:00:00. > :00:09.her ministerial team. First question concerns Britain's reaching of its
:00:10. > :00:18.renewable targets. Order. Qtestions to the Secretary of State for Energy
:00:19. > :00:22.and Climate Change. Number one. I will answer this question whth
:00:23. > :00:28.number five. We are making good progress towards our 15% renewable
:00:29. > :00:33.energy target for 2020 and H am confident we will meet the next
:00:34. > :00:38.incident target of 5.4% with provisional figures showing 6.3 of
:00:39. > :00:43.final energy consumption for 20 3 and 2014 came from renewabld
:00:44. > :00:49.sources. The climate change conference is days away. We have
:00:50. > :00:54.learned that the UK will fall significantly short of its renewable
:00:55. > :00:58.energy target. Is the Secretary of State going to Paris to learn about
:00:59. > :01:04.the consequences of her cuts or to apologise to future generathons I
:01:05. > :01:08.am delighted to say that will be plenty of opportunities durhng the
:01:09. > :01:12.session to talk about Paris and I will look forward to doing so but on
:01:13. > :01:17.the question specifically of the renewable targets I repeat, we are
:01:18. > :01:21.making good progress at the moment, there are issues, we are expecting
:01:22. > :01:26.to exceed our interim target. There's more to do and I am
:01:27. > :01:33.delighted to say I am working across government with transport and
:01:34. > :01:37.agriculture to we do. Does she agree that meeting are no balls t`rget
:01:38. > :01:45.should not just prevent cat`strophic climate change? Will she colmit to
:01:46. > :01:50.ensure that projects such as the wind project which benefit from
:01:51. > :01:55.public funding create jobs rather than subsidising private colpanies?
:01:56. > :01:59.I certainly agree that the direction the government is going supporting
:02:00. > :02:04.renewables and meeting our low carbon targets will continud to lead
:02:05. > :02:08.to the growth of the green dconomy. A really important addition to the
:02:09. > :02:16.growth of the economy nationally. The announcement yesterday to phase
:02:17. > :02:20.out coal with gas is equivalent to doubling the amount of renewables we
:02:21. > :02:24.have in our system, possiblx the biggest reduction in carbon ever
:02:25. > :02:28.announced by a Secretary of State. Would she tell me whether she
:02:29. > :02:38.believes any of our EU partners will follow us? I thank him for pointing
:02:39. > :02:41.out the announcement that I made yesterday which shows such strong
:02:42. > :02:46.leadership in reducing carbon emissions in Europe and the world.
:02:47. > :02:51.It is interesting he draws `ttention to asking me about other European
:02:52. > :02:56.countries. I am not sure th`t Maxwell and we are not ones who
:02:57. > :02:59.lecture our European friends but I have had a lot of congratul`tions
:03:00. > :03:06.and comments of a positive nature internationally. Given the
:03:07. > :03:11.increasing global temperatures has been minute, that most of it is
:03:12. > :03:17.actually perfectly natural `nd there has been no increase for 60 years,
:03:18. > :03:20.is it time to reject these renewable targets and concentrate on the
:03:21. > :03:25.manufacturing industries and bring down prices? I always enjoy hearing
:03:26. > :03:32.from them but I do not shard his views. There is a set of yot that is
:03:33. > :03:36.supported by science and it is right we take action. I hope this
:03:37. > :03:39.government can demonstrate we can take action while growing the
:03:40. > :03:47.economy. That is why we are providing such strong leadership.
:03:48. > :03:52.Given the leaked letter which indicated that the purchase of
:03:53. > :03:55.renewables from abroad, would she ensure that the Scottish islands are
:03:56. > :04:03.in the mix and we go there for our renewable energy? He will bd aware
:04:04. > :04:07.that yesterday I also made `n announcement continuing support for
:04:08. > :04:10.offshore wind which includes a potential application for the
:04:11. > :04:14.Highlands and Islands project and I hope that will have been welcomed by
:04:15. > :04:18.him and by other promoters for offshore wind and I look forward to
:04:19. > :04:23.having further conversations because offshore wind has a strong future in
:04:24. > :04:26.this country and one that would drive down prices. Catering is doing
:04:27. > :04:31.more than most in contributhng to the national renewables target with
:04:32. > :04:36.a major wind farm, another one at Rushden and lots of applications
:04:37. > :04:41.being received for solar farms. One of the big issues is the delay in
:04:42. > :04:43.connecting these new farms with the national grid because of thd lack of
:04:44. > :04:50.suitably qualified engineers across the country. What can the ddpartment
:04:51. > :04:54.do with industry to solve this problem? It is good to hear of so
:04:55. > :04:59.much progress of renewable dnergy and has borough and we are working
:05:00. > :05:04.closely with industry to make sure we support the skills and whll
:05:05. > :05:08.continue to do so. That seels to be a difference of opinion between the
:05:09. > :05:11.member for York and the Secretary of State on progress towards otr
:05:12. > :05:18.target. Let us assume the Sdcretary of State is right. Is now not the
:05:19. > :05:22.time if we are making such good progress to stretch ourselvds by
:05:23. > :05:26.going to Paris with tougher targets to incentivise more renewables? I
:05:27. > :05:32.can reassure him we have thd toughest targets in the whole of the
:05:33. > :05:36.world. Tougher, he says, from a sedentary position. We are well
:05:37. > :05:39.admired internationally for our tough targets and for the
:05:40. > :05:43.announcement we made on call yesterday and for the structure we
:05:44. > :05:49.have with carbon budgets, constant monitoring, and I am proud of that
:05:50. > :05:54.and I wish he would be. Progress has been much slower in terms of meeting
:05:55. > :05:57.targets when it comes to he`t. The renewable heat incentive is due to
:05:58. > :06:02.close and we have had no assurances of what will come next. And she
:06:03. > :06:08.Devils assurances there will be continued support for decarbonising
:06:09. > :06:11.the heat sector? He is right. The two areas of renewable energy were
:06:12. > :06:18.magneto make more progress our transport and heat. The heat
:06:19. > :06:21.incentive has been a success helping 50,000 homes. The proposal H have
:06:22. > :06:28.for continuing it is with the Chancellor and we will have to wait
:06:29. > :06:31.until after the spending review Would she agree that subsidhsing
:06:32. > :06:34.progressively unaffordable fossil fuels much of which are produced
:06:35. > :06:39.abroad while cutting of support for renewable energy at home with
:06:40. > :06:41.schemes on the verge of being self-supporting is mitigating
:06:42. > :06:48.against our chances of reaching our targets? It is not one or the other.
:06:49. > :06:52.We intend to make our targets while getting the balance of supporting
:06:53. > :06:56.renewable energy while also having fossil fuels as part of the mix
:06:57. > :07:03.because that is the way we deliver secure, efficient and low-cost
:07:04. > :07:08.electricity nationally. Thotsands of jobs have already gone. Thotsands
:07:09. > :07:12.more are at risk since this government slashed support for
:07:13. > :07:16.renewables. Investors have blocked onshore wind developments, `nd
:07:17. > :07:22.chopping and changing energx policy so often that the CBI says they are
:07:23. > :07:27.deterring potential investors. How many more renewable energy companies
:07:28. > :07:32.must go under? How many mord jobs must be lost before this government
:07:33. > :07:34.will live up to our international commitments endless assault on
:07:35. > :07:39.Britain was my clean energy industries? It is disappointing that
:07:40. > :07:45.she talks about clean-air J and low carbon and feels to mention the
:07:46. > :07:50.announcement yesterday wherd we are the first largely developed country
:07:51. > :07:53.to make an announcement for a date for taking of coal. It is a great
:07:54. > :07:59.achievement and important for our future low carbon emissions. Our
:08:00. > :08:03.plan is for a greener econoly. We are continuing to develop jobs as
:08:04. > :08:12.well support manufacturing `nd industry and I am proud of the
:08:13. > :08:18.direction are taking. Western two. I will answer this with questhon 6.
:08:19. > :08:26.More wholesale gas and electricity costs have contributed to prices
:08:27. > :08:31.falling by ?100 by last year. Average prices averages by 6.5%
:08:32. > :08:35.since the start of the year and all major suppliers have reduced their
:08:36. > :08:39.standard gas tariffs at least once and we expect them to make sure any
:08:40. > :08:43.reductions are passed onto consumers. In order to keep
:08:44. > :08:47.household bills down it is vital that we invest in energy
:08:48. > :08:56.infrastructure and will she agree that the proposed interconndction of
:08:57. > :09:00.a station at an airfield in Gosport connecting it with fair providing a
:09:01. > :09:05.second electricity link between Britain and France is a welcome
:09:06. > :09:11.development? Making a posithve contribution to affordability and is
:09:12. > :09:17.-- sustainability. It can bring important significant benefhts by
:09:18. > :09:22.providing cheaper access to electricity overseas and supporting
:09:23. > :09:27.security of supply. The project she mentions are long with others is
:09:28. > :09:30.progressing through Ofgem's regulatory scheme designed to bring
:09:31. > :09:36.forward investment in the consumer interest. Rising wholesale dnergy
:09:37. > :09:42.prices have a particular impact on the elderly with air estimated
:09:43. > :09:45.540,000 older households in fuel poverty in recent years. A large
:09:46. > :09:50.number of elderly people ard prevented from switching to cheaper
:09:51. > :09:52.tariffs which can maybe phone through online comparison shtes
:09:53. > :09:57.because they might do not h`ve access to the internet. What is she
:09:58. > :10:05.doing to ensure that the major energy suppliers are making it
:10:06. > :10:09.cheaper tariffs and accessible? Switching is an important w`y to
:10:10. > :10:12.save money to reduce costs `nd there is huge choice available online but
:10:13. > :10:18.for the ball who are not online there is a problem and that is why
:10:19. > :10:20.my department has funded thd big energy-saving network which provides
:10:21. > :10:25.funding for face-to-face advice targeting the most probable in
:10:26. > :10:30.society to help them through the switching process and ensurd they
:10:31. > :10:33.can access the cheapest tarhffs Household bills will never be
:10:34. > :10:36.manageable until the governlent understands it is not just the
:10:37. > :10:42.wholesale unit plays that m`tters but the number of units each
:10:43. > :10:45.household needs to buy. We can make massive bill reductions with energy
:10:46. > :10:49.efficiency and end the scandal of so many British children going to bed
:10:50. > :10:55.in cold homes but we have to do this. We have been -- you h`ve been
:10:56. > :11:01.promising action for years. Your record is abysmal. Let us do this
:11:02. > :11:04.for Britain. I do not agree with his conclusion but I share his view that
:11:05. > :11:09.energy efficiency is air important way of saving money and helping
:11:10. > :11:13.householders. When of the ilportant ways of doing that will be through
:11:14. > :11:17.smart meters. Once people c`n access and see how much energy thex are
:11:18. > :11:21.using they will be able to tse less of it and we are proud of the
:11:22. > :11:34.roll-out and expect every household and business to have won by 202 .
:11:35. > :11:42.Ever mindful of the age-grotp of those who live in Park homes 55
:11:43. > :11:48.upwards, to perhaps 80. You could reduce their prices. I thank the
:11:49. > :11:53.honourable gentleman for his question. We addressed issuds
:11:54. > :11:58.relating to park homes in the fuel poverty targets in the coalhtion. I
:11:59. > :12:01.agree that more needs to be done. It is particularly difficult when there
:12:02. > :12:15.are Park homes without electric beaters. Those with metres `re able
:12:16. > :12:19.to... I will review that information. I will answer this
:12:20. > :12:24.question, and number nine and 1 together. Even with the acthons we
:12:25. > :12:28.are taking to control framework costs and protect the consuler will
:12:29. > :12:36.remain on track to deliver 30% of our electricity from a nobld sources
:12:37. > :12:39.by 2020. Read held assessments - detailed assessments were ptblished
:12:40. > :12:44.alongside each of the measures as they were announced. Could ly
:12:45. > :12:48.honourable friend confirmed that it shows that this Government remains
:12:49. > :12:53.committed to renewable energy whilst being tough on the cost of subsidy.
:12:54. > :12:59.The honourable gentleman is absolutely right, focused on the
:13:00. > :13:03.levee control framework which was my approach as soon as we came into
:13:04. > :13:06.Government and I was shocked to find the scale of the overspend `nd have
:13:07. > :13:16.responded to keep consumer bills under control. Many of my
:13:17. > :13:20.constituents want to see thhs continue. Will the Minister ensure
:13:21. > :13:25.that clean energy is supported and solar energy generators large and
:13:26. > :13:31.small in my not harmed by the future changes. I can assure Mike
:13:32. > :13:38.honourable friend that we are committed to clean energy. ,- my
:13:39. > :13:42.honourable friend. Our support has driven down costs of renewable
:13:43. > :13:54.energy significantly and le`d to greater than anticipated levels of
:13:55. > :14:00.deployment. Can I warmly welcome their ambition to reach zero
:14:01. > :14:05.subsidy. If we eliminated stbsidies to concentrate on domestic `nd small
:14:06. > :14:12.scale, we could achieve the target, protect jobs, reach zero subsidy
:14:13. > :14:16.earlier than 2020? I thank ly honourable friend for his qtestion
:14:17. > :14:20.and I share his enthusiasm for reaching parity and support for
:14:21. > :14:26.solar power in general. It has been a great British success story. Costs
:14:27. > :14:30.have come down and delivery exceeded expectation. We are doing a
:14:31. > :14:34.consultation which has now closed after receiving responses and I will
:14:35. > :14:39.report back and take his suggestions under advise on. Will she now have a
:14:40. > :14:43.go at and syringa question `bout how many more thousands of jobs will be
:14:44. > :14:48.lost in the renewable energx sector as a result of the governments
:14:49. > :14:55.decision to pull the plug on solar and onshore wind? How does she
:14:56. > :14:59.respond the comments of the UN chief environment scientist saying that
:15:00. > :15:02.Britain was sending a worryhng signal by shifting away frol clean
:15:03. > :15:07.energy as the rest of the world is moving towards it. Once mord a
:15:08. > :15:11.comment from the honourable gentleman which fails to mention the
:15:12. > :15:18.fact that we have put a datd on the end of coal. I have been receiving
:15:19. > :15:21.huge amounts of congratulathons from international commentators `nd it is
:15:22. > :15:24.a different situation to thd one that he tries to paint. This
:15:25. > :15:29.Government is committed to growing the renewable industry and will
:15:30. > :15:39.continue to support it incltding job creation. Progress within rdnewable
:15:40. > :15:45.electricity generation has been put in jeopardy, particularly whthin
:15:46. > :15:53.rural communities with the dnding of the rocks of obligations and in that
:15:54. > :15:57.respect I referred to wind turbines for the generation of electricity.
:15:58. > :16:02.Cut the Secretary of State provide a response to bring hope to those
:16:03. > :16:06.within the rural community? I thank the honourable lady for her question
:16:07. > :16:10.and she will be aware that this is an option that Northern Ireland can
:16:11. > :16:16.itself take forward in terms of funding. We made the decision which
:16:17. > :16:19.was set out in our manifesto to provide no additional support going
:16:20. > :16:26.forward for onshore wind and we will stick to that. Onshore wind is
:16:27. > :16:32.demonstrably the cheapest form of renewable energy. The market has
:16:33. > :16:35.been constrained, the subsidy free commitment from the Governmdnt in
:16:36. > :16:41.their manifesto is clearly being implemented. Would you support the
:16:42. > :16:47.concept of subsidy free onshore wind and if so, does she agree whth the
:16:48. > :16:51.climate change committee's assessment of what that constitutes?
:16:52. > :16:57.That is an interesting question I said last time that we will continue
:16:58. > :17:02.to look at that. We have sahd that it is no new subsidy and also must
:17:03. > :17:05.be supported by the local community. We are happy doing gauge with
:17:06. > :17:13.developers do have the disctssions if they have a proposal. -- happy to
:17:14. > :17:16.engage. Renewables are vital to my constituency and it is encotraging
:17:17. > :17:21.that after yesterday's annotncement is that one of the big investors
:17:22. > :17:28.welcomed the announcement. Ht is important to develop the system to
:17:29. > :17:33.maximise benefits. Can my rhght honourable friend that she will do
:17:34. > :17:36.all she can to achieve that? I thank the honourable friend for the
:17:37. > :17:44.comment and he is right that I did also receive a comment from Dong
:17:45. > :17:50.Energy. They are big investors. The UK is rightly proud of its offshore
:17:51. > :17:53.wind sector and we have mord than the rest of the world put together.
:17:54. > :18:02.We have great export potenthal and we will continue to is a port it. --
:18:03. > :18:11.continued to support. I applaud the announcement that coal will be
:18:12. > :18:17.phased out. By 2025. In the same is beach she indicated that telp is
:18:18. > :18:21.subsidies to assist the deployment of the lowest carbon renewables will
:18:22. > :18:26.come to an end whilst permanent subsidies for deployment of higher
:18:27. > :18:29.carbon gas would be maintained. On reflection does the Secretary of
:18:30. > :18:33.State find these positions contradictory? I thank the
:18:34. > :18:38.honourable gentleman for his question and congratulate hhm on his
:18:39. > :18:41.new role. I would like to s`y that the position we are taking hs that
:18:42. > :18:47.subsidies are supposed to bd temporary. That is our plan and that
:18:48. > :18:51.is why I set out yesterday `t plan for moving the subsidy that we will
:18:52. > :18:56.be giving for offshore wind down. I'm happy to say that the industry
:18:57. > :19:01.is happy to engage with us on that basis, we will be setting c`ps with
:19:02. > :19:07.them and delivering offshord wind I hope at a lower price than before.
:19:08. > :19:11.In terms of other subsidies, we are making sure that we deliver a
:19:12. > :19:15.balance. There has been a woeful underinvestment in infrastrtcture
:19:16. > :19:18.over the past decade. Under Labour there was no nuclear power station
:19:19. > :19:28.commissioned and I think th`t was a disgrace. We will move forw`rd with
:19:29. > :19:35.a secure supply of electrichty. With permission, I will answer qtestions
:19:36. > :19:43.six and 18 together. From 2013 to the end of August this year the
:19:44. > :19:47.energy company obligation installed 887,000 energy efficiency mdasures
:19:48. > :19:50.in over 700,000 low-income households or in deprived areas We
:19:51. > :19:58.are clear that support should be for those in greatest need. I thank the
:19:59. > :20:03.Minister for her answer but over recent years the installations of
:20:04. > :20:07.energy efficiency measures gives me no confidence that the Government is
:20:08. > :20:12.taking fuel poverty seriously. Research by the Association for fuel
:20:13. > :20:22.energy shows that energy efficiency measures dropped by 65% between
:20:23. > :20:29.2012-13 and 2014-15, so will the Minister tell me what steps she is
:20:30. > :20:37.taking to reverse these trends? Well, we are proud of the
:20:38. > :20:40.achievement of over 887,000 measures on energy efficiency and as my right
:20:41. > :20:47.honourable friend said yestdrday in this beach we will be redirdcting
:20:48. > :20:51.our budget for eco-in the coming years towards those suffering the
:20:52. > :20:59.worst impacts of living in cold damp or draughty homes. With the
:21:00. > :21:04.withdrawal of funding by thd Greendale finance company it is
:21:05. > :21:07.harder for overstretched falilies to afford energy efficiency schemes.
:21:08. > :21:10.With poor quality housing stock after leaving families in ftel
:21:11. > :21:16.poverty, what funding does the Minister plan to introduce to help
:21:17. > :21:20.families save money on their increasingly unaffordable energy
:21:21. > :21:25.bills? Well, what I would s`y to the honourable lady is that the
:21:26. > :21:29.Greendale plan was actually a small percentage and the reason it was
:21:30. > :21:32.closed to new entrance is precisely because it had not had the take up
:21:33. > :21:40.we were hoping for. In fact what I can tell her is that 96% ard
:21:41. > :21:47.delivered through Eco and wd have put in a bid to focus our Eco even
:21:48. > :21:52.more on the fuel poor which is our priority. Let's get to the crux of
:21:53. > :21:57.this, the stated goal of thd department is that as many fuel poor
:21:58. > :22:11.homes as is practicable will be rated at least C by 2030. This was
:22:12. > :22:16.achieved for only 70,000 hotseholds needing 90% to be improved. At this
:22:17. > :22:23.rate the Department will miss its target by 100 years? Well, H don't
:22:24. > :22:31.agree with that, the key pohnt here is that there are an enormots number
:22:32. > :22:34.of homes who do not reach the band C efficiency level at present and what
:22:35. > :22:39.we are determined to do is hmprove that as far as we possibly can and
:22:40. > :22:43.that is why my honourable friend announced yesterday we will focus
:22:44. > :22:53.our energy efficiency and ftel poverty budget towards the lost
:22:54. > :22:57.needy and that is vital. Thd Government supports the view that
:22:58. > :23:01.the Paris agreement should set out a long-term direction on adaptation
:23:02. > :23:10.for all countries. In 2014 only 16% of climate finance, and we need to
:23:11. > :23:14.do more and that is why the Prime Minister reaffirms the UK commitment
:23:15. > :23:21.to spend 50% of our climate finance on adaptation. Many constittents
:23:22. > :23:24.have contacted me following a campaign by ActionAid about the
:23:25. > :23:28.effects of climate change now in developing countries such as
:23:29. > :23:33.Bangladesh where there is flooding which particularly affects women and
:23:34. > :23:36.children. Will the Secretarx of State support a specific binding
:23:37. > :23:39.goal to ensure that the wealthiest countries support developing
:23:40. > :23:45.countries with adapting to climate change? I thank the honourable
:23:46. > :23:49.gentleman for his follow-up question and I can absolutely reassure him
:23:50. > :23:53.that this Government is comlitted to getting a deal in Paris and we are
:23:54. > :23:57.aware that the deal will repuire considerable financing which is why
:23:58. > :24:02.the Prime Minister made an announcement to increase our
:24:03. > :24:04.commitment for climate finance to up to $9 billion over this fivd-year
:24:05. > :24:09.spending period which is a significant increase. We relain
:24:10. > :24:12.committed to making adaptathon an important part of that but we are
:24:13. > :24:20.not yet in a position to colmit the rest of the world in terms of a
:24:21. > :24:24.final deal. The Paris accord aims to replicate the successful method of
:24:25. > :24:27.the UK climate act, a long-term goals specified under a leg`lly
:24:28. > :24:33.binding agreement that achidves stability through a series of
:24:34. > :24:35.five-year reviews. Now that she has abandoned long-term targets,
:24:36. > :24:41.destroyed the stability of the investment framework, and hdr own
:24:42. > :24:45.department 's emissions calculator last night showed that after her
:24:46. > :24:51.reset speech, the shortfall against the fourth carbon budget has now
:24:52. > :24:58.increased by 54 million tonnes of CO2. 10% away from the legally
:24:59. > :25:05.binding fourth carbon budget. Will the Secretary of State now feel more
:25:06. > :25:10.shame slowing her face in the City of Paris or London? I find the
:25:11. > :25:15.question disappointing. The fact is that the UK is rightly proud of our
:25:16. > :25:21.climate change act, of the targets we are making, and the aims we are
:25:22. > :25:25.setting for ourselves. We provide leadership in Paris. The amount of
:25:26. > :25:30.texts and notes I received xesterday after creating this strong sign on
:25:31. > :25:35.Cole was remarkable. I would urge him to stop knocking the Unhted
:25:36. > :25:42.Kingdom's Wiggo shaking poshtion and start supporting us in leadhng in
:25:43. > :25:49.getting a global deal. -- the UK's climate change position. A
:25:50. > :25:55.ministerial colleague in de`th threat leads the Government agenda
:25:56. > :25:59.overall and my department ndeds work to cut carbon emissions. Essential
:26:00. > :26:00.for protecting future gener`tions. Working across departments hs
:26:01. > :26:10.essential. We are creating jobs through our
:26:11. > :26:13.joint work with the Departmdnt for Communities and Local Government on
:26:14. > :26:17.energy efficiency and with the Department for Transport on lower
:26:18. > :26:26.emissions vehicles. I thank her for that reply. To take her awax from
:26:27. > :26:34.the UK, one of the last reftges for June and Marlon, could she tpdate me
:26:35. > :26:40.with progress on creating a marine conservation zone on these hslands
:26:41. > :26:46.and other overseas territorhes? I thank him for his important
:26:47. > :26:49.question. We are working with overseas territories on thehr
:26:50. > :26:53.current marine management arrangements in order to widen them
:26:54. > :26:56.and provide support in addrdssing gaps and we are working with the
:26:57. > :27:03.government to balance their ambition for a sustainable fishery whth the
:27:04. > :27:09.development of an MPA. She lay know that Cambridge City Council had to
:27:10. > :27:13.camp, cancelled plans to put solar panels on 1000 homes after her
:27:14. > :27:15.changes in policy. Can she tell us what discussions she had with
:27:16. > :27:24.colleagues ahead of her abrtpt policy changes? I thank him for his
:27:25. > :27:28.question. We always work across government and ensure that dverybody
:27:29. > :27:34.is consulted on any major changes. On that particular issue of solar on
:27:35. > :27:37.public houses we are going to form part of the consultation and I will
:27:38. > :27:50.be making further announcemdnts in December. Which she agreed the city
:27:51. > :27:54.region deal this week, -- a city region deal was agreed this week. It
:27:55. > :28:01.was said it was being pushed back. Is this true. I am happy to write to
:28:02. > :28:17.him further when I have an `nd serve. Number 10. He will bd aware
:28:18. > :28:22.that the government is commhtted to an expansion in new nuclear power
:28:23. > :28:27.Richard vital as part of our work to provide a vital and safe reliable
:28:28. > :28:31.energy for the future. Industry are taking forward proposals to build
:28:32. > :28:37.six new nuclear power plants and we are in regular contact with them.
:28:38. > :28:40.Following the recent welcomd announcement that China will be
:28:41. > :28:44.involved in the provision of new nuclear will she reassure the House
:28:45. > :28:49.and my constituents that all proper safety and security measures will be
:28:50. > :28:55.taken and a robust mechanisl for monitoring such will be in place?
:28:56. > :28:59.Yes, I can absolutely reasstred him. Safety in our nuclear plants is of
:29:00. > :29:05.paramount importance. Any operator of a UK nuclear plant must leet
:29:06. > :29:10.stringent security regulations which are enforced by an independdnt
:29:11. > :29:15.regulator and these provide a range of controls including safe
:29:16. > :29:17.operation, consumer protecthon, security of UK supply and
:29:18. > :29:23.enforcement of contractual obligations. I wish that thd
:29:24. > :29:28.government would apply its horror of subsidies to the nuclear sector as
:29:29. > :29:32.well. Her response to the departmental minute on Hinckley
:29:33. > :29:45.fails to address concerns that rather than the ?19 million bill it
:29:46. > :29:49.may face a much higher bill for another nuclear power station. But
:29:50. > :29:52.she agree there must be a ftll comments the eighth on this issue
:29:53. > :30:00.and an independent examinathon of costs before proceeding? Shd can of
:30:01. > :30:08.course use the normal methods for encouraging a debate. They have been
:30:09. > :30:13.many already. Hinkley point offers low carbon affordable energx that is
:30:14. > :30:17.highly cost competitive with clean energy sources but it is baseload
:30:18. > :30:22.and what the UK bill peer whll not have to do is pay a penny until it
:30:23. > :30:30.is actually generating and that is very good value for the UK consumer.
:30:31. > :30:33.Thank you and congratulations to the Secretary of State for her lasterly
:30:34. > :30:41.speech yesterday. Would she agree that we need a mix of energx which
:30:42. > :30:47.includes no clear? I am ple`sed to say we have some in my area. We also
:30:48. > :30:52.need solar and wind but it has to be a balance, it has to be abott
:30:53. > :30:58.innovation and cost. And thhs will create all of those jobs thd members
:30:59. > :31:05.are so worried we are losing in the energy sector. Yes. She is right. We
:31:06. > :31:07.need an energy mix and that is exactly what we are achieving and
:31:08. > :31:14.what she set out in her spedch yesterday. I visited Hinckldy last
:31:15. > :31:19.week and so the enormous prhde and excitement there is in that area
:31:20. > :31:23.about the prospective jobs, work for the supply chain, the fact there is
:31:24. > :31:28.going to be a huge investment in that area is really good news for
:31:29. > :31:33.the UK and our energy securhty. Could she remind the House what the
:31:34. > :31:39.government is spending on ntclear decommissioning and explain why this
:31:40. > :31:46.is the one sector to whom the market discipline does not seem to apply?
:31:47. > :31:51.She will be aware that the TK has an enormous nuclear legacy dathng back
:31:52. > :31:55.to the 1940s and 1950s and there is an enormous amount of work going on
:31:56. > :32:00.at Sellafield and other sitds to ensure we safely dispose of that
:32:01. > :32:06.nuclear waste. The budget is extremely large. In the reghon of ?3
:32:07. > :32:11.billion a year. That money hs being spent to ensure that we can safely
:32:12. > :32:16.deal with a very long legacx that has been going for a very long
:32:17. > :32:21.period of time. New nuclear creates far less waste and it is our plan to
:32:22. > :32:28.have a geological disposal facility so there is nothing like th`t to
:32:29. > :32:35.deal with in the future. Nulber 11. I have been working closely with
:32:36. > :32:39.Justine Greening to ensure `n ambitious global deal in Paris
:32:40. > :32:42.tackling climate change and promoting sustainable development,
:32:43. > :32:47.two sides of the same coin, you cannot achieve one without the
:32:48. > :32:51.other, you cannot end extrele poverty any other way. The global
:32:52. > :32:56.goals provide a clean framework for sustainable development. With clear
:32:57. > :33:04.environmental goals. It is vital that we produce a binding agreement
:33:05. > :33:09.on tackling climate change hn December and I welcome the Secretary
:33:10. > :33:14.of State's announcement on closing coal fired power stations bx 20 5
:33:15. > :33:18.and I believe it sets a strong example for other countries, but can
:33:19. > :33:28.she go further and state wh`t percent cut in emissions by 203 she
:33:29. > :33:33.is pushing for? We are focused on Paris at the moment. We are working
:33:34. > :33:36.with our EU colleagues and other countries with like-minded @llies to
:33:37. > :33:40.ensure we can bring on the other countries that might be mord
:33:41. > :33:45.reluctant or more difficult to get across the line. We have targets
:33:46. > :33:53.which we have set with our DU colleagues, but at the moment our
:33:54. > :33:57.focus is on Paris. In April 2014 my department
:33:58. > :34:04.published a leaflet encouraging schools to invest in solar PV which
:34:05. > :34:07.was followed up in 2014. We encourage deployment through the
:34:08. > :34:11.financial incentive of the feed in tariff but discussions are `lways
:34:12. > :34:16.going with other government departments on what more can be done
:34:17. > :34:19.to help schools invest in solar Dozens of schools cannot make their
:34:20. > :34:24.contribution on renewal is `nd save thousands of pounds each ye`r
:34:25. > :34:29.because of the Chancellor's rules on borrowing to install solar. One
:34:30. > :34:33.school want to do this and their local MP George Osborne has said I
:34:34. > :34:37.am happy to support you wherever I can but he is awaiting a reply from
:34:38. > :34:45.the Department of Energy and Climate Change. Will the department replied
:34:46. > :34:47.to the local MP so he can m`ke representations to himself `s
:34:48. > :34:53.Chancellor and in these ridhculous rules? I would like to publhcly
:34:54. > :34:58.apologise to the local MP and I shall attend to that today.
:34:59. > :35:03.Restrictions on school borrowing are necessary to protect public sector
:35:04. > :35:07.accounts. It contributes to public sector net debt and borrowing, two
:35:08. > :35:11.important physical measuremdnts that we must control in order to bring
:35:12. > :35:15.down the national deficit and retain economic confidence, so that is why
:35:16. > :35:18.there are no plans to lift restrictions on borrowing at
:35:19. > :35:29.present. She will have lookdd into the matter by lunchtime I al sure.
:35:30. > :35:32.Question 13. We do not belidve further statutory regulation is
:35:33. > :35:36.appropriate for the sector `t this stage but are keeping it under
:35:37. > :35:41.review. We welcome the voluntary protection scheme launching next
:35:42. > :35:45.week which aims to provide customers with comparable protections to those
:35:46. > :35:49.available in statute to gas and electricity customers and wd believe
:35:50. > :35:55.when combined with metering and billing rep. Mag regulations it
:35:56. > :36:00.represents a proportionate response. The vast majority of customdrs
:36:01. > :36:03.served by district heating networks believe very strongly that they
:36:04. > :36:09.might do not offer a fair ddal and the industry led solution would do
:36:10. > :36:14.little to allay fears in thhs regard or build consumer confidencd. Can I
:36:15. > :36:16.ask her to revisit the question of whether effective statutory
:36:17. > :36:22.regulation would give custolers a better deal? He raises an ilportant
:36:23. > :36:27.point and I am aware that hdating networks do not have the sale
:36:28. > :36:31.regulatory framework. He trtsted launching on the 25th of November
:36:32. > :36:39.following development and consultation. He has a cert`in
:36:40. > :36:43.doubts about the success of this but we are going to work closelx to
:36:44. > :36:50.monitor its impact and we whll assess east on its record whether
:36:51. > :36:57.further action is needed. Htmber 14. I will answer this and 15 and 1 .
:36:58. > :37:01.During the consultation on the proposed changes to the feed in
:37:02. > :37:06.tariffs we strongly encourage all parts of the small-scale renewables
:37:07. > :37:11.sector to provide evidence `s to the likely impact. The actual ilpact on
:37:12. > :37:13.solar companies will depend on the options taken forward when the
:37:14. > :37:19.responses to the consultation have been considered. The ministdr will
:37:20. > :37:22.be aware that are thousands of job losses and he with steel,
:37:23. > :37:29.construction and mining shedding people. Even the government is
:37:30. > :37:33.contributing, sacking hundrdds of HMRC employees. Does she want to add
:37:34. > :37:42.thousands more from the sol`r energy industries as a direct result of
:37:43. > :37:49.policies? We are huge supporters of the solar sector. There is ` balance
:37:50. > :37:53.to be had between the enormous success in deployment that dxceeds
:37:54. > :37:59.our expectations and the impact on the bill payer. We have to keep that
:38:00. > :38:03.balance. We have consulted on it and we will be bringing forward a
:38:04. > :38:09.response in due course but ht is our intention absolutely to see the
:38:10. > :38:12.solar sector continue to thrive A number of leading solar comlunity
:38:13. > :38:18.projects and green energy companies are based on my constituencx
:38:19. > :38:21.including one which supplies over 50,000 UK consumers. People working
:38:22. > :38:26.in the industry understand the need for it to be sustainable but feel
:38:27. > :38:30.that a drop of up to 87% in subsidies overnight is more than the
:38:31. > :38:34.industry can go with in terls of local jobs and growth. Will she look
:38:35. > :38:38.for what more can be done to support existing projects and for mdchanisms
:38:39. > :38:44.to keep the solar industry `live until grid parity is reached? I am
:38:45. > :38:50.grateful to her for raising this matter. I can assure her we are
:38:51. > :38:54.looking very carefully. I h`d a round table meeting with thd number
:38:55. > :39:00.of solar firms and heard thdir views. We are looking very carefully
:39:01. > :39:08.at the more than 55,000 responses and will be coming forward with our
:39:09. > :39:12.policy response as soon as we can. One of my constituents and sold
:39:13. > :39:20.solar panels to cut her famhly's household bills. Will she explain to
:39:21. > :39:25.those who want to follow thhs woman's examples why they should win
:39:26. > :39:29.the 98% cut to the feed in tariff makes it no longer attractive to
:39:30. > :39:34.consumers, risks the viabilhty of the domestic solar industry at a
:39:35. > :39:38.time when it is about to become viable without subsidy and
:39:39. > :39:45.completely undermines the solar revolution? Her constituent will be
:39:46. > :39:48.pleased to know that the subsidy from the bill be she has received
:39:49. > :39:54.will continue to be available to her. There has been some confusion
:39:55. > :39:59.on that point. For those who come later, what the proposal in a
:40:00. > :40:03.concentration is that the rdturn to investors will be about 4% `s
:40:04. > :40:07.opposed to what is currentlx significantly higher than that will
:40:08. > :40:13.stop we were required by thd EU to look at the tariffs on a three-year
:40:14. > :40:18.basis. That is what we have done. We have put forward a proposal and are
:40:19. > :40:21.looking at the responses. The government's decisions have had a
:40:22. > :40:25.devastating impact on a manufacturing industry based in the
:40:26. > :40:28.UK which flies in the face of what it says it wants to achieved in
:40:29. > :40:40.terms of creating industrial balance. The government has been
:40:41. > :40:44.found wanting. We have a big and growing energy sector. We are
:40:45. > :40:49.bringing forward policy proposals to develop new sources of energy which
:40:50. > :40:52.is going to mean a whole raft of new jobs, new opportunities for people,
:40:53. > :40:57.but there is always a balance to be had. We cannot permanently subsidise
:40:58. > :41:03.at the expense of the bill payer and many issues have already bedn raised
:41:04. > :41:06.about fuel poverty, in order to permanently subsidise industries,
:41:07. > :41:29.they need to stand on their own two feet. Yesterday I announced plans to
:41:30. > :41:36.close power stations by 2024 and restrict their use by 2023, which is
:41:37. > :41:40.underlining our commitment to cut carbon emissions as cost effectively
:41:41. > :41:45.as possible. Our energy sectrity comes first as we tackle a legacy of
:41:46. > :41:50.underinvestment and build ndw infrastructure fit for the 20th
:41:51. > :41:57.century. We need to replace them with good value for money
:41:58. > :42:03.alternatives. -- 21st-century. Ofgem estimates that the average household
:42:04. > :42:08.could save ?200 a year by shopping around that 62% have never switched
:42:09. > :42:15.and 45% mistakenly believe there is no benefit. My honourable friend has
:42:16. > :42:18.already raised the issue of online access to information, but what else
:42:19. > :42:22.is the Government doing to dncourage people to switch? I thank mx
:42:23. > :42:30.honourable friend for the ilportant question. The more opportunhties we
:42:31. > :42:34.have two raised this the better As I said earlier we have plans to
:42:35. > :42:40.reach out to people who are not online and help the most vulnerable.
:42:41. > :42:45.We also had a campaign calldd the power to switch campaign whhch led
:42:46. > :42:52.to increased numbers switchhng will stop thank you Mr Speaker. ,-
:42:53. > :42:56.switching. I share her sadndss at the events in Paris which shocked
:42:57. > :43:00.the world. As world leaders gather in that same City in a few weeks'
:43:01. > :43:05.time to address the threat posed by climate change, will she ensure we
:43:06. > :43:09.use this opportunity to show real leadership and offer hope to people
:43:10. > :43:12.around the world that the international community can come
:43:13. > :43:18.together to address the comlon threats to our shared securhty
:43:19. > :43:24.through shared goals and increasing our ambition every five years until
:43:25. > :43:27.the job is done. I genuinelx welcome the honourable lady's questhon and
:43:28. > :43:37.I'm proud of the fact that hn the UK we are united in wanting to get an
:43:38. > :43:41.ambitious deal. I also shard her view that what we need is not just
:43:42. > :43:46.the deal, we need a deal th`t has a five-year review as part of that.
:43:47. > :43:51.Whatever the final deal is, and I really hope we will get it hn Paris,
:43:52. > :43:55.we have some way of coming back regularly to reflect on the actual
:43:56. > :44:02.consequences they are having and perhaps new technology available to
:44:03. > :44:06.reduce them. I would like to thank the Secretary of State for that and
:44:07. > :44:09.Sir, particularly the push of five-year reviews. I also wdlcome
:44:10. > :44:15.the agreement that the G7 ldaders reached the phase-out fossil fuel
:44:16. > :44:23.pollution by the end of the century and cut greenhouse gases by 40- 0%
:44:24. > :44:27.by 2050 from 2010 levels. Whll the British Government continue its
:44:28. > :44:29.support for the climate change act and accept advice from the
:44:30. > :44:35.independent committee on clhmate change when it gives advice on what
:44:36. > :44:40.the next round of UK carbon targets should be? I can reassure the
:44:41. > :44:49.honourable lady that we are committed to the climate ch`nge act
:44:50. > :44:55.and working with the climatd change committee to deliver the low carbon
:44:56. > :44:58.future that we want. Given the ongoing conflict in the world
:44:59. > :45:04.particularly Russia's recent action in Ukraine, can my honourable friend
:45:05. > :45:11.say what steps she is taking to further strengthen our national
:45:12. > :45:14.energy security? We do have a date liquid global gas market and we are
:45:15. > :45:21.also trying to bring on our own national gas through shale. I note
:45:22. > :45:26.your concerns and I'm happy to say we get most of our imported gas from
:45:27. > :45:30.Norway. He raises a good pohnt and we will keep it constantly tnder
:45:31. > :45:33.review. According to conversations I have had with a number of energy
:45:34. > :45:42.suppliers they have evidencd suggesting that IHDs are not used by
:45:43. > :45:49.the majority of customers so why is the Government wedded to ushng
:45:50. > :45:54.that? Giving consumers the choice of what engagement helps them to manage
:45:55. > :46:00.energy use? I am happy to assure the gentlemen we are looking at this and
:46:01. > :46:03.we have said that we need a smart metre with visual display btt at the
:46:04. > :46:10.moment we are looking at other ways delivering that. By far and away the
:46:11. > :46:13.dominant zero Carbon technology is nuclear power and I welcome the
:46:14. > :46:18.announcement earlier to say that we're working on six new st`tions in
:46:19. > :46:25.the UK. There is a new emerging technologies of small modul`r
:46:26. > :46:31.reactors, does the Secretarx of State see the UK playing a part in
:46:32. > :46:37.this? I am grateful to my honourable friend for raising this. Thd UK gave
:46:38. > :46:42.up its ability to design and export nuclear reactors some years ago We
:46:43. > :46:44.are certainly at the moment at the forefront of looking at new nuclear
:46:45. > :46:50.technology including small lodular reactors. I met with the nuclear
:46:51. > :46:54.innovation board recently to look at some of the exciting ideas that they
:46:55. > :47:00.have, subject to the spending review, I think we will be hearing
:47:01. > :47:03.more. Community led renewable energy schemes empower communities to
:47:04. > :47:08.tackle fuel poverty and provide jobs so why is the Secretary of State
:47:09. > :47:13.letting the Treasury do a U,turn on the tax relief which will undermine
:47:14. > :47:18.new schemes. Though she support community energy and if so will she
:47:19. > :47:24.update the house on her plans to support this area of the sector I
:47:25. > :47:28.believe they are tremendous value in demonstrating to local commtnities
:47:29. > :47:32.the advantages of renewable energy. We will be looking at houses bought
:47:33. > :47:37.them coming forward and I hope to come back to the House in dte
:47:38. > :47:40.course. I commend the Secretary of State on the power to switch
:47:41. > :47:46.campaign but will she commit to work with friends in the DWP so that the
:47:47. > :47:49.next time the winter fuel p`yment goes out there can be more
:47:50. > :47:55.information about power to switch together with clear details about
:47:56. > :48:01.how to switch by telephone `nd paper? My honourable friend raises
:48:02. > :48:05.an important idea, that we can work more closely with the DWP to make
:48:06. > :48:08.sure that more vulnerable pdople are told about opportunities thdy might
:48:09. > :48:13.be missing and I will take ht up with my right honourable frhend at
:48:14. > :48:16.the Department for Work and Pensions. As the Government moves
:48:17. > :48:22.the green investment bank into private ownership, can therd be
:48:23. > :48:26.reassurance that the Governlent will deliver the full capitalisation that
:48:27. > :48:30.was originally pledged so that they can continue to meaningfullx invest
:48:31. > :48:34.in our green economy? The green investment bank is something we are
:48:35. > :48:40.rightly proud of, the first bank set up by Government in this wax and it
:48:41. > :48:45.has provided a leading role in supporting green energy devdlopment.
:48:46. > :48:50.I'm excited about it raising money and going into the public arena as
:48:51. > :48:52.it were, and I hope it will then provide an opportunity for lore
:48:53. > :48:59.investment going forward. I will have to come back to him with the
:49:00. > :49:03.details on that question. E`rlier this month the Government s`id it
:49:04. > :49:09.was going to negotiate with the European Union about the 5% tax on
:49:10. > :49:12.female sanitary products and I wonder whether my right honourable
:49:13. > :49:17.friend would be prepared to extend that discussion into the issue of 5%
:49:18. > :49:25.VAT on fuel which is an essdntial for most households? Well, H thank
:49:26. > :49:28.my honourable friend for his slightly surprising comment and I
:49:29. > :49:37.will come back to him with further thoughts. Following the Secretary of
:49:38. > :49:43.State's notable speech yestdrday in which he stressed the importance of
:49:44. > :49:50.gas-fired power stations, c`n she tell me what steps she is t`king to
:49:51. > :49:57.progress the production of the gas carbon capture storage programme at
:49:58. > :50:01.Peterhead. The honourable gdntleman will be aware of these ECS
:50:02. > :50:05.competition going ahead and I have had meetings with the assochation
:50:06. > :50:09.promoting that area. We havd the spending review coming up and
:50:10. > :50:13.decisions will then be taken. The UK has been a key is a porter `t CCF is
:50:14. > :50:17.here and in other countries and we have spent a great deal of loney on
:50:18. > :50:19.exploring opportunities for the UK to extend the life of fossil fuels
:50:20. > :50:30.-- oche There is an application to dxpand
:50:31. > :50:35.shale gas exploration in Ryddale, assuming that is successful, what
:50:36. > :50:38.assurances can the Minister after that any expansion will not lead to
:50:39. > :50:45.an industrialisation of this beautiful area? Well, I can
:50:46. > :50:49.absolutely sure my honourable friend that all onshore oil and gas
:50:50. > :50:52.projects including shale gas are subject to scrutiny through the
:50:53. > :50:56.planning system which addresses in at some residents like traffic
:50:57. > :51:00.movement, noise and working hours and that national planning guidance
:51:01. > :51:04.says that in respect of mindrals like shale oil and gas, new
:51:05. > :51:08.developments should not just be appropriate for the location but
:51:09. > :51:14.also take into account the dffects including cumulative effects of
:51:15. > :51:17.pollution on health, the natural environment or general amenhty and
:51:18. > :51:20.the potential sensitivity of the area. I am well aware of wh`t a
:51:21. > :51:27.beautiful area he lives in `nd I assure him we are focused on that.
:51:28. > :51:30.Can I urge the Minister to look carefully at any impact in spending
:51:31. > :51:35.reductions in the nuclear sdctor would have on the supply ch`in in
:51:36. > :51:40.West Cumbria. Will she pressed the Chancellor on the need to stpport
:51:41. > :51:45.our local supply chain throtgh the ongoing decommissioning of
:51:46. > :51:49.Sellafield alongside the nuclear new-build? I'm delighted to tell the
:51:50. > :51:53.honourable lady that there `re huge opportunities coming for West
:51:54. > :51:58.Cumbria from nuclear power. I have been to visit Sellafield and
:51:59. > :52:03.Moorside and there are enorlous opportunities. They are alrdady
:52:04. > :52:07.recruiting. Across the UK wd need to recruit 8000 people a year. Lots of
:52:08. > :52:10.new apprenticeship opportunhties and having met with local counchls they
:52:11. > :52:21.are excited and positive about the opportunity. The present National
:52:22. > :52:33.Grid phase out is ?1 billion in charges... The Government h`s
:52:34. > :52:39.removed renewable subsidies. We have a regulation system that was
:52:40. > :52:46.designed 30 years ago. Is it not time that the Government took a step
:52:47. > :52:52.back, looking forward in terms of energy policy? I would say that that
:52:53. > :52:55.is exactly what I set out ydsterday, a proper forward-looking endrgy
:52:56. > :53:00.policy. This Government is committed not just to delivering secure and
:53:01. > :53:03.affordable energy over the next five years but over the next 20 xears to
:53:04. > :53:09.get the best for businesses and consumers. Gas has always bden
:53:10. > :53:15.acknowledged as a bridge to Aidy carbonised future, but the
:53:16. > :53:19.cumulative effect made yestdrday, can she give the assurance that the
:53:20. > :53:28.bridge has not just lengthened and risks are stranded fleet of gas
:53:29. > :53:32.generators in 25 years? Particularly when some analysis suggests that the
:53:33. > :53:39.fourth carbon budget has now increased from 7-10% on the
:53:40. > :53:43.emissions shortfall? He is right that there is a widening gap in the
:53:44. > :53:46.fourth carbon budget and it's interesting when you look at that
:53:47. > :53:54.that the reason is to do with land use and it is not to do with
:53:55. > :54:01.policies. I am aware of his views on gas and they are really the same as
:54:02. > :54:08.mine, and I hope in the futtre there will be other sources coming
:54:09. > :54:12.forward. Parts of my constituency are heavily dependent on thd import
:54:13. > :54:16.of coal and many jobs rely on that in the port and the rail network.
:54:17. > :54:20.And my honourable friend tell me what assessment her departmdnt has
:54:21. > :54:25.made about the loss of jobs in these associated industries because less
:54:26. > :54:28.coal will be coming in becatse of the power stations closing? I would
:54:29. > :54:34.assure my honourable friend that this is something we intend to do,
:54:35. > :54:39.subject to consultation. We will have the opportunity to look at
:54:40. > :54:43.that. This is ten years hence. There will be plenty of opportunities to
:54:44. > :54:48.make sure that areas can ad`pt and take the benefit of other areas of
:54:49. > :54:53.industries that will be growing up. If the Government are seriots in
:54:54. > :54:58.meeting the targets and emission levels which have been set, instead
:54:59. > :55:03.of announcing the closure of coal-fired power stations ydsterday
:55:04. > :55:06.would it not have been senshble to come forward with a serious attempt
:55:07. > :55:13.for carbon capture and stor`ge which would mean that we can burn fossil
:55:14. > :55:19.fuels with near zero emissions which would provide secure and affordable
:55:20. > :55:25.energy for generations to come? I agree in part which is that we have
:55:26. > :55:30.the opportunity to use fosshl fuels for longer, but the reality with UK
:55:31. > :55:34.coal is that it is extremelx old and all of those plants are due to come
:55:35. > :55:38.off in the next few years and what we would not want to see happening
:55:39. > :55:42.is to build new coal-fired power stations when there is a lower
:55:43. > :55:44.carbon alternative of gas and indeed the whole prospect of a cle`n, low
:55:45. > :55:56.carbon future. Recent analysis shows UK power could
:55:57. > :56:00.be almost 90% renewable by 2030 well electrifying 25% of all heating the
:56:01. > :56:05.man putting 12.7 million eldctric cars on the room, but that would
:56:06. > :56:09.mean cutting the man for sp`ce heating by 50%. She has cle`rly been
:56:10. > :56:13.spending a lot of time with the Chancellor recently, can't xou tell
:56:14. > :56:23.us if treachery efficiency will be an infrastructure priority hn the
:56:24. > :56:26.future? I am aware of the absolute importance of getting heat right,
:56:27. > :56:30.the fact that we need to have new policies in order to our targets of
:56:31. > :56:35.the fact that he'd is an important part of trying to reduce fudl
:56:36. > :56:39.poverty. I do have proposals, some of them with the Chancellor, but
:56:40. > :56:47.they hope to come back and lake announcements due course. Is the
:56:48. > :56:50.energy secretary really protd of the fact that at the beginning of
:56:51. > :56:56.December at the last deep mhne pits in Britain will close under this
:56:57. > :57:02.Tory government? Does she rdally believe that it makes a lot of sense
:57:03. > :57:09.to import 14 million tonnes of coal a year from countries that we don't
:57:10. > :57:16.even trust while at the samd time getting rid of thousands of jobs and
:57:17. > :57:23.other people who have jobs hn the area? It is a scandal. I can say
:57:24. > :57:27.that I agree in part with the honourable gentleman, which is that
:57:28. > :57:31.I don't think it is right or asked to be importing coal from abroad. I
:57:32. > :57:34.don't think it is right for call to have a long-term future in this
:57:35. > :57:40.country, which is why I was pleased your notes yesterday that wd have
:57:41. > :57:48.that final date on call being sourced for electricity for 202 . I
:57:49. > :57:55.am intrigued by the heat policy answer that was given. I don't see
:57:56. > :57:58.how we can meet the targets without substantial government spending
:57:59. > :58:11.Will the Minister promised that that target is sacrosanct? He is right
:58:12. > :58:16.that regulation is another way approach this. It is basically added
:58:17. > :58:20.to through some for the subsidy or legislation. I am going to wait to
:58:21. > :58:28.see how the cards fall answdring the question. The Minister has said in
:58:29. > :58:34.an earlier answer that she wants to see the renewable energy industry be
:58:35. > :58:36.sustainable financially and be commercially successful, but at the
:58:37. > :58:40.same time they have taken the subsidies away that -- at a rate
:58:41. > :58:46.that has damaged the industry. Surely she can see the damage that
:58:47. > :58:52.is being done and the inconsistency of the approach of the government.
:58:53. > :59:00.He will realise that there hs a balance to be had. What we have seen
:59:01. > :59:03.is enormous bill payer of ldad subsidies for onshore wind, solar
:59:04. > :59:06.and other clean carbon technologies and there is a balance. The bill
:59:07. > :59:12.payer cannot be expected to the bill for an unlimited period. Whdre a new
:59:13. > :59:17.tuner is concerned is private investment going into Hinkldy C The
:59:18. > :59:23.taxpayer will not be paying anything until they produce and the cost per
:59:24. > :59:31.megawatt are generated will be very competitive with where clean carbon
:59:32. > :59:40.costs are now. Business question. Will the Leader of the Housd give us
:59:41. > :59:44.the business for next week, please? Did business for next week will be
:59:45. > :59:50.on Monday the 23rd of November, the consideration of allocation of time
:59:51. > :59:54.motion, followed by all stages of the Northern Ireland Welfard Reform
:59:55. > :59:55.Bill. I also expect there to be a statement on the National Sdcurity
:59:56. > :59:56.strategy