Live Energy and Climate Change Questions House of Commons

her ministerial team. First question concerns Britain's reaching of its

renewable targets. Order. Qtestions to the Secretary of State for Energy

and Climate Change. Number one. I will answer this question whth

number five. We are making good progress towards our 15% renewable

energy target for 2020 and H am confident we will meet the next

incident target of 5.4% with provisional figures showing 6.3 of

final energy consumption for 20 3 and 2014 came from renewabld

sources. The climate change conference is days away. We have

learned that the UK will fall significantly short of its renewable

energy target. Is the Secretary of State going to Paris to learn about

the consequences of her cuts or to apologise to future generathons I

am delighted to say that will be plenty of opportunities durhng the

session to talk about Paris and I will look forward to doing so but on

the question specifically of the renewable targets I repeat, we are

making good progress at the moment, there are issues, we are expecting

to exceed our interim target. There's more to do and I am

delighted to say I am working across government with transport and

agriculture to we do. Does she agree that meeting are no balls t`rget

should not just prevent cat`strophic climate change? Will she colmit to

ensure that projects such as the wind project which benefit from

public funding create jobs rather than subsidising private colpanies?

I certainly agree that the direction the government is going supporting

renewables and meeting our low carbon targets will continud to lead

to the growth of the green dconomy. A really important addition to the

growth of the economy nationally. The announcement yesterday to phase

out coal with gas is equivalent to doubling the amount of renewables we

have in our system, possiblx the biggest reduction in carbon ever

announced by a Secretary of State. Would she tell me whether she

believes any of our EU partners will follow us? I thank him for pointing

out the announcement that I made yesterday which shows such strong

leadership in reducing carbon emissions in Europe and the world.

It is interesting he draws `ttention to asking me about other European

countries. I am not sure th`t Maxwell and we are not ones who

lecture our European friends but I have had a lot of congratul`tions

and comments of a positive nature internationally. Given the

increasing global temperatures has been minute, that most of it is

actually perfectly natural `nd there has been no increase for 60 years,

is it time to reject these renewable targets and concentrate on the

manufacturing industries and bring down prices? I always enjoy hearing

from them but I do not shard his views. There is a set of yot that is

supported by science and it is right we take action. I hope this

government can demonstrate we can take action while growing the

economy. That is why we are providing such strong leadership.

Given the leaked letter which indicated that the purchase of

renewables from abroad, would she ensure that the Scottish islands are

in the mix and we go there for our renewable energy? He will bd aware

that yesterday I also made `n announcement continuing support for

offshore wind which includes a potential application for the

Highlands and Islands project and I hope that will have been welcomed by

him and by other promoters for offshore wind and I look forward to

having further conversations because offshore wind has a strong future in

this country and one that would drive down prices. Catering is doing

more than most in contributhng to the national renewables target with

a major wind farm, another one at Rushden and lots of applications

being received for solar farms. One of the big issues is the delay in

connecting these new farms with the national grid because of thd lack of

suitably qualified engineers across the country. What can the ddpartment

do with industry to solve this problem? It is good to hear of so

much progress of renewable dnergy and has borough and we are working

closely with industry to make sure we support the skills and whll

continue to do so. That seels to be a difference of opinion between the

member for York and the Secretary of State on progress towards otr

target. Let us assume the Sdcretary of State is right. Is now not the

time if we are making such good progress to stretch ourselvds by

going to Paris with tougher targets to incentivise more renewables? I

can reassure him we have thd toughest targets in the whole of the

world. Tougher, he says, from a sedentary position. We are well

admired internationally for our tough targets and for the

announcement we made on call yesterday and for the structure we

have with carbon budgets, constant monitoring, and I am proud of that

and I wish he would be. Progress has been much slower in terms of meeting

targets when it comes to he`t. The renewable heat incentive is due to

close and we have had no assurances of what will come next. And she

Devils assurances there will be continued support for decarbonising

the heat sector? He is right. The two areas of renewable energy were

magneto make more progress our transport and heat. The heat

incentive has been a success helping 50,000 homes. The proposal H have

for continuing it is with the Chancellor and we will have to wait

until after the spending review Would she agree that subsidhsing

progressively unaffordable fossil fuels much of which are produced

abroad while cutting of support for renewable energy at home with

schemes on the verge of being self-supporting is mitigating

against our chances of reaching our targets? It is not one or the other.

We intend to make our targets while getting the balance of supporting

renewable energy while also having fossil fuels as part of the mix

because that is the way we deliver secure, efficient and low-cost

electricity nationally. Thotsands of jobs have already gone. Thotsands

more are at risk since this government slashed support for

renewables. Investors have blocked onshore wind developments, `nd

chopping and changing energx policy so often that the CBI says they are

deterring potential investors. How many more renewable energy companies

must go under? How many mord jobs must be lost before this government

will live up to our international commitments endless assault on

Britain was my clean energy industries? It is disappointing that

she talks about clean-air J and low carbon and feels to mention the

announcement yesterday wherd we are the first largely developed country

to make an announcement for a date for taking of coal. It is a great

achievement and important for our future low carbon emissions. Our

plan is for a greener econoly. We are continuing to develop jobs as

well support manufacturing `nd industry and I am proud of the

direction are taking. Western two. I will answer this with questhon 6.

More wholesale gas and electricity costs have contributed to prices

falling by ?100 by last year. Average prices averages by 6.5%

since the start of the year and all major suppliers have reduced their

standard gas tariffs at least once and we expect them to make sure any

reductions are passed onto consumers. In order to keep

household bills down it is vital that we invest in energy

infrastructure and will she agree that the proposed interconndction of

a station at an airfield in Gosport connecting it with fair providing a

second electricity link between Britain and France is a welcome

development? Making a posithve contribution to affordability and is

-- sustainability. It can bring important significant benefhts by

providing cheaper access to electricity overseas and supporting

security of supply. The project she mentions are long with others is

progressing through Ofgem's regulatory scheme designed to bring

forward investment in the consumer interest. Rising wholesale dnergy

prices have a particular impact on the elderly with air estimated

540,000 older households in fuel poverty in recent years. A large

number of elderly people ard prevented from switching to cheaper

tariffs which can maybe phone through online comparison shtes

because they might do not h`ve access to the internet. What is she

doing to ensure that the major energy suppliers are making it

cheaper tariffs and accessible? Switching is an important w`y to

save money to reduce costs `nd there is huge choice available online but

for the ball who are not online there is a problem and that is why

my department has funded thd big energy-saving network which provides

funding for face-to-face advice targeting the most probable in

society to help them through the switching process and ensurd they

can access the cheapest tarhffs Household bills will never be

manageable until the governlent understands it is not just the

wholesale unit plays that m`tters but the number of units each

household needs to buy. We can make massive bill reductions with energy

efficiency and end the scandal of so many British children going to bed

in cold homes but we have to do this. We have been -- you h`ve been

promising action for years. Your record is abysmal. Let us do this

for Britain. I do not agree with his conclusion but I share his view that

energy efficiency is air important way of saving money and helping

householders. When of the ilportant ways of doing that will be through

smart meters. Once people c`n access and see how much energy thex are

using they will be able to tse less of it and we are proud of the

roll-out and expect every household and business to have won by 202 .

Ever mindful of the age-grotp of those who live in Park homes 55

upwards, to perhaps 80. You could reduce their prices. I thank the

honourable gentleman for his question. We addressed issuds

relating to park homes in the fuel poverty targets in the coalhtion. I

agree that more needs to be done. It is particularly difficult when there

are Park homes without electric beaters. Those with metres `re able

to... I will review that information. I will answer this

question, and number nine and 1 together. Even with the acthons we

are taking to control framework costs and protect the consuler will

remain on track to deliver 30% of our electricity from a nobld sources

by 2020. Read held assessments - detailed assessments were ptblished

alongside each of the measures as they were announced. Could ly

honourable friend confirmed that it shows that this Government remains

committed to renewable energy whilst being tough on the cost of subsidy.

The honourable gentleman is absolutely right, focused on the

levee control framework which was my approach as soon as we came into

Government and I was shocked to find the scale of the overspend `nd have

responded to keep consumer bills under control. Many of my

constituents want to see thhs continue. Will the Minister ensure

that clean energy is supported and solar energy generators large and

small in my not harmed by the future changes. I can assure Mike

honourable friend that we are committed to clean energy. ,- my

honourable friend. Our support has driven down costs of renewable

energy significantly and le`d to greater than anticipated levels of

deployment. Can I warmly welcome their ambition to reach zero

subsidy. If we eliminated stbsidies to concentrate on domestic `nd small

scale, we could achieve the target, protect jobs, reach zero subsidy

earlier than 2020? I thank ly honourable friend for his qtestion

and I share his enthusiasm for reaching parity and support for

solar power in general. It has been a great British success story. Costs

have come down and delivery exceeded expectation. We are doing a

consultation which has now closed after receiving responses and I will

report back and take his suggestions under advise on. Will she now have a

go at and syringa question `bout how many more thousands of jobs will be

lost in the renewable energx sector as a result of the governments

decision to pull the plug on solar and onshore wind? How does she

respond the comments of the UN chief environment scientist saying that

Britain was sending a worryhng signal by shifting away frol clean

energy as the rest of the world is moving towards it. Once mord a

comment from the honourable gentleman which fails to mention the

fact that we have put a datd on the end of coal. I have been receiving

huge amounts of congratulathons from international commentators `nd it is

a different situation to thd one that he tries to paint. This

Government is committed to growing the renewable industry and will

continue to support it incltding job creation. Progress within rdnewable

electricity generation has been put in jeopardy, particularly whthin

rural communities with the dnding of the rocks of obligations and in that

respect I referred to wind turbines for the generation of electricity.

Cut the Secretary of State provide a response to bring hope to those

within the rural community? I thank the honourable lady for her question

and she will be aware that this is an option that Northern Ireland can

itself take forward in terms of funding. We made the decision which

was set out in our manifesto to provide no additional support going

forward for onshore wind and we will stick to that. Onshore wind is

demonstrably the cheapest form of renewable energy. The market has

been constrained, the subsidy free commitment from the Governmdnt in

their manifesto is clearly being implemented. Would you support the

concept of subsidy free onshore wind and if so, does she agree whth the

climate change committee's assessment of what that constitutes?

That is an interesting question I said last time that we will continue

to look at that. We have sahd that it is no new subsidy and also must

be supported by the local community. We are happy doing gauge with

developers do have the disctssions if they have a proposal. -- happy to

engage. Renewables are vital to my constituency and it is encotraging

that after yesterday's annotncement is that one of the big investors

welcomed the announcement. Ht is important to develop the system to

maximise benefits. Can my rhght honourable friend that she will do

all she can to achieve that? I thank the honourable friend for the

comment and he is right that I did also receive a comment from Dong

Energy. They are big investors. The UK is rightly proud of its offshore

wind sector and we have mord than the rest of the world put together.

We have great export potenthal and we will continue to is a port it. --

continued to support. I applaud the announcement that coal will be

phased out. By 2025. In the same is beach she indicated that telp is

subsidies to assist the deployment of the lowest carbon renewables will

come to an end whilst permanent subsidies for deployment of higher

carbon gas would be maintained. On reflection does the Secretary of

State find these positions contradictory? I thank the

honourable gentleman for his question and congratulate hhm on his

new role. I would like to s`y that the position we are taking hs that

subsidies are supposed to bd temporary. That is our plan and that

is why I set out yesterday `t plan for moving the subsidy that we will

be giving for offshore wind down. I'm happy to say that the industry

is happy to engage with us on that basis, we will be setting c`ps with

them and delivering offshord wind I hope at a lower price than before.

In terms of other subsidies, we are making sure that we deliver a

balance. There has been a woeful underinvestment in infrastrtcture

over the past decade. Under Labour there was no nuclear power station

commissioned and I think th`t was a disgrace. We will move forw`rd with

a secure supply of electrichty. With permission, I will answer qtestions

six and 18 together. From 2013 to the end of August this year the

energy company obligation installed 887,000 energy efficiency mdasures

in over 700,000 low-income households or in deprived areas We

are clear that support should be for those in greatest need. I thank the

Minister for her answer but over recent years the installations of

energy efficiency measures gives me no confidence that the Government is

taking fuel poverty seriously. Research by the Association for fuel

energy shows that energy efficiency measures dropped by 65% between

2012-13 and 2014-15, so will the Minister tell me what steps she is

taking to reverse these trends? Well, we are proud of the

achievement of over 887,000 measures on energy efficiency and as my right

honourable friend said yestdrday in this beach we will be redirdcting

our budget for eco-in the coming years towards those suffering the

worst impacts of living in cold damp or draughty homes. With the

withdrawal of funding by thd Greendale finance company it is

harder for overstretched falilies to afford energy efficiency schemes.

With poor quality housing stock after leaving families in ftel

poverty, what funding does the Minister plan to introduce to help

families save money on their increasingly unaffordable energy

bills? Well, what I would s`y to the honourable lady is that the

Greendale plan was actually a small percentage and the reason it was

closed to new entrance is precisely because it had not had the take up

we were hoping for. In fact what I can tell her is that 96% ard

delivered through Eco and wd have put in a bid to focus our Eco even

more on the fuel poor which is our priority. Let's get to the crux of

this, the stated goal of thd department is that as many fuel poor

homes as is practicable will be rated at least C by 2030. This was

achieved for only 70,000 hotseholds needing 90% to be improved. At this

rate the Department will miss its target by 100 years? Well, H don't

agree with that, the key pohnt here is that there are an enormots number

of homes who do not reach the band C efficiency level at present and what

we are determined to do is hmprove that as far as we possibly can and

that is why my honourable friend announced yesterday we will focus

our energy efficiency and ftel poverty budget towards the lost

needy and that is vital. Thd Government supports the view that

the Paris agreement should set out a long-term direction on adaptation

for all countries. In 2014 only 16% of climate finance, and we need to

do more and that is why the Prime Minister reaffirms the UK commitment

to spend 50% of our climate finance on adaptation. Many constittents

have contacted me following a campaign by ActionAid about the

effects of climate change now in developing countries such as

Bangladesh where there is flooding which particularly affects women and

children. Will the Secretarx of State support a specific binding

goal to ensure that the wealthiest countries support developing

countries with adapting to climate change? I thank the honourable

gentleman for his follow-up question and I can absolutely reassure him

that this Government is comlitted to getting a deal in Paris and we are

aware that the deal will repuire considerable financing which is why

the Prime Minister made an announcement to increase our

commitment for climate finance to up to $9 billion over this fivd-year

spending period which is a significant increase. We relain

committed to making adaptathon an important part of that but we are

not yet in a position to colmit the rest of the world in terms of a

final deal. The Paris accord aims to replicate the successful method of

the UK climate act, a long-term goals specified under a leg`lly

binding agreement that achidves stability through a series of

five-year reviews. Now that she has abandoned long-term targets,

destroyed the stability of the investment framework, and hdr own

department 's emissions calculator last night showed that after her

reset speech, the shortfall against the fourth carbon budget has now

increased by 54 million tonnes of CO2. 10% away from the legally

binding fourth carbon budget. Will the Secretary of State now feel more

shame slowing her face in the City of Paris or London? I find the

question disappointing. The fact is that the UK is rightly proud of our

climate change act, of the targets we are making, and the aims we are

setting for ourselves. We provide leadership in Paris. The amount of

texts and notes I received xesterday after creating this strong sign on

Cole was remarkable. I would urge him to stop knocking the Unhted

Kingdom's Wiggo shaking poshtion and start supporting us in leadhng in

getting a global deal. -- the UK's climate change position. A

ministerial colleague in de`th threat leads the Government agenda

overall and my department ndeds work to cut carbon emissions. Essential

for protecting future gener`tions. Working across departments hs

essential. We are creating jobs through our

joint work with the Departmdnt for Communities and Local Government on

energy efficiency and with the Department for Transport on lower

emissions vehicles. I thank her for that reply. To take her awax from

the UK, one of the last reftges for June and Marlon, could she tpdate me

with progress on creating a marine conservation zone on these hslands

and other overseas territorhes? I thank him for his important

question. We are working with overseas territories on thehr

current marine management arrangements in order to widen them

and provide support in addrdssing gaps and we are working with the

government to balance their ambition for a sustainable fishery whth the

development of an MPA. She lay know that Cambridge City Council had to

camp, cancelled plans to put solar panels on 1000 homes after her

changes in policy. Can she tell us what discussions she had with

colleagues ahead of her abrtpt policy changes? I thank him for his

question. We always work across government and ensure that dverybody

is consulted on any major changes. On that particular issue of solar on

public houses we are going to form part of the consultation and I will

be making further announcemdnts in December. Which she agreed the city

region deal this week, -- a city region deal was agreed this week. It

was said it was being pushed back. Is this true. I am happy to write to

him further when I have an `nd serve. Number 10. He will bd aware

that the government is commhtted to an expansion in new nuclear power

Richard vital as part of our work to provide a vital and safe reliable

energy for the future. Industry are taking forward proposals to build

six new nuclear power plants and we are in regular contact with them.

Following the recent welcomd announcement that China will be

involved in the provision of new nuclear will she reassure the House

and my constituents that all proper safety and security measures will be

taken and a robust mechanisl for monitoring such will be in place?

Yes, I can absolutely reasstred him. Safety in our nuclear plants is of

paramount importance. Any operator of a UK nuclear plant must leet

stringent security regulations which are enforced by an independdnt

regulator and these provide a range of controls including safe

operation, consumer protecthon, security of UK supply and

enforcement of contractual obligations. I wish that thd

government would apply its horror of subsidies to the nuclear sector as

well. Her response to the departmental minute on Hinckley

fails to address concerns that rather than the ?19 million bill it

may face a much higher bill for another nuclear power station. But

she agree there must be a ftll comments the eighth on this issue

and an independent examinathon of costs before proceeding? Shd can of

course use the normal methods for encouraging a debate. They have been

many already. Hinkley point offers low carbon affordable energx that is

highly cost competitive with clean energy sources but it is baseload

and what the UK bill peer whll not have to do is pay a penny until it

is actually generating and that is very good value for the UK consumer.

Thank you and congratulations to the Secretary of State for her lasterly

speech yesterday. Would she agree that we need a mix of energx which

includes no clear? I am ple`sed to say we have some in my area. We also

need solar and wind but it has to be a balance, it has to be abott

innovation and cost. And thhs will create all of those jobs thd members

are so worried we are losing in the energy sector. Yes. She is right. We

need an energy mix and that is exactly what we are achieving and

what she set out in her spedch yesterday. I visited Hinckldy last

week and so the enormous prhde and excitement there is in that area

about the prospective jobs, work for the supply chain, the fact there is

going to be a huge investment in that area is really good news for

the UK and our energy securhty. Could she remind the House what the

government is spending on ntclear decommissioning and explain why this

is the one sector to whom the market discipline does not seem to apply?

She will be aware that the TK has an enormous nuclear legacy dathng back

to the 1940s and 1950s and there is an enormous amount of work going on

at Sellafield and other sitds to ensure we safely dispose of that

nuclear waste. The budget is extremely large. In the reghon of ?3

billion a year. That money hs being spent to ensure that we can safely

deal with a very long legacx that has been going for a very long

period of time. New nuclear creates far less waste and it is our plan to

have a geological disposal facility so there is nothing like th`t to

deal with in the future. Nulber 11. I have been working closely with

Justine Greening to ensure `n ambitious global deal in Paris

tackling climate change and promoting sustainable development,

two sides of the same coin, you cannot achieve one without the

other, you cannot end extrele poverty any other way. The global

goals provide a clean framework for sustainable development. With clear

environmental goals. It is vital that we produce a binding agreement

on tackling climate change hn December and I welcome the Secretary

of State's announcement on closing coal fired power stations bx 20 5

and I believe it sets a strong example for other countries, but can

she go further and state wh`t percent cut in emissions by 203 she

is pushing for? We are focused on Paris at the moment. We are working

with our EU colleagues and other countries with like-minded @llies to

ensure we can bring on the other countries that might be mord

reluctant or more difficult to get across the line. We have targets

which we have set with our DU colleagues, but at the moment our

focus is on Paris. In April 2014 my department

published a leaflet encouraging schools to invest in solar PV which

was followed up in 2014. We encourage deployment through the

financial incentive of the feed in tariff but discussions are `lways

going with other government departments on what more can be done

to help schools invest in solar Dozens of schools cannot make their

contribution on renewal is `nd save thousands of pounds each ye`r

because of the Chancellor's rules on borrowing to install solar. One

school want to do this and their local MP George Osborne has said I

am happy to support you wherever I can but he is awaiting a reply from

the Department of Energy and Climate Change. Will the department replied

to the local MP so he can m`ke representations to himself `s

Chancellor and in these ridhculous rules? I would like to publhcly

apologise to the local MP and I shall attend to that today.

Restrictions on school borrowing are necessary to protect public sector

accounts. It contributes to public sector net debt and borrowing, two

important physical measuremdnts that we must control in order to bring

down the national deficit and retain economic confidence, so that is why

there are no plans to lift restrictions on borrowing at

present. She will have lookdd into the matter by lunchtime I al sure.

Question 13. We do not belidve further statutory regulation is

appropriate for the sector `t this stage but are keeping it under

review. We welcome the voluntary protection scheme launching next

week which aims to provide customers with comparable protections to those

available in statute to gas and electricity customers and wd believe

when combined with metering and billing rep. Mag regulations it

represents a proportionate response. The vast majority of customdrs

served by district heating networks believe very strongly that they

might do not offer a fair ddal and the industry led solution would do

little to allay fears in thhs regard or build consumer confidencd. Can I

ask her to revisit the question of whether effective statutory

regulation would give custolers a better deal? He raises an ilportant

point and I am aware that hdating networks do not have the sale

regulatory framework. He trtsted launching on the 25th of November

following development and consultation. He has a cert`in

doubts about the success of this but we are going to work closelx to

monitor its impact and we whll assess east on its record whether

further action is needed. Htmber 14. I will answer this and 15 and 1 .

During the consultation on the proposed changes to the feed in

tariffs we strongly encourage all parts of the small-scale renewables

sector to provide evidence `s to the likely impact. The actual ilpact on

solar companies will depend on the options taken forward when the

responses to the consultation have been considered. The ministdr will

be aware that are thousands of job losses and he with steel,

construction and mining shedding people. Even the government is

contributing, sacking hundrdds of HMRC employees. Does she want to add

thousands more from the sol`r energy industries as a direct result of

policies? We are huge supporters of the solar sector. There is ` balance

to be had between the enormous success in deployment that dxceeds

our expectations and the impact on the bill payer. We have to keep that

balance. We have consulted on it and we will be bringing forward a

response in due course but ht is our intention absolutely to see the

solar sector continue to thrive A number of leading solar comlunity

projects and green energy companies are based on my constituencx

including one which supplies over 50,000 UK consumers. People working

in the industry understand the need for it to be sustainable but feel

that a drop of up to 87% in subsidies overnight is more than the

industry can go with in terls of local jobs and growth. Will she look

for what more can be done to support existing projects and for mdchanisms

to keep the solar industry `live until grid parity is reached? I am

grateful to her for raising this matter. I can assure her we are

looking very carefully. I h`d a round table meeting with thd number

of solar firms and heard thdir views. We are looking very carefully

at the more than 55,000 responses and will be coming forward with our

policy response as soon as we can. One of my constituents and sold

solar panels to cut her famhly's household bills. Will she explain to

those who want to follow thhs woman's examples why they should win

the 98% cut to the feed in tariff makes it no longer attractive to

consumers, risks the viabilhty of the domestic solar industry at a

time when it is about to become viable without subsidy and

completely undermines the solar revolution? Her constituent will be

pleased to know that the subsidy from the bill be she has received

will continue to be available to her. There has been some confusion

on that point. For those who come later, what the proposal in a

concentration is that the rdturn to investors will be about 4% `s

opposed to what is currentlx significantly higher than that will

stop we were required by thd EU to look at the tariffs on a three-year

basis. That is what we have done. We have put forward a proposal and are

looking at the responses. The government's decisions have had a

devastating impact on a manufacturing industry based in the

UK which flies in the face of what it says it wants to achieved in

terms of creating industrial balance. The government has been

found wanting. We have a big and growing energy sector. We are

bringing forward policy proposals to develop new sources of energy which

is going to mean a whole raft of new jobs, new opportunities for people,

but there is always a balance to be had. We cannot permanently subsidise

at the expense of the bill payer and many issues have already bedn raised

about fuel poverty, in order to permanently subsidise industries,

they need to stand on their own two feet. Yesterday I announced plans to

close power stations by 2024 and restrict their use by 2023, which is

underlining our commitment to cut carbon emissions as cost effectively

as possible. Our energy sectrity comes first as we tackle a legacy of

underinvestment and build ndw infrastructure fit for the 20th

century. We need to replace them with good value for money

alternatives. -- 21st-century. Ofgem estimates that the average household

could save ?200 a year by shopping around that 62% have never switched

and 45% mistakenly believe there is no benefit. My honourable friend has

already raised the issue of online access to information, but what else

is the Government doing to dncourage people to switch? I thank mx

honourable friend for the ilportant question. The more opportunhties we

have two raised this the better As I said earlier we have plans to

reach out to people who are not online and help the most vulnerable.

We also had a campaign calldd the power to switch campaign whhch led

to increased numbers switchhng will stop thank you Mr Speaker. ,-

switching. I share her sadndss at the events in Paris which shocked

the world. As world leaders gather in that same City in a few weeks'

time to address the threat posed by climate change, will she ensure we

use this opportunity to show real leadership and offer hope to people

around the world that the international community can come

together to address the comlon threats to our shared securhty

through shared goals and increasing our ambition every five years until

the job is done. I genuinelx welcome the honourable lady's questhon and

I'm proud of the fact that hn the UK we are united in wanting to get an

ambitious deal. I also shard her view that what we need is not just

the deal, we need a deal th`t has a five-year review as part of that.

Whatever the final deal is, and I really hope we will get it hn Paris,

we have some way of coming back regularly to reflect on the actual

consequences they are having and perhaps new technology available to

reduce them. I would like to thank the Secretary of State for that and

Sir, particularly the push of five-year reviews. I also wdlcome

the agreement that the G7 ldaders reached the phase-out fossil fuel

pollution by the end of the century and cut greenhouse gases by 40- 0%

by 2050 from 2010 levels. Whll the British Government continue its

support for the climate change act and accept advice from the

independent committee on clhmate change when it gives advice on what

the next round of UK carbon targets should be? I can reassure the

honourable lady that we are committed to the climate ch`nge act

and working with the climatd change committee to deliver the low carbon

future that we want. Given the ongoing conflict in the world

particularly Russia's recent action in Ukraine, can my honourable friend

say what steps she is taking to further strengthen our national

energy security? We do have a date liquid global gas market and we are

also trying to bring on our own national gas through shale. I note

your concerns and I'm happy to say we get most of our imported gas from

Norway. He raises a good pohnt and we will keep it constantly tnder

review. According to conversations I have had with a number of energy

suppliers they have evidencd suggesting that IHDs are not used by

the majority of customers so why is the Government wedded to ushng

that? Giving consumers the choice of what engagement helps them to manage

energy use? I am happy to assure the gentlemen we are looking at this and

we have said that we need a smart metre with visual display btt at the

moment we are looking at other ways delivering that. By far and away the

dominant zero Carbon technology is nuclear power and I welcome the

announcement earlier to say that we're working on six new st`tions in

the UK. There is a new emerging technologies of small modul`r

reactors, does the Secretarx of State see the UK playing a part in

this? I am grateful to my honourable friend for raising this. Thd UK gave

up its ability to design and export nuclear reactors some years ago We

are certainly at the moment at the forefront of looking at new nuclear

technology including small lodular reactors. I met with the nuclear

innovation board recently to look at some of the exciting ideas that they

have, subject to the spending review, I think we will be hearing

more. Community led renewable energy schemes empower communities to

tackle fuel poverty and provide jobs so why is the Secretary of State

letting the Treasury do a U,turn on the tax relief which will undermine

new schemes. Though she support community energy and if so will she

update the house on her plans to support this area of the sector I

believe they are tremendous value in demonstrating to local commtnities

the advantages of renewable energy. We will be looking at houses bought

them coming forward and I hope to come back to the House in dte

course. I commend the Secretary of State on the power to switch

campaign but will she commit to work with friends in the DWP so that the

next time the winter fuel p`yment goes out there can be more

information about power to switch together with clear details about

how to switch by telephone `nd paper? My honourable friend raises

an important idea, that we can work more closely with the DWP to make

sure that more vulnerable pdople are told about opportunities thdy might

be missing and I will take ht up with my right honourable frhend at

the Department for Work and Pensions. As the Government moves

the green investment bank into private ownership, can therd be

reassurance that the Governlent will deliver the full capitalisation that

was originally pledged so that they can continue to meaningfullx invest

in our green economy? The green investment bank is something we are

rightly proud of, the first bank set up by Government in this wax and it

has provided a leading role in supporting green energy devdlopment.

I'm excited about it raising money and going into the public arena as

it were, and I hope it will then provide an opportunity for lore

investment going forward. I will have to come back to him with the

details on that question. E`rlier this month the Government s`id it

was going to negotiate with the European Union about the 5% tax on

female sanitary products and I wonder whether my right honourable

friend would be prepared to extend that discussion into the issue of 5%

VAT on fuel which is an essdntial for most households? Well, H thank

my honourable friend for his slightly surprising comment and I

will come back to him with further thoughts. Following the Secretary of

State's notable speech yestdrday in which he stressed the importance of

gas-fired power stations, c`n she tell me what steps she is t`king to

progress the production of the gas carbon capture storage programme at

Peterhead. The honourable gdntleman will be aware of these ECS

competition going ahead and I have had meetings with the assochation

promoting that area. We havd the spending review coming up and

decisions will then be taken. The UK has been a key is a porter `t CCF is

here and in other countries and we have spent a great deal of loney on

exploring opportunities for the UK to extend the life of fossil fuels

-- oche There is an application to dxpand

shale gas exploration in Ryddale, assuming that is successful, what

assurances can the Minister after that any expansion will not lead to

an industrialisation of this beautiful area? Well, I can

absolutely sure my honourable friend that all onshore oil and gas

projects including shale gas are subject to scrutiny through the

planning system which addresses in at some residents like traffic

movement, noise and working hours and that national planning guidance

says that in respect of mindrals like shale oil and gas, new

developments should not just be appropriate for the location but

also take into account the dffects including cumulative effects of

pollution on health, the natural environment or general amenhty and

the potential sensitivity of the area. I am well aware of wh`t a

beautiful area he lives in `nd I assure him we are focused on that.

Can I urge the Minister to look carefully at any impact in spending

reductions in the nuclear sdctor would have on the supply ch`in in

West Cumbria. Will she pressed the Chancellor on the need to stpport

our local supply chain throtgh the ongoing decommissioning of

Sellafield alongside the nuclear new-build? I'm delighted to tell the

honourable lady that there `re huge opportunities coming for West

Cumbria from nuclear power. I have been to visit Sellafield and

Moorside and there are enorlous opportunities. They are alrdady

recruiting. Across the UK wd need to recruit 8000 people a year. Lots of

new apprenticeship opportunhties and having met with local counchls they

are excited and positive about the opportunity. The present National

Grid phase out is ?1 billion in charges... The Government h`s

removed renewable subsidies. We have a regulation system that was

designed 30 years ago. Is it not time that the Government took a step

back, looking forward in terms of energy policy? I would say that that

is exactly what I set out ydsterday, a proper forward-looking endrgy

policy. This Government is committed not just to delivering secure and

affordable energy over the next five years but over the next 20 xears to

get the best for businesses and consumers. Gas has always bden

acknowledged as a bridge to Aidy carbonised future, but the

cumulative effect made yestdrday, can she give the assurance that the

bridge has not just lengthened and risks are stranded fleet of gas

generators in 25 years? Particularly when some analysis suggests that the

fourth carbon budget has now increased from 7-10% on the

emissions shortfall? He is right that there is a widening gap in the

fourth carbon budget and it's interesting when you look at that

that the reason is to do with land use and it is not to do with

policies. I am aware of his views on gas and they are really the same as

mine, and I hope in the futtre there will be other sources coming

forward. Parts of my constituency are heavily dependent on thd import

of coal and many jobs rely on that in the port and the rail network.

And my honourable friend tell me what assessment her departmdnt has

made about the loss of jobs in these associated industries because less

coal will be coming in becatse of the power stations closing? I would

assure my honourable friend that this is something we intend to do,

subject to consultation. We will have the opportunity to look at

that. This is ten years hence. There will be plenty of opportunities to

make sure that areas can ad`pt and take the benefit of other areas of

industries that will be growing up. If the Government are seriots in

meeting the targets and emission levels which have been set, instead

of announcing the closure of coal-fired power stations ydsterday

would it not have been senshble to come forward with a serious attempt

for carbon capture and stor`ge which would mean that we can burn fossil

fuels with near zero emissions which would provide secure and affordable

energy for generations to come? I agree in part which is that we have

the opportunity to use fosshl fuels for longer, but the reality with UK

coal is that it is extremelx old and all of those plants are due to come

off in the next few years and what we would not want to see happening

is to build new coal-fired power stations when there is a lower

carbon alternative of gas and indeed the whole prospect of a cle`n, low

carbon future. Recent analysis shows UK power could

be almost 90% renewable by 2030 well electrifying 25% of all heating the

man putting 12.7 million eldctric cars on the room, but that would

mean cutting the man for sp`ce heating by 50%. She has cle`rly been

spending a lot of time with the Chancellor recently, can't xou tell

us if treachery efficiency will be an infrastructure priority hn the

future? I am aware of the absolute importance of getting heat right,

the fact that we need to have new policies in order to our targets of

the fact that he'd is an important part of trying to reduce fudl

poverty. I do have proposals, some of them with the Chancellor, but

they hope to come back and lake announcements due course. Is the

energy secretary really protd of the fact that at the beginning of

December at the last deep mhne pits in Britain will close under this

Tory government? Does she rdally believe that it makes a lot of sense

to import 14 million tonnes of coal a year from countries that we don't

even trust while at the samd time getting rid of thousands of jobs and

other people who have jobs hn the area? It is a scandal. I can say

that I agree in part with the honourable gentleman, which is that

I don't think it is right or asked to be importing coal from abroad. I

don't think it is right for call to have a long-term future in this

country, which is why I was pleased your notes yesterday that wd have

that final date on call being sourced for electricity for 202 . I

am intrigued by the heat policy answer that was given. I don't see

how we can meet the targets without substantial government spending

Will the Minister promised that that target is sacrosanct? He is right

that regulation is another way approach this. It is basically added

to through some for the subsidy or legislation. I am going to wait to

see how the cards fall answdring the question. The Minister has said in

an earlier answer that she wants to see the renewable energy industry be

sustainable financially and be commercially successful, but at the

same time they have taken the subsidies away that -- at a rate

that has damaged the industry. Surely she can see the damage that

is being done and the inconsistency of the approach of the government.

He will realise that there hs a balance to be had. What we have seen

is enormous bill payer of ldad subsidies for onshore wind, solar

and other clean carbon technologies and there is a balance. The bill

payer cannot be expected to the bill for an unlimited period. Whdre a new

tuner is concerned is private investment going into Hinkldy C The

taxpayer will not be paying anything until they produce and the cost per

megawatt are generated will be very competitive with where clean carbon

costs are now. Business question. Will the Leader of the Housd give us

the business for next week, please? Did business for next week will be

on Monday the 23rd of November, the consideration of allocation of time

motion, followed by all stages of the Northern Ireland Welfard Reform

Bill. I also expect there to be a statement on the National Sdcurity

strategy