still languishing on

rip-off prepayment meters who would really like more detail from the

Secretary of State on this, considering that your energy

efficiency policies and your fuel poverty strategy is in tatters, I

think they would like more detail on the timetable and when this will

happen. Well, it is typical of the party of the said that they are not

able to understand the concept of the CMA, who are preparing this

report. It is up to them to come forward with the final

recommendations, and it is their recommendations that we will be

following. I must take issue too with the honourable gentleman's

reference to tatters. This Government is committed to helping

the most vulnerable, we are proud of the work we are doing to reforming

our various schemes in order to support the most vulnerable,

something we will continue to do in order to make sure that this side of

the house always supports the people most in need. Can I just press the

Secretary of State a little further? In my constituency of Heywood and

Middleton, we are in the top 54 numbers of households with

prepayment meters. My constituents are being ripped off, what can the

Secretary of State tell me that I can tell my constituents about how

long they will continue to be ripped off by prepayment meters? The

honourable lady, I am sure, has looked at the CMA report. They have

got this proposal for a safeguard tariff, we welcome that, one of the

key reasons why we were keen to work to propose this view by the CMA. We

are expecting them to come forward with the final report soon, and when

they do so, we will then act on their recommendations. I hope it

will deliver what we hope it will, as she does, support for those

people on prepayment meters, often the most vulnerable.

Question number nine. We have had extensive correspondence with the

Speaker and the Government will publish the decisions about the

contract for all this established technologies, including the strike

prices. We will take all steps needed to deliver this auction,

including submitting any necessary notifications to the European

Commission. Thank you. I am grateful for that answer. The Minister will

now that the application for the island strike price has been ready

since the New Year. The continuing failure to us admit it is causing

enormous uncertainty and a massive loss to confidence amongst renewable

energy generators in the Northern and Western Isles. Will she agree to

meet with near the honourable gentleman from the constituency,

along with developers, to discuss and understand how serious this is

for our industry and our islands? The right honourable gentleman and

the chair of the Energy and Climate Change select committee met with

officials recently to discuss these issues. I assured him that my

officials also have met with several representatives of the renewables

industry, specifically to discuss them in Island wind. I will

certainly be happy to meet again with the remote islands to discuss

our decisions once we have taken them. Thank you. Does the Minister

not agree that the very fact we have to go begging the European Union

before we can help our own fellow citizens in this country, not amply

demonstrates the reason why we would be better off, and those citizens

would be better off, if we left the European Union and took charge of

our own controls and were able to decide for ourselves how we spend

taxpayers money in this country? Minister. As an energy minister, I

can say that the Governor position is the UK should remain within a

reformed European Union. -- the Government position. Question number

ten. Yes, Mr Speaker. We are among the

first developed countries to be consulting on phasing out cold. It

is vital for our decarbonisation that we move away from the dirtiest

fossil fuels. -- coal. Consultation is important to ensure energy

security. The consultation will begin in the near future. I am

grateful to the Minister for her response. There are still many

people in the UK and Wales and indeed in my constituency, working

in or connected with the coal industry. What assurances can be

Minister provided that the consultation will be properly

thought through and take time to explore the issues thoroughly? So as

not to leave people unduly concerned for their livelihoods. Of course,

she is exactly right to speak out for her community. And that is

precisely why we're doing the consultation. We want to take all of

the factors account. And I am sure she and members opposite with agree

that it is right we move away from the dirtiest fossil fuels overtime

but in a measured way, taking into full account the impact on local

communities and what other opportunities there are four them

and I can totally sure we will be very carefully consulting. We would

reach the question for the honourable lady but if she feels an

irresistible urge to come in on this question instead, she can do so.

Thank you. It called for -- eight coal-fired power station in my

constituency will recently close. Will an application for a new gas

power station be dealt with in a timely manner to help create future

job opportunities for highly skilled workforce who work at the plant? I

would really like to congratulate her for all the work she has done on

this. It is an incredibly important constituency issue and I met with

her and a number of other colleagues recently to talk about the

possibility of closing coal-fired power stations comment becoming new

CCG tees. And I welcome her and encourage her efforts to see if she

can support that to happen. I have already said to her that I will have

a LG to ask them what more, if anything, can be done, to make it

easier for planning permission for a new gas-fired power station. We are

holding a consultation for those making that transition. So they can

understand better the processes. Question number 11. The renewable

heat incentive is the world's first long-term financial support

programme for renewable heat. It is essential to Everest to deliver

renewable energy to consumers and businesses. In March, my Department

launched a consultation, and a central aim of this reform is

insuring the scheme offers value for money and allows a transition to

cleaner heating technologies in a manner affordable to the UK. I

recognise the importance of supporting the biomass industry.

What assurances can you give to me and small businesses and biomass

companies in my constituency? The Government is providing support for

small and medium-sized biomass companies, through a range of

incentives, ranging from the renewables obligation, and indeed

the renewable heat incentive. We spent biomass to play an important

role in industrial processes. There are fewer alternatives for lower

carbon technologies and we want to ensure we bring forward deployment

in these areas. The consultation that the Secretary of State

mentioned reveals an intention to provide renewable heat and that is

9% of the UK's heat requirements but less than the original 2020

renewable heat target. How does the Secretary of State attends to meet

that target, given shortages? It is more about the numbers of Houses are

businesses that you support for the renewable incentive and not always

about the pure cost. It is not necessarily about the league table

of costs but rather about the outcome is that we get at the other

end. We are consulting on the renewable heat incentive to ensure

we deliver the best value for the taxpayer. We are committed to making

sure we use this money in the most cost-effective way. The Secretary of

State did not address the question of the relationship of the renewable

heat incentive proposals finances to the UK's contribution to the use

renewable target of 12%, by 2020. As mentioned, we are still short of

that kind. Is she confident that the measures and finances she suggests

in the new proposals will enable us to reach that target? Or is she

actively considering other measures to ensure that we do? The honourable

gentleman will be aware that the renewable target for 2020 covers

tilting, heat, transport and electricity. The renewable heat

incentive is a key part of it. That is why we have had the consultation.

We will now examine those answers. In order to make sure we direct the

funds we have in the most effective way. We recognise that it, although

we have made good progress, there is more work to do in reaching the

target, but we believe we have sufficient policies at the moment to

address the need. But we will look at what else can be done,

particularly in buildings and transport, to make more progress

from the halfway mark that we have met so far. In the first quarter of

our new more at sustainable cost control regime, six out of 11

deployment caps were reached, including the two largest of the

four solar caps. Take-up of domestic solar photovoltaic systems is strong

but was still within the cap. We do estimate that it will support over a

new solar PV installations on domestic scale by 2019. Domestic

solar installers in my constituency support report that demand has

plummeted and are down 80% on last year. Will the Minister acknowledged

that they to law and that the disastrous broach this Government is

taking to solar energy is effectively stopping individuals who

want to make a contribution to comment on climate change in their

own homes, by installing solar panels, from doing so? No, I don't

recognise what she is saying. The solar deployment is amazing. Far in

excess of all of our expectations. 99% of solar installations have

taken place since 2010, so, under this Government and the previous

one, not under the opposition Government, it has been a huge

success story. And our subsidy regime takes into account the

interest for the consumer, who has to pay at, and the developer, who is

continuing to build. Some caps have been met and others are performing

strongly. Number 14. We launched a consultation in March, with

proposals for reform to the renewable heat incentive. It closed

22nd of April. It includes a proposal to withdraw our HSI support

for solar thermal technologies. We are looking carefully at responses.

I assure the honourable gentleman that in coming to conclusions, we

will address all relevant factors, including the impact on the UK

supply chain. The Minister accept that solar thermal has the lowest

CO2 footprint of all heating technologies? There are no ongoing

fuel commitments and low space requirements. It is ideal for homes

of vulnerable people because there is no requirement for it to be

heavily insulated. By the Government proposing cutting support for solar

thermal? I agree that it plays a part but as part of the reform of

the RHI, we are trying to ensure the budget offers the best value for

money full stop solar thermal does require the highest subsidy from

Government of all RHI technologies. The evidence suggests 50% of RHI

respondents said they would have installed it even without Government

subsidy. So, we do need to look at the balance between keeping the cost

down for the bill payer and supporting these technologies.

Number 15. With permission, I will take this with question 19. The

Government is taking steps to build on our proud history of energy

innovation and is more than doubling our innovation budget over the next

five years to a total of 500 million. We can continue to is where

the development of clean, cheap and reliable technologies and the growth

of green research and development across the UK. The honourable

members not here. I don't know what happened to him. Thank you for that

reply. With the new Grampian offshore wind farm being based in

the enterprising in New Haven, and with the recent opening of a college

in New Haven, Dougie said the state agreed that New Haven town has the

potential for being a hub for research and development and could

she outline how the Government might support that going for? I welcome

the activity under way in my honourable friend's constituency and

will of course consider opportunities to support research,

development and demonstration, across the UK, as we develop our

ovation programme. I would encourage her to speak directly to low carbon

energy funding bodies, who stand ready to support innovation in the

technologies we will need in our future. I really welcome the

Government of the UTC, which has, amongst other companies, the college

has partnered with, EDF Energy, and has focused on green engineering. I

think there is an opportunity there for New Haven. Thank you. The

Government's emissions reduction plan has been promised by the end of

the year. The Secretary of State has said it will address the 10%

shortfall for the carbon budget set in 2011. Section 14 of the Climate

Change Act stipulates that the Government must lay before

Parliament a report setting out how it will meet each carbon budget as

soon as is reasonably practicable after setting it. After five years,

the Secretary of State consider she is now in breach of the Act? Or does

she have an unusually elastic definition of the phrase, as soon as

is reasonably practicable? It is always a pleasure to receive such a

detailed question. I can reassure him I am fully aware of Section 14

and the sections either side of that. I am clear we will have an

emission reductions planned by the end of the year. And also, that we

have an obligation to come forward with our response to the fifth

carbon budget. It is because we take these matters so seriously, it is

because this is a big, realistic, important challenge for the UK, but

we're not rushing it. Ronnie Cowan! Question 16, Mr

Speaker. My department is currently considering responses to our recent

consultation on reform of the renewable heat incentive. As part of

the consultation, we have engaged with the relevant trade bodies and

industry stakeholders to understand the impact of the proposed reforms,

including specifically the impact on the biomass industry. Currently the

sector directly supports the jobs of 11,500 people and 590 companies

across the UK. With that in mind, cut the minister explained to me the

UK Government's lack of ambition with respect to installation of

biomass boilers which will lead to job losses in the sector? I am aware

of the importance of biomass industry to the honourable

gentleman, to his constituency, and indeed to Scotland overall. This is

why we are consulting, to make sure we are fair with the money that we

have, to make sure we deliver best value for the taxpayer. Small

biomass has a role to play, the budget is travelling by 2021, we are

committed to developing biomass, and we will be coming back with

responses in due course. -- trebling. Question 17, Mr Speaker.

Well, this year the Government has pulled out all the stops to support

the oil and gas sector, including a fiscal package worth 1.3 billion

over five years, ?20 billion for new seismic surveys, and our core policy

of establishing the oil and gas authority, whose job is to maximise

economic recovery from the North Sea. This is a vital UK industry,

and we are totally committed to keeping the UK continental shelf as

an attractive destination for investment, securing hundreds of

thousands of jobs. I thank the Minister for her answer, and I do

appreciate the work that has been done, and while the SNP welcome the

support announced in the Budget, I think your characterisation would

not be one that those were lost their jobs in the north-east would

agree with. It is essential that we listen to those in the industry who

are calling for a strategic review of the fiscal and regulatory regime.

What steps are being taken to review the tax rate and investment

allowance? Well, as I have said, the Treasury have already taken enormous

steps with fiscal policy towards the North Sea, to promote further oil

and gas exploration. They are constantly looking at that. In fact,

it is next week that I a dinner to talk again to the maximising

economic recovery group of operators and investors to try to look at what

more we can do, and the Treasury plays their full part in that. But

we have to be clear that the OGA is already transforming things like

production costs, the level of co-operation between different

operators in the North Sea. This is an incredibly important area. We

have a group which is meeting again next week to discuss what more can

be done. We are literally pulling out all the stops for the North Sea.

Mr Peter Lilley. While sympathising with the constituents of the

honourable member for Livingston who have lost jobs in the North Sea,

would not the best thing for them to be to create new jobs by allowing

fracking in Scotland for the very people with those skills who have

been prevented from the prospect of search jobs by the hypocrisy of the

SNP government in Scotland? Well, I absolutely agree with my honourable

friend. Obviously, it is a matter for the Scottish Government to

decide, but certainly one of the policy options I am looking at in my

department, together with Business, is what all we can do in the energy

space for those who have lost their jobs. For example, an experienced

offshore engineer may well be of the region into work with offshore wind,

for example, or even with nuclear. There are opportunities in the

energy space, and I know that the Scottish Government are looking at

this, and I would be delighted if they wanted to think again about the

importance of shale gas. Topical question. Secretary of State. The

Energy Bill receives Royal assent today, a vital part of the plan to

make sure that families have access to clean, affordable energy, and we

are delivering on a manifesto commitment to end subsidies for

onshore wind. We are supporting the OGA with powers to drive greater

collaboration and productivity in the industry. I would like to thank

the committee, the minister who made this possible, and who went through

the Bill, in such painstaking detail, to deliver it. Evidence from

the universities of Leicester and York show that sick and disabled

people are especially at risk of fuel poverty after the recent social

security cuts from this Government and the previous coalition. Will the

Secretary of State be approaching the Chancellor again to look at

better targeting of the Warm Home Discount funding, especially after

her rebirth just before the budget by him? I thank the honourable lady

for her question and her suggestion, she will be aware that this

Government and this department specifically is refocusing as far as

possible our support to those who are most vulnerable. On the Warm

Home Discount, we have just closed the consultation. We are looking at

the results, but rest assured we will be targeting as far as possible

those were most in need, which is the right thing to do. Thank you, Mr

Speaker. I number of constituents are concerned about fracking in

Dorset what reassurance can the Minister give to me and my

constituents about Environ mental considerations, about issues of

public consultation, letting residents have a say, and also that

it will only be considered inappropriate locations? I can

absolutely ensure my honourable friend that the UK has more than 50

years of safely regulating onshore and offshore oil and gas, and we

have the best regulatory environment in the world. We have the

Environment Agency looking very carefully at any proposals for

hydraulic fracturing, the payoff and safety executive who monitor all the

activity in the area, and local authorities will of course consult

widely with local communities. -- the Health and Safety Executive. I

am desperate for local communities to be given the proper facts, and I

think that is an important part of the job for us and local authorities

to do. Mr Speaker, people across the country will be really quite

concerned by the lack of answer just given by the Minister. They will

also be looking very closely at Ryedale, where North Yorkshire

County Council is set eminently to make a decision about whether

fracking should be given the green light there. Can the Minister tell

us, if the answer is no, Wilshere extend the same courtesy to that

community as she has extended to communities affected by wind farms

and give the people of Ryedale a promise that she will not override

their wishes and impose fracking against their will? Where the

industry for hydraulic fracturing is concerned, safety is absolutely

paramount. If there is any likelihood or chance or any risk or

any of the scare stories that the right are the lady likes to

propagate, if any of those issues were real, this Government would not

be looking at promoting such a vital industry. What I would say to her is

that we provide 40% of our own natural gas. The rest is imported

from overseas. It is vital for our energy security that we continue to

use home-grown resources wherever we can. It is also a massive jobs and

growth opportunity for very many communities in this country, where

climate is desperately needed, and she should take some interest in

that. Minister, you cannot be accused of excluding from her

observations anything that might be in any way at any time to any degree

material. Certainly, Benson, most grateful! Henry Smith. -- certainly

comprehensive. What progress as the Minister made in working with EDF

Energy with regard to the roll-out of smart meters for the benefit of

consumers? I can assure my honourable friend that we are

working closely with all energy suppliers on these aspects of the

roll-out to ensure that the consumer benefits are fully realised. Good

progress has been made so far, with over 3 million meters installed, and

there is evidence that these consumers are already saving energy.

Recent research by British Gas shows that consumers with smart meters

have reduced energy consumption by 3% on average for gas and

electricity. I hope this is a case of third time lucky, I have asked

the housing minister twice this question, and I have notified the

Minister's office of the question, so I hope I will get a reply. What

is the difference in terms of the annual Energy Bill that a family

would have to pay in a zero carbon home as opposed to a home that is

insulated and has the energy efficiency standards that the

Government are proposing? I think that the honourable gentleman is

asking a question which starts from an incorrect premise. In so far as I

am trying to answer his question, bear with me. I think what he's

referring to is the zero carbon proposal that was rejected by the

other place last night, although it was agreed that there would be a

review on going. But the fact is that the problem with zero carbon

homes, as perceived in this bill, was that they added costs to the

house. If you do that, you are ultimately adding that to the house

owner, the bill payer, and the problem was with the allowable

solutions portion is that it would act as a tax on home-builders and

ultimately be no benefit to the home owner. Thank you, Mr Speaker. The

committee for climate change 2015, in its report to Parliament,

recommended that the Government produces an effective policy

framework on aviation carbon dioxide emissions, and part of that plan was

UK emissions 2050 should not be higher than those of 2005. Will my

right honourable friends tell me if her department will work with the

Department for Transport to publish such an important policy before a

decision on a new runway is made? Mr Speaker, my honourable friend has

incorporated quite a few questions in that one question, and what I can

say to her is that the most important element of addressing

airport emissions is to have an international agreement. We do not

want to have a situation where the UK is trying to do something

independently, it is important that it is EU wide and international. We

tried to get it incorporated into the Paris climate change agreement,

but we're working with international partners to make sure we get an

international agreement of this autumn, and I will certainly keep

her updated. Rachael Maskell. I am going to pressure the Minister

further, because one week tomorrow an important decision is being made.

We know that one energy company wants to frack the beautiful

landscape just south of the North Yorkshire Moors national park. 4000

well-informed, over 4000 well-informed local people want to

protect their local community and environment. Who should have the

greatest influence? I say again, the shale industry is vital to the UK's

energy security future, and we absolutely support the idea of local

consultation and local people having their say, but as in all planning

matters, as in all... If the right honourable lady could just stop

chuntering for one minute, every time I try to answer a question, she

just chant as! So the point is, there is a balance between the

absolutely right case that local people should have their say and the

national interest, and that is why there is a very clear local

consultation process, and that is why the people of Ryedale will have

their views taken into account, and the local authority will balance up

those interests. Bob Blackman. What progress is my right honourable

friends made in securing new nuclear power stations and in particular

modular stations of a smaller scale? My honourable friend is right that

new nuclear is an essential part of a new energy system going forward.

We are supporting new nuclear, we are particularly enthusiastic about

small modular reactors, which is why the Chancellor gave us double the

funds for the innovation budget, and we have launched a competition which

we hope will bring forward a great arrangement of different proposals

so that we can take forward a number of them. Mary Creagh. See ABS to me

that 7300 households in Wakefield are paying more than ?400 a year for

gas and electricity than they should be because they are stuck on

prepayment meters. Last month, the CMA recommended a price cap to

protect my constituents from this indefensible overcharging, and this

week we hear that the chief executive of the CMA is to be her

department's new permanent secretary. Can we look forward to

him implementing his own recommendations in the very near

future? Mr Speaker, forgive me for making no

comment about the appointment. I share The Right Honourable laid's

view that prepaid metres need reform. That we need the safeguard

tariff. It is unacceptable that those usually on the lowest income

are stuck on higher tariffs. We will support them to make sure they

deliver on. That Cornwall produces the world's finest China clay. The

industry is facing increases in costs due to the implementation of

the EU tradings scheme. The Government should do all it can to

make sure British industry is not put as a disadvantage because of

energy costs. Would she meet with me to discuss how we can support the

China clay industry? I would be delighted to, he is a strong

champion in his constituency. The ETAS provides a role in levelling

out competitive within the EU to make sure our intensive industries

are protected.ly meet with him to ensure his industry receives a fair

settlement. Thank you, Mr Speaker. The Secretary

of State will be aware of the devastating Super Puma helicopter

crash in Norway less than a fortnight ago, which killed 14

people, including Ian Stuart, from Lawrence Kirk. They have ditched in

the North Sea three times since 2009, citing problems such as

gearbox and oil pump failure. We don't know the cause of the crash on

the 29th. 14 fam will be desperate to know. Will she engage with her

counterparts in Norway to ensure any lessons learnt from their

investigations can be applied to offshore commercial helicopter

flights in the UK? Yes. I think we were all completed devastated to

hear about that. Of course having been on one of those trips to an

offshore rig and seeing the massive focus there is on health and safety

it was doubly tragic. Of course he will be aware that the UK civil

aviation authority have grounded the model involved. We are working

closely with them and with colleagues in Norway to understand

what has happened, so we can make sure this can't happen in the

future. Thank you, Mr Speaker. Does minister

agree with me that historic market towns built for the horse and cart,

like my constituency, cannot cope because they don't have the

infrastructure that is brought along? Well, I think, you know, I

absolutely think that that is one of the factors that any local authority

planning committee will take into account. That is precisely the point

about having the local authority involvement with it and the

community say, because of course local people know best who is --

what is suitable for their area. Nevertheless, you know, the local

planning aspect is one aspect of it. The health and safety and the

environment agency, so a whole safety regulatory environment is

vital this. I can assure her there'll be no compromise on either

safety or on the local communities' views. Mr Speaker, the Secretary of

State will know that we have scientific evidence that the noxious

fumes from diesel engijs is poisoning our children and air. It

is related to the climate change that we have?

I share the honourable gentleman's concerns about pollution and about

air quality. That is why this Government is so

committed to delivering on the Climate Change Act. I think it is

clear that the problem has been also derived from the support for diesel,

which didn't, which basically we were all misled. I hope we can look

carefully at making sure it doesn't happen again, that no defeat devises

are installed.ly work carefully with the Department of Transport to make

sure we can deliver on. That Thank you, Mr Speaker. The Secretary of

State will be aware of the continuing speculation around the

Hinckley C project. Will she assure me the Government will bear in mind

it can create 25,000 jobs in the south west, the types of jobs this

economy needs? I thank my friend for that question and the opportunity to

say how much this Government supports the Hinckley project. We

expect this project to go ahead and that it will deliver the much-needed

clean, secure, affordable energy. This Government is focus ond a new

nuclear programme, not just Hinkley Point but other new nuclear as well.

We, on this side are doing what the other side of the House disally

failed to do for 13 years, which is to deliver on infrastructure to the

benefit of