:00:07. > :00:12.Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the House of commons. In
:00:13. > :00:17.an hour, the Shadow Health Secretary will be asking an urgent question on
:00:18. > :00:24.the next series of strikes planned by junior doctors. The dispute has
:00:25. > :00:28.been escalated to cover walk-outs from hospital emergency departments.
:00:29. > :00:32.After 11am, the Leader of the House will be asking questions --
:00:33. > :00:35.answering questions on forthcoming Parliamentary business after Easter
:00:36. > :00:40.recess. The main business in the chamber today is a debate on Court
:00:41. > :00:43.closures. One fifth of all cords and a tribunal in England and Wales are
:00:44. > :00:46.scheduled for closure is to stop it is followed by a general debate
:00:47. > :00:50.ahead of the two-week Easter recess, when backbench MPs can raise any
:00:51. > :00:55.issue, local or national, that they want to. Don't forget to join me for
:00:56. > :00:59.a round-up of the day in both houses of parliament at 11pm. First,
:01:00. > :01:08.questions to the energy secretary Amber Rudd, and her ministerial
:01:09. > :01:18.team. Order, order. Dame Rosie Winterton.
:01:19. > :01:24.I beg to move that Mr Speaker to issue his warrant to the clerk of
:01:25. > :01:27.the Crown to make out a new writ for the letting of a member to serve in
:01:28. > :01:39.this present Parliament for the borough constituency of Sheffield,
:01:40. > :01:43.Brightside and Hillsborough in the rid of the Robert Howley had
:01:44. > :01:48.deceased. The question is that I do issue my warrant to the clerk of the
:01:49. > :01:51.ground to make out a new rate for the electing of a member to serve in
:01:52. > :01:54.the present Parliament for the borough constituency of Sheffield,
:01:55. > :02:02.Brightside and Hillsborough in the room of Robert Hardman, deceased.
:02:03. > :02:09.Those that opinion the eye. On the contrary no. The eyes might. The
:02:10. > :02:16.eyes might have it. Dame Rosie Winterton. I beg to move that Mr
:02:17. > :02:21.Speaker do issue his warrant to the clerk of the Crown to make out a
:02:22. > :02:29.newsletter for the electing of a member to serve in this present
:02:30. > :02:35.Parliament for the county constituency of Ogmore, in the room
:02:36. > :02:39.of the MP who is in the selection for the said county constituency has
:02:40. > :02:42.been appointed to the office of Stewart and beloved of Her Majesty's
:02:43. > :02:48.manner of lost out in the county of Europe. The question is that I do
:02:49. > :02:52.issue my warrant for the clerk of the ground to make out a new rate
:02:53. > :02:56.for the electing of a member to serve in the present Parliament for
:02:57. > :03:04.the county constituency of Ogmore in the room of Mr Davis, who since his
:03:05. > :03:11.election has been appointed to the office of Steward And Beloved Of Her
:03:12. > :03:20.Majesty's Manner Of North Stayed In The County Of Your Full So" As Many
:03:21. > :03:37.Of That Opinion Say Ayes. The Ayes Habit. The Ayes Habit. Any More?!
:03:38. > :03:46.Order, Questions To The Secretary Of State For Energy And Climate.
:03:47. > :03:49.Question number one. I will answer this question with permission of
:03:50. > :03:53.numbers four and men together. The government wants to see energy bills
:03:54. > :03:57.reduced for all consumers and one of the best listed and is by switching.
:03:58. > :04:00.The government... The honourable lady has written important point by
:04:01. > :04:04.highlighting the barriers that indebted prepayment customers based
:04:05. > :04:08.in doing so. The competition and market authority's provisional
:04:09. > :04:12.remedies report greatly encrypts a recommendation that Ofgem should
:04:13. > :04:15.take steps to address these barriers and I will consider these issues
:04:16. > :04:19.carefully following publication of her final report. Thank you. Whilst
:04:20. > :04:23.the competition and market authority's proposal on a safeguard
:04:24. > :04:32.press control is very welcome, and will go some way towards addressing
:04:33. > :04:34.an unfairness that impact the most honourable, it should go much
:04:35. > :04:39.further. Will the Minister therefore committed today to ensuring that
:04:40. > :04:44.pre-eminent customers are prioritised during the smart meter
:04:45. > :04:52.roll-out? I share her support for the proposal from CMA to make sure
:04:53. > :04:56.that the most vulnerable customers, a larger proportion of which are on
:04:57. > :05:00.prepayment meters, and we welcome this approach to make sure we look
:05:01. > :05:03.after them. On smart meters, some energy comes in it are themselves
:05:04. > :05:07.prioritising prepayment meters. We not obliging them to do so because
:05:08. > :05:13.the cost of the roll-out of smart meters is so inherently important in
:05:14. > :05:19.terms of managing people's bills. Will the Secretary of State tell us,
:05:20. > :05:23.so that only inform the 9255 constituents of mine who have
:05:24. > :05:26.prepayment meters, will she tell us why her department will not bring
:05:27. > :05:36.forward its deal poverty strategy for another two years? -- feel
:05:37. > :05:38.poverty. This department takes that very seriously, Mr Speaker and take
:05:39. > :05:42.steps and measures in order to address it. We are forming the
:05:43. > :05:48.renewable heat incentive and equal to focus them or on those most in
:05:49. > :05:51.need, those in fuel poverty. I will ask to reassert her constituents
:05:52. > :05:58.that are committed to doing that and will continue to address that. The
:05:59. > :06:04.CMA report exposes one of the biggest scandals this generation,
:06:05. > :06:08.?1.7 billion that customers have been overcharged. The CMA report
:06:09. > :06:14.recommendations will not kick in until 2018, when people will have
:06:15. > :06:19.been overcharged by ?2.4 billion per year. The Minister must oblige the
:06:20. > :06:23.energy companies to roll out smart meters now. Especially if the
:06:24. > :06:31.government is going to achieve its own recommendations for all house.
:06:32. > :06:34.Have smart meters by 2020. I can reassure the roll-out of smart
:06:35. > :06:37.meters is an obligation on energy companies. They are being regulated
:06:38. > :06:43.by Ofgem to ensure that every household has a smart meter by 2020.
:06:44. > :06:48.The CMA's recommendations observed the competition is the best way to
:06:49. > :06:52.deliver lower prices. We are making sure that more competition enters
:06:53. > :06:57.the market so that customers like her constituents can have access to
:06:58. > :07:02.it and cheaper bills. Prepayment customers are among the most fuel in
:07:03. > :07:08.our society and have fewer dollars options and a more difficult time in
:07:09. > :07:11.switching. -- are amongst the most vulnerable in our society. What is
:07:12. > :07:16.she introducing that'll make it easier for these people to switch?
:07:17. > :07:19.The CMA investigation is the biggest investigation into the energy
:07:20. > :07:23.markets since privatisation. It was one that the Prime Minister promoted
:07:24. > :07:27.by referring the market to Ofgem and on to CMA. In fact, the CMA has
:07:28. > :07:30.specifically focused on this issue and we are going to look at the
:07:31. > :07:36.recommendations they put forward to ensure that those most vulnerable
:07:37. > :07:40.customers also have the option to switch so they're included from
:07:41. > :07:44.competition within the market. Thank you, but the CMA found that 70% of
:07:45. > :07:48.customers were being overcharged and those on prepayment meters only
:07:49. > :07:55.represent 60% of that. They found they had been overcharging ?1.7 per
:07:56. > :08:00.year -- ?1.7 billion per year, rising to more than that in 2015.
:08:01. > :08:04.Whilst there is a cap available for those pre-payment meters, what about
:08:05. > :08:07.the rest of that 70% of customers being overcharged? What will there
:08:08. > :08:11.be for them, apart from urging them to switch? It was of course is
:08:12. > :08:16.appointing that the party opposite both the recommendations... The
:08:17. > :08:20.referral of the energy market from Ofgem to CMA and it is the CMA that
:08:21. > :08:23.have gone forward with these recommendations. I think it is a
:08:24. > :08:28.welcome development and the right honourable lady asks what can be
:08:29. > :08:34.done for the other customers, and the answer is more competition in
:08:35. > :08:37.the market will allow people to switch so her constituents will be
:08:38. > :08:42.able to have access to cheaper bills. I hope that she will welcome
:08:43. > :08:44.the reform in the market that has allowed more competition to develop,
:08:45. > :08:49.which has resulted in lower bills for her constituents and everybody
:08:50. > :08:56.else. GROANING
:08:57. > :09:04.Order. The right honourable lady should not accuse anybody of
:09:05. > :09:07.misleading the House. Order! I do not acquire advice from a woman is,
:09:08. > :09:11.I am capable of dealing with these matters. If she wants to insert the
:09:12. > :09:15.word inadvertently, it would make it moderately less disorderly, although
:09:16. > :09:19.she still should not judge from a sedentary position in the evident
:09:20. > :09:25.disapproval of the stance taken by the Secretary of State. Rather
:09:26. > :09:39.beneath the dignity... I think the Secretary of State... Just withdraw?
:09:40. > :09:44.Will do. Point of order, later on. Thank you. Can I welcome the action
:09:45. > :09:48.that the CMA recommended for prepayment measures but can I urge
:09:49. > :09:51.to go more. I am sure she is as angry as I am about the treatment of
:09:52. > :09:56.these customers and also as angry as we are about the treatment of of
:09:57. > :10:00.customers who have been overcharged to the tune of ?1.7 billion a year.
:10:01. > :10:07.The energy select committee said that the Secretary of State's sudden
:10:08. > :10:10.and numerous policy announcements, lack of transparency, insufficient
:10:11. > :10:14.consideration of investors, policy inconsistency, contradictory
:10:15. > :10:19.approaches, coupled with a lack of a long-term vision, has raised the
:10:20. > :10:26.cost of investing in UK energy by ?3.14 billion per year. Given that
:10:27. > :10:30.she is costing bill payers almost twice as much as the big energy
:10:31. > :10:34.companies, will she refer herself to the CMA?
:10:35. > :10:37.LAUGHTER Well, let me start first by
:10:38. > :10:42.answering the key point that she has made about the 70% of consumers who
:10:43. > :10:46.are not on prepayment meters and are overpaying. The central way to
:10:47. > :10:51.address that 70% is to make sure there is more competition in the
:10:52. > :10:56.market. When we came into office in 2010 there were six suppliers, there
:10:57. > :11:01.are 31 new independent suppliers. Switching times are now down to 17
:11:02. > :11:05.days, and we hope to move down to same-day searching by 2018. All
:11:06. > :11:10.these measures will allow consumers to access a competitive market. In
:11:11. > :11:13.terms of her comments on the Energy and Climate Change Committee, I must
:11:14. > :11:16.say they are random selection of some of the efforts from the select
:11:17. > :11:20.committee. I do not share their views. In fact, I have been advised
:11:21. > :11:24.by a number of people who have attended the Select Committee, and
:11:25. > :11:26.indeed major investors, that they take great comfort from the clear
:11:27. > :11:33.direction that has been set out on this side of the House or the energy
:11:34. > :11:35.policy in the future. Mr Speaker, it is extremely disappointing that
:11:36. > :11:40.after this lengthy investigation she has decided to blame customers
:11:41. > :11:45.themselves for not switching, and instead to let the energy companies
:11:46. > :11:48.off the hook. So perhaps I will try another one with her, Mr Speaker.
:11:49. > :11:53.The CMA inquiry also found that price comparison websites are taking
:11:54. > :11:56.tens of millions of pounds per year in commissions from the biggest
:11:57. > :12:02.energy companies bust up in 2014 alone, they were paid ?24 million.
:12:03. > :12:08.Following her announcement that she will not hesitate to take forward
:12:09. > :12:12.the CMA's recommendations, candy secretary tell the House today
:12:13. > :12:16.whether she plans to implement the recommendation to allow these same
:12:17. > :12:22.websites to know deliberately hide the cheapest deals from customers?
:12:23. > :12:26.Mr Speaker, the honourable lady have misunderstood me. There is no blame
:12:27. > :12:30.here at all for customers. There is no blame being apportioned. What we
:12:31. > :12:33.are saying is that the CMA has provided a wake-up call to the
:12:34. > :12:39.energy companies who now need to take action in order to address the
:12:40. > :12:43.competition within the area. We are confident that their recommendations
:12:44. > :12:46.are going to be key to delivering the competition and the lower prices
:12:47. > :12:51.that the opposition so clearly failed to deliver before 2010. In
:12:52. > :12:56.terms of price comparison websites, we already have a price comparison
:12:57. > :13:03.website which we refer people to who would like to see the opportunity,
:13:04. > :13:05.it will then give customers a choice and I urge the honourable lady to
:13:06. > :13:11.take a look at it herself and perhaps considers watching.
:13:12. > :13:19.Question number two, please. My honourable friend will be delighted
:13:20. > :13:23.to know that we are delivering on our manifesto commitment to end new
:13:24. > :13:28.subsidies for onshore wind and change the law so that local people
:13:29. > :13:35.have the final say on onshore wind farm applications. As of the 14th of
:13:36. > :13:41.March, 64 onshore wind farm applications had in submitted across
:13:42. > :13:48.the UK since June 20 15. Only five of those were in England. I thank
:13:49. > :13:56.her for this minister -- that answer. What impact is this change
:13:57. > :13:59.to the subsidy regime having in ensuring that emerging technologies
:14:00. > :14:03.of generation are able to come forward, because ultimately that is
:14:04. > :14:11.what these subsidies are intended to do? He is exactly right and the
:14:12. > :14:16.government wants to promote a range of energy sources including
:14:17. > :14:20.renewables to help us meet decarbonisation targets while
:14:21. > :14:25.keeping lights on and bills down. In the budget Chancellor announced our
:14:26. > :14:30.intention to hold three allocation rounds in the course of this
:14:31. > :14:35.Parliament, allocating ?370 million over the three auctions for new and
:14:36. > :14:40.emerging technologies, importantly such as offshore wind. As he points
:14:41. > :14:46.out, as the cost of technology has come down we will make sure
:14:47. > :14:51.subsidies do as well. Does she agree with me and many of my constituents
:14:52. > :14:55.that it flies in the face of claims to be the greenest government ever
:14:56. > :15:00.when local people have a veto on onshore wind but when it comes to
:15:01. > :15:05.fracking, particularly in my constituency, their views are not
:15:06. > :15:08.heard and presented? The honourable lady is of course completely wrong
:15:09. > :15:13.because all shale gas applications are subject to the local planning
:15:14. > :15:22.system so communities absolutely do have a say on every planning
:15:23. > :15:30.application for hydraulic fracking. In our constituency we have had many
:15:31. > :15:37.applications for wind turbines. CGN have a Marine project which
:15:38. > :15:40.harnesses tidal wave power as an alternative. Does she agree that
:15:41. > :15:49.those particular types of projects should be given prominence? He is
:15:50. > :15:53.exactly right to point out that there are huge prospects from marine
:15:54. > :15:57.and tidal technologies. They do remain currently very expensive, the
:15:58. > :16:01.government has supported demonstration projects and has
:16:02. > :16:05.looked largely at those possibilities and as -- as they
:16:06. > :16:12.become good value for bill payers we will ring forward proposals to
:16:13. > :16:15.support them further. Does she expect the number of onshore wind
:16:16. > :16:22.applications to fall in the coming year and what impact is this
:16:23. > :16:28.anticipated to have on the renewable wind's proportional share of
:16:29. > :16:33.electricity rates? What I can tell her is that there are a lot of both
:16:34. > :16:38.onshore and offshore wind projects in the pipeline, so we expect the
:16:39. > :16:44.share of renewables to increase in the coming years. She will be aware
:16:45. > :16:48.that we have also announced further CFD auctions specifically to support
:16:49. > :16:52.offshore wind, so we expect further increases in the deployment of
:16:53. > :16:57.offshore wind as costs come down, and that is a key requirement. I
:16:58. > :17:02.certainly expect that onshore wind farms, if communities want them,
:17:03. > :17:06.will be able to deploy, as costs have come down significantly, and we
:17:07. > :17:11.expect that where local communities want them they will be able to
:17:12. > :17:15.deploy without bill payer subsidy. We need to speed up a bit and I am
:17:16. > :17:22.sure we will be led by the honourable gentleman. The UK has
:17:23. > :17:25.applied a reduced rate on 11 different types of energy-saving
:17:26. > :17:31.materials since 2001. That remains in place and that is where we want
:17:32. > :17:43.it to stay. The 13 years Gordon Brown and Labour reduced... With VAT
:17:44. > :17:47.on installations set to increase to 20% after the ECG judgment, would
:17:48. > :17:51.the Minister agree that the most likely route for the British
:17:52. > :18:00.Government to be able to help consumers is to vote Leave on June
:18:01. > :18:03.23. I take issue with his first point, there will be no changes, and
:18:04. > :18:09.if he checked the Finance Bill today he will see that VAT is not rising,
:18:10. > :18:13.as had been foretold previously. That is thanks to, among other
:18:14. > :18:18.things, the Prime Minister's VAT action plan where he was able to go
:18:19. > :18:26.to Brussels and negotiate a better relationship so countries can have
:18:27. > :18:31.their own VAT rate. I would like to follow up on that. It is two days
:18:32. > :18:36.since the government accepted the amendment that I and the honourable
:18:37. > :18:40.friend for Wigan brought to the budget resolution, making the
:18:41. > :18:45.Chancellor the first in history who has had to accept an opposition
:18:46. > :18:52.amendment to his own Budget, that within delivering it in a week. We
:18:53. > :18:57.discover now that the finance bill makes no provision regarding VAT and
:18:58. > :19:00.energy -- on energy-saving products. It is worse than that, my honourable
:19:01. > :19:04.friend has just received a written answer from the financial Secretary
:19:05. > :19:08.stating the government is still considering its policy and that the
:19:09. > :19:14.lower rate of VAT will only continue, quote, in the meantime.
:19:15. > :19:22.Can she tell us if there is now a U-turn on the U-turn? A bit of
:19:23. > :19:26.energy-saving would help. Can I point out to the honourable
:19:27. > :19:30.gentleman that it may only be two days since he tabled that amendment
:19:31. > :19:34.that we have been aware of the problem and have been engaging with
:19:35. > :19:38.Brussels, has declared at the previous Select Committee, so we
:19:39. > :19:46.know this is in the industry's interests and I welcome his rather
:19:47. > :19:52.belated support for it. New gas is already coming forward since 2010
:19:53. > :19:56.six new combined cycle gas turbines have commissioned, representing over
:19:57. > :20:02.eight given -- gigabytes of capacity, but we will need more gas
:20:03. > :20:09.as we close call flowered -- coal-fired power stations. We have
:20:10. > :20:13.changed policy to be able to buy gas earlier in ensuring security of
:20:14. > :20:28.supply during the transition and promoting investment in new plants.
:20:29. > :20:32.Given that a coal-fired station is scheduled to close, can I suggest it
:20:33. > :20:39.would be the ideal site for a new gas station? I want to pay tribute
:20:40. > :20:46.to the Member for Cannock trace -- tannic chase for her work
:20:47. > :20:51.representing those affected by the closing. I encourage the owners to
:20:52. > :20:55.discuss plans with the planning Inspectorate who can discuss
:20:56. > :21:02.building a new plant and how long it might take. Yesterday marked the end
:21:03. > :21:08.of an era with the sad closure of long Annick power station. I would
:21:09. > :21:12.like to give thanks to the countless folks who worked on that to keep the
:21:13. > :21:18.lights on in Scotland for over 40 years. Can she tell us when she
:21:19. > :21:23.expects new CC GT gas in Scotland to replace that station? I would like
:21:24. > :21:28.to place on record in enormous gratitude for all of the work that
:21:29. > :21:35.has gone on over 47 years at that station. It is astonishing that the
:21:36. > :21:42.plant was due to last for about 25 years, so to have extended to 47 is
:21:43. > :21:45.quite impressive. I would said to the honourable gentleman that the
:21:46. > :21:51.capacity market, buying earlier and buying more capacity at a time when
:21:52. > :21:55.wholesale prices are so low and various plants are struggling is in
:21:56. > :21:59.part designed to ensure that new gas comes forward and the location of
:22:00. > :22:07.those combined cycle gas turbines will be a matter for individual
:22:08. > :22:12.developers. It will, but one of the biggest hurdles in terms of new CC
:22:13. > :22:15.GT in Scotland and one of the reasons for the closure was
:22:16. > :22:19.transmission charges, the additional costs levied on generators in
:22:20. > :22:23.Scotland primarily due to their location. This is stopping new gas
:22:24. > :22:30.generation coming forward. Margins are tight, they are getting tighter.
:22:31. > :22:35.Can we remove this barrier? I said to the honourable gentleman, it is
:22:36. > :22:40.quite extraordinary that he says that, because Scottish consumers are
:22:41. > :22:46.huge beneficiaries of the locational charging and it is important to him,
:22:47. > :22:49.he needs to look at the situation in the round. Scottish consumers are
:22:50. > :22:55.beneficiaries of being part of a Great Britain wide energy market and
:22:56. > :22:58.I would like to point out that had the Scots voted for independence
:22:59. > :23:03.today would have been the day they would have been on there own and the
:23:04. > :23:07.issues around things like the price of energy and locational pricing
:23:08. > :23:15.would have worked very much to their detriment without that market. I
:23:16. > :23:17.would like to thank the Member for Stafford, who raised the possibility
:23:18. > :23:24.of building a gas powered power station. In the event that the power
:23:25. > :23:29.station shuts, the existing infrastructure has national gives
:23:30. > :23:34.connectivity and if it had a high skilled -- and it has a high skilled
:23:35. > :23:41.workforce. Can she outline what steps are being taken to promote the
:23:42. > :23:49.development of gas powered sites on such sites? I think she has done a
:23:50. > :23:54.great job in promoting this idea. I don't want to stray into the realms
:23:55. > :23:58.of telling a private company what to do, but we would certainly welcome
:23:59. > :24:02.them looking at the opportunities for a new gas plant. The fact that
:24:03. > :24:08.the capacity market is going to bring forward an auction to give
:24:09. > :24:11.that certainty to prevent shall provide is of new gas plans should
:24:12. > :24:16.give them the opportunity to consider it very seriously. Isn't it
:24:17. > :24:20.very odd that the Tory government never seem to talk about the 40
:24:21. > :24:27.million tonnes that they are importing from countries abroad?
:24:28. > :24:33.Rather than keeping the British pits open, this Tory government has
:24:34. > :24:40.presided over even more imported coal. Which of the power stations
:24:41. > :24:45.will use that? It will not be gas, Babel have to have power stations to
:24:46. > :24:51.use that coal. Where will they be? -- they will have to have. I am sure
:24:52. > :24:58.he will be glad that a new opencast coal mine has just recently started
:24:59. > :25:03.reducing. But the point is... The honourable gentleman must surely
:25:04. > :25:08.acknowledge that the time for deep coal mines is over. The health
:25:09. > :25:10.implications, the carbon implications... Low, but the
:25:11. > :25:15.honourable gentleman must be aware that my department is committed to
:25:16. > :25:23.moving away from coal to gas to energy future. -- no, but. The
:25:24. > :25:29.Secretary of State has produced no impact assessment to go alongside
:25:30. > :25:34.the proposals the Minister has mentioned to bring forward the first
:25:35. > :25:38.year of auctions to the capacity market, but all estimates confirm
:25:39. > :25:45.that the auction will have to clear at a far higher price than has
:25:46. > :25:50.hitherto been the case, with a consequent huge cost for bill payers
:25:51. > :25:56.as result, some estimates saying ?20 will be put on the cost of a bill as
:25:57. > :26:01.a result of these measures. Can she tell us today what she thinks the
:26:02. > :26:05.additional cost on energy bills the customers will be as a result of
:26:06. > :26:09.this proposal and can she look me in the eye and tell me with reasonable
:26:10. > :26:14.conviction that she is sufficiently certain that this auction will bring
:26:15. > :26:15.about substantial long-term capacity agreements the new plant to make
:26:16. > :26:27.that huge cost justified? I can absolutely tell him that
:26:28. > :26:32.bringing forward the capacity market a year earlier, I am trying to make
:26:33. > :26:35.serious eye contact, and tell him it is absolutely in the interest of
:26:36. > :26:44.consumers. We are wholesale basis are no Israeli meaning that all
:26:45. > :26:52.plants are struggling to continue. -- the level of wholesale prices now
:26:53. > :26:58.mean that all plants. It is absolutely in the interests of
:26:59. > :27:03.consumers. Question number six. My department is committed to providing
:27:04. > :27:07.investors with certainty and I set out a clear vision for this
:27:08. > :27:11.Government's energy policy last November in order to do just that.
:27:12. > :27:15.In the past month, we have provided Centre date on the capacity market,
:27:16. > :27:20.options over the next four years and taxation for the UK's Island gas
:27:21. > :27:27.industry. As a result of changes in government policy, Greater
:27:28. > :27:32.Manchester cover to scale back the project from 20 sites to four,
:27:33. > :27:35.meaning 16 skills have missed out on solar panel for the local economy
:27:36. > :27:40.has missed out on more than ?1 million of investment. There are
:27:41. > :27:44.eight megawatts of stalled schemes are Greater Manchester, maybe ten
:27:45. > :27:48.Burns rather amazement. Is that not an indication that government policy
:27:49. > :27:53.is leading to a fall in investor confidence? I do not sure that in
:27:54. > :27:57.tradition. We have seen increased investment in the world this year
:27:58. > :28:01.and other renewables of the world. I would say to him that we have
:28:02. > :28:05.changed the subsidies on solar, which means it will only go forward
:28:06. > :28:08.or it is well faded and makes a good return for the investors. That is
:28:09. > :28:11.what we have to do as a government because we wanted to get the balance
:28:12. > :28:17.between supporting renewables and managing consumers' bills. Investors
:28:18. > :28:20.in low carbon energy need clarity and confidence about the energy
:28:21. > :28:23.strategy for the next decade and beyond. The Chancellor could have
:28:24. > :28:27.provided that clarity by setting at the level of funding in the lady
:28:28. > :28:35.control framework beyond 2020 in last week 's budget is that the
:28:36. > :28:40.lovers conservative colleagues allegedly encouraged him to do.
:28:41. > :28:43.Doesn't she agree this would have improved confidence in low carbon
:28:44. > :28:47.energy? She will be aware that what he did set out in the budget was
:28:48. > :28:51.certainly on the contract in terms of the amount and the ten and that
:28:52. > :28:55.of course was very welcome from the investment community. There will be
:28:56. > :29:00.further announcements but let's bear in mind that the LVF was the first
:29:01. > :29:03.of its kind. It runs until 2021. We have said that we will set out how
:29:04. > :29:07.much will be available in the future and she will just have to be a
:29:08. > :29:10.little bit more patient. Last October, the independent committee
:29:11. > :29:15.on climate change workers that the government's stop start investment
:29:16. > :29:18.profile was undermining investor confidence and increasing the cost
:29:19. > :29:21.of low carbon generation. The Secretary of State ignored them.
:29:22. > :29:27.Last month, the Select Committee reported its concern that increased
:29:28. > :29:30.policy uncertainty leads to increased risk premiums for their
:29:31. > :29:34.stars, resulting in consumer is paying more in the long run. Can the
:29:35. > :29:38.Secretary of State look me in the eye and explain how exactly she
:29:39. > :29:42.thinks this ties in with the Prime Minister's and systems that his
:29:43. > :29:47.government is one that safeguard the interest of future generations? Mr
:29:48. > :29:52.Speaker, can I reassured honourable gentleman that I am quite capable of
:29:53. > :29:55.looking him in the eye and indeed the whole shadow front bench, and
:29:56. > :30:01.reassure him that we are absolutely focused, as the Prime Minister and
:30:02. > :30:03.Chancellor are, in delivering for the future generation, looking after
:30:04. > :30:08.Bill payers. It is about getting the right balance in terms of making
:30:09. > :30:10.sure we support renewable energy for a sufficient amount of time until
:30:11. > :30:20.they can stand on their own two feet. Mr Speaker, as confirmed last
:30:21. > :30:23.Monday during report stage of the energy Bill, I can tell the
:30:24. > :30:27.honourable member that the government will take the step of
:30:28. > :30:31.enshrining into UK law a long-term goal of made zero emissions, which I
:30:32. > :30:36.agreed in Paris last December. The question is not whether we do it,
:30:37. > :30:44.but how we do it. Thank you, Mr Speaker. I am sure we all welcome
:30:45. > :30:51.that, thanks to the campaign waged by my right honourable friend for
:30:52. > :30:56.Doncaster North. But how does she think this will help achieve that
:30:57. > :31:02.target when she has a Minister campaigning? There has been no
:31:03. > :31:07.change of heart. I was at the Paris climate change talks, we fought for
:31:08. > :31:10.a high ambition, we ran the high ambition coalition meetings. We are
:31:11. > :31:17.absolutely committed to delivering on our existing commitments and
:31:18. > :31:19.looking further ahead to them. This Government is committed to that and
:31:20. > :31:24.believes he can do it better staying within the EU. After we pass to the
:31:25. > :31:31.climate change act, we had hoped that other EU countries would follow
:31:32. > :31:33.was in that commitment. None did and since 1990, many have made no
:31:34. > :31:39.emissions savings at all, including for example Austria, Holland and
:31:40. > :31:44.Ireland. We saw the result of this in Paris 21 when the EU submission
:31:45. > :31:50.was significantly lower than the UK targets. Can the Secretary of State
:31:51. > :31:58.look me in the eye, from her position, and tell me that this time
:31:59. > :32:03.we will not be acting unilaterally? Rather tedious business of requests
:32:04. > :32:06.for looking in that I! I say that in the context of answering the
:32:07. > :32:09.honourable gentleman, because her responsibility is to address the
:32:10. > :32:13.House, and if she looks at anybody, she should be looking at the chair.
:32:14. > :32:16.She certainly should not be looking behind her at the honourable
:32:17. > :32:22.gentleman, very agreeable side though they may be. Thank you for
:32:23. > :32:24.that guidance, Mr Speaker. Can I point out to the honourable
:32:25. > :32:29.gentleman that one of the positive elements of the deal achieved in
:32:30. > :32:32.Paris is that other countries are now making commitments. Nvidia is
:32:33. > :32:36.concerned that other EU countries are not making the same commitments
:32:37. > :32:40.as we have made and it is indeed correct that the climate change act
:32:41. > :32:44.as one of the most ambitious. -- I know that he is concerned. We are
:32:45. > :32:49.now seeing the other EU member countries beginning to emulated,
:32:50. > :32:52.although there is more work to do. Since 2010, the government has
:32:53. > :32:56.presided over a sharp reduction in the number of households receiving
:32:57. > :33:01.energy efficiency measures. Does she agree that meeting a net zero
:33:02. > :33:04.emissions target will require a step change in the government's energy
:33:05. > :33:09.efficiency policies? And when will we see that? I wonder if he is aware
:33:10. > :33:14.that there is an EU directive coming in in 2020 to make all new houses
:33:15. > :33:18.nearly net zero. We will be sticking to that and I think that will be a
:33:19. > :33:22.helpful addition to making sure that new houses do not have the same
:33:23. > :33:29.problems that some have at the moment.
:33:30. > :33:33.Thank you, Mr Speaker. Questions on the level of fuel duty are
:33:34. > :33:36.principally a matter for the Treasury, however reducing emissions
:33:37. > :33:39.from vehicles is an important part of this Government's approach to
:33:40. > :33:43.tackling climate change and we are considering carefully how best to
:33:44. > :33:49.deliver this in a way that is affordable for consumers. I do not
:33:50. > :33:54.often argue for increases in prices, but fuel is now cheaper than any
:33:55. > :34:00.time since 2009, less than ?1 per litre in most places where you get
:34:01. > :34:04.fuel. Is it not a bad that this is a terrible impact on the environment.
:34:05. > :34:10.More cars on the road, more air pollution and indeed more accidents
:34:11. > :34:15.on the road. -- is it not a fact that this has a terrible impact on
:34:16. > :34:18.the environment? Should we not think more carefully about this? We always
:34:19. > :34:21.think very carefully about these issues but we believe on this side
:34:22. > :34:24.of the House that it is right to protect family incomes, it is
:34:25. > :34:28.welcome that the cost of fuel is down. And I would add to that that
:34:29. > :34:32.we do not take it for granted that we can make changes to the important
:34:33. > :34:37.we that... The important emissions from vehicles on their own. What we
:34:38. > :34:42.are doing is investing in electric vehicles. We have committed ?609 of
:34:43. > :34:47.funding in a period up to 2021 to support the update and manufacturing
:34:48. > :34:51.of all global emission vehicles, a move which is projected to save 65
:34:52. > :35:00.million tonnes of carbon. -- we have invested ?600 million.
:35:01. > :35:04.Can I just gently point out to you that as my right honourable friend
:35:05. > :35:08.and I are both mothers, we both eyes on the back of her head so you able
:35:09. > :35:13.to make eye contact the chamber. Anyway, as my honourable friend
:35:14. > :35:19.knows, sustainability criteria came into force from the 1st of April
:35:20. > :35:23.2015 and under the renewable heat incentive from the 1st of October
:35:24. > :35:26.2015 and stop these criteria will ensure that biomass is sourced from
:35:27. > :35:32.sustainably managed forests and provide a minimum 60% life-cycle
:35:33. > :35:38.greenhouse gas saving over our average fossil fuel mix. I am very
:35:39. > :35:44.grateful. Then I congratulate the Minister and her department for the
:35:45. > :35:48.fact that the UK's sustainability criteria for biomass is amongst the
:35:49. > :35:50.most robust in the world. But could you tell the House while her
:35:51. > :35:59.department is holding back from for the appointment -- further
:36:00. > :36:02.deploying, deployment of reliable low carbon power? On the 17th of
:36:03. > :36:11.March, the Chancellor announced that the overall budget will total ?730
:36:12. > :36:16.million of annual support. And this is for port two, which includes
:36:17. > :36:20.biomass combined heat and power, advised conversion technologies and
:36:21. > :36:23.anaerobic digester in. We see the use of biomass in cold conversions
:36:24. > :36:29.as a transitional technology helping of honour our part to a low carbon
:36:30. > :36:33.economy. Were they made significant commitments to the sector,
:36:34. > :36:40.supporting 1.6 gigawatts of biomass conversions.
:36:41. > :36:46.I recently met with a group of EU foresters, a very unusual meeting,
:36:47. > :36:48.at a supposedly in my constituency to discuss sustainable forestry.
:36:49. > :36:54.Expressed concerns that are growing biomass industry is putting pressure
:36:55. > :36:58.on many countries further afield to supply would, possibly causing
:36:59. > :37:01.deforestation. But I wanted the Minister to give us assurances that
:37:02. > :37:12.sustainability is an absolutely key part of encouraging this exciting
:37:13. > :37:16.new biomass industry. Minister! My honourable friend enjoys that kind
:37:17. > :37:20.of meeting very much indeed, I am aware of that, Mr Speaker. I can
:37:21. > :37:23.absolutely assure her that we do keep the whole Western
:37:24. > :37:29.sustainability under review. She will be interested to that analysis
:37:30. > :37:32.of the 2013 slash 14 sustainability data that companies reported to
:37:33. > :37:36.Ofgem under they are all sure that all of the report of biomass
:37:37. > :37:41.achieved the greenhouse gas saving targets and met the land criteria
:37:42. > :37:45.two years before these were mandatory. But we did keep this
:37:46. > :37:53.under review. Questions 12, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, Shell gas could
:37:54. > :37:57.become a valuable new industry and it is in the strong interest of the
:37:58. > :38:01.UK to explore its potential. However, we are to tenant to protect
:38:02. > :38:05.our most viable spaces and therefore it is our intention to answer those
:38:06. > :38:11.liberal drilling in our most precious areas, including national
:38:12. > :38:14.parks and triple S Is. We have also regulated to make sure that
:38:15. > :38:19.hydraulic fracturing cannot take place at less than 1200 metres under
:38:20. > :38:23.protected areas. Thank you for that reply and wealth I am sure it will
:38:24. > :38:30.allay the concerns of some, as my honourable friend believes that more
:38:31. > :38:33.can be done to extol the positive birches of shale gas, including for
:38:34. > :38:39.example the new jobs and security of energy it will bring? Yes, my
:38:40. > :38:44.honourable friend is right to point out there are lots of benefits of
:38:45. > :38:49.shale gas. First of all, energy security, we could be importing
:38:50. > :38:52.around 75% of the 2030. Secondly, jobs. The industry could mean jobs
:38:53. > :38:58.and opportunities for the UK. The report estimated a thriving shale
:38:59. > :39:04.industry would create up to 64,000 jobs. And thirdly, benefits to
:39:05. > :39:09.communities, those developments will see a direct share of the benefits
:39:10. > :39:14.to an industry funded package. The shale will fund will see up to 10%
:39:15. > :39:20.of the tax revenues from shale gas levering benefit directly to
:39:21. > :39:23.communities. Number 13, please. The government announced a package of
:39:24. > :39:28.proposed cost control measures last year to tackle the projected
:39:29. > :39:35.overspend on support schemes. It is right that subsidies do come down as
:39:36. > :39:38.the president. We are committed to supporting, supporting renewable
:39:39. > :39:43.energy but the lowest cost to consumers. I meet up regularly with
:39:44. > :39:47.a number of business men and women in my constituency engaged in the
:39:48. > :39:51.renewable and industry to stop but she agree we must support this
:39:52. > :39:55.entrepreneurship in the renewables industry? My honourable friend is
:39:56. > :40:01.absolutely right. That is entirely deeper before subsidies, to get new
:40:02. > :40:05.industry, new innovations in the renewable industry, a good start. It
:40:06. > :40:09.is not intended to be permanent. It is about giving them a good start so
:40:10. > :40:17.they can then carry on and deliver secure, renewable energy, subsidy
:40:18. > :40:21.free. Number 14. My department has taken action to make it simpler and
:40:22. > :40:24.quicker to switch suppliers and I am happy to tell my honourable friend
:40:25. > :40:29.that a number of house of switching supplier is increasing. In 2015, it
:40:30. > :40:34.reached a four-year high. The latest figures released by Ofgem show that
:40:35. > :40:41.6.1 million domestic energy supplier accounts were switched in 2015, a
:40:42. > :40:47.15% increase on 2014. I thank her for that reply and also thank her
:40:48. > :40:50.for assistance in my work at trying to create a receipt of that winter
:40:51. > :40:55.field payment letter as a switching point for those who are retired.
:40:56. > :40:59.Good she see what further steps her and her department will take to
:41:00. > :41:02.ensure that the older citizens in this country are encouraged to
:41:03. > :41:05.switch because they have traditionally been the hardest to
:41:06. > :41:09.each group? My honourable friend is entirely right to focus on that
:41:10. > :41:12.older group who sometimes are more resistant to switching. I thank him
:41:13. > :41:15.for the help that he has given in terms of working with the
:41:16. > :41:18.behavioural insights team and the Department on ways to encourage more
:41:19. > :41:22.elderly people to switch suppliers through argumentation is to those
:41:23. > :41:27.people who are energy for winter -- who are eligible for winter fuel
:41:28. > :41:30.payments. Proposals were made just last week for a design to encourage
:41:31. > :41:35.all consumers to switch, including those over 65. We have committed to
:41:36. > :41:39.appropriate implementation of the recommendations following
:41:40. > :41:45.publication of this report in full. Question 15, Mr Speaker. Last week,
:41:46. > :41:49.the Chancellor announced a billion pound fiscal package to reduce the
:41:50. > :41:54.additional taxes historically imposed on the North Sea as well as
:41:55. > :41:58.introducing targeted measures to encourage investment in exploration
:41:59. > :42:02.infrastructure and let live assets. This builds on the Prime Minister's
:42:03. > :42:08.January announcement of a ?20 million package of new investment in
:42:09. > :42:12.exploration, innovation and skills, a new interministerial group and
:42:13. > :42:22.funding for the ?250 million Aberdeen city region deal.
:42:23. > :42:28.Oil and Gas UK say we need a fourfold increase in production to
:42:29. > :42:35.make sure the -- in exploration to make sure the oil and gas is
:42:36. > :42:39.recoverable. Can she expand a little on what other action the UK
:42:40. > :42:42.Government is going to take to increase the confidence in the
:42:43. > :42:50.industry and encourage further exploration? It is a vital industry
:42:51. > :42:55.for the UK and we will continue to support it in every way we can. I
:42:56. > :43:02.have mentioned some of the measures, apps I can reiterate that in setting
:43:03. > :43:08.up the oil in a spot authority we are establishing an authority that
:43:09. > :43:12.is welcomed by the industry. -- oil and gas authority. It will improve
:43:13. > :43:17.the economic recovery from the sector and make sure we don't move
:43:18. > :43:25.to a early decommissioning. Number 16. My department has made good
:43:26. > :43:28.progress in setting up the review team and we will shortly be
:43:29. > :43:32.announcing the name of the individual to lead the review. The
:43:33. > :43:38.review is on track to start in the spring and we hope to complete in
:43:39. > :43:43.the autumn. It has been six weeks since the department announced the
:43:44. > :43:48.independent review into tidal lagoon and two weeks since she assured me
:43:49. > :43:52.that the make up was being considered, quad, right now. Why are
:43:53. > :43:59.we still in the position, six weeks later that the review has not
:44:00. > :44:04.started? I appreciate that the park -- that the department is genuine in
:44:05. > :44:09.its desire to get the work done but we need this done urgently. I
:44:10. > :44:14.appreciate the urgency but we want to get this right, so we have gone
:44:15. > :44:18.ahead in the department with preparing for the review. It is a
:44:19. > :44:21.question of appointing the independent reviewer to complete
:44:22. > :44:26.that and agreeing the formal terms with them, but we appreciate the
:44:27. > :44:36.urgency, we are serious about the review and we will move with all due
:44:37. > :44:39.speed and keep her post it. Energy storage has been identified as one
:44:40. > :44:50.of the eight great technologies where the UK has -- can lead the
:44:51. > :44:56.world. My department has published a document, towards a smart energy
:44:57. > :44:58.system, last December, and we are urgently investigating potential
:44:59. > :45:02.barriers to deployment of energy storage and we will be issuing a
:45:03. > :45:10.call for evidence in the near future. I welcome that statement.
:45:11. > :45:15.Regulatory barriers, some minor, are having a chilling effect on the
:45:16. > :45:20.roll-out of energy stories -- storage technologies. Can she give
:45:21. > :45:23.an assurance that the government are removing these barriers with the
:45:24. > :45:30.degree of urgency required to remain a leader of this field? Absolutely I
:45:31. > :45:37.can. I recently held a round table meeting with players in the storage
:45:38. > :45:42.sector and her first time -- first-hand exactly where they think
:45:43. > :45:47.the challenges lie and my deportment is -- department is working hard to
:45:48. > :45:54.make sure we remove barriers in the quickest and EDS to way possible.
:45:55. > :46:06.Topical questions. -- quickest and easiest way. Since 2010 we have more
:46:07. > :46:11.troubled our capacity. 50% has been invested in renewables. In 2010 they
:46:12. > :46:16.provided just over 70% of electricity. That went up to nearly
:46:17. > :46:23.one fifth of the UK electricity needs in 2015 and we are on track to
:46:24. > :46:30.deliver 35% by 2020-21, exceeding our ambition of 30%. At the last
:46:31. > :46:35.oral questions the Member for Ashton-under-Lyne asked about the
:46:36. > :46:39.planned rise in VAT on solar energy and she told us the government had
:46:40. > :46:44.no choice but to implement the European Court decision. When the
:46:45. > :46:47.financial Secretary was filling in for the Chancellor on Tuesday he
:46:48. > :46:51.said they had planned not to go ahead weeks ago. Did she
:46:52. > :47:00.inadvertently mislead the House or was she not kept informed? I think
:47:01. > :47:05.we should just welcome the outcome. It is always unwise to underestimate
:47:06. > :47:13.the Prime Minister, who achieved a great victory for VAT and solar
:47:14. > :47:18.energy in Brussels ten days ago. Does she agree that the best way for
:47:19. > :47:22.consumers to get the best deal on energy bills is for energy companies
:47:23. > :47:29.to take seriously the possibility that consumers will quickly and
:47:30. > :47:34.easily switch suppliers, so the government is cutting down the time
:47:35. > :47:39.it takes to switch? I agree that reliable switching underpins a
:47:40. > :47:43.competitive energy market and puts consumers in control. That is why
:47:44. > :47:47.the time it takes to switch has been halved from five weeks to two and a
:47:48. > :47:52.half weeks but we don't want to start there so we are working with
:47:53. > :47:57.Ofgem and the industry to deliver reliable switching with an
:47:58. > :48:02.aspiration to do this by 2018 and we will bring forward legislation to
:48:03. > :48:06.achieve this. With fresh doubts over whether a new nuclear station will
:48:07. > :48:12.ever be built at Hinkley Point see, it appears that Britain's energy
:48:13. > :48:16.security is in the hands of the French and Chinese governments. --
:48:17. > :48:20.Hinkley Point C. If the Chinese government decides not to offer up
:48:21. > :48:29.more money, will our taxpayers will be on the hook? I can reassure her
:48:30. > :48:34.that this proposal in Hinkley Point will be going ahead. I don't share
:48:35. > :48:39.her doubts, but to give further reassurance I would like to tell her
:48:40. > :48:46.that Hinkley Point is an important part of our low-carbon future bid it
:48:47. > :48:49.is not the only point in the budget. The Chancellor announced further
:48:50. > :48:57.support the small modular reactors, which can be part of a low carbon
:48:58. > :49:00.future. The government's affordable warmth obligation has enabled
:49:01. > :49:06.thousands of low income households to replace bowlers but there is no
:49:07. > :49:10.obligation on energy companies to upgrade the rest of the heating
:49:11. > :49:15.system, leaving a pensioner in my constituency with no heating over
:49:16. > :49:19.winter. Can she look into this and make sure that when energy companies
:49:20. > :49:24.upgrade boilers they are following through and not leaving people
:49:25. > :49:29.short? He raises an important point and we are absolutely committed in
:49:30. > :49:40.mind department to support those in most need. Since 20 -- for years
:49:41. > :49:45.boiler upgrades have come with a warranty covering the boiler and the
:49:46. > :49:50.heating system it serves, so I would encourage customers to face problems
:49:51. > :50:01.to register a complaint so remedial action can be taken. In 2012 the
:50:02. > :50:03.Prime Minister stated that we will be legislating so that energy
:50:04. > :50:10.companies have to give the lowest tariff to their customers. This has
:50:11. > :50:15.not been done. The Secretary of State has 11000 and more customers
:50:16. > :50:23.in her constituency who... If the Minister is reluctant to legislate,
:50:24. > :50:30.or will she at least agree to total transparency in the energy sector?
:50:31. > :50:33.She should know there is no reluctance on this side to take
:50:34. > :50:45.action where required. This side of the House took action on referring
:50:46. > :50:50.energy companies to the CMA and we will be supporting the proposals
:50:51. > :50:56.from the CMA on prepayment customers, helping my constituents
:50:57. > :50:58.and hers. I would like to congratulate her on progress made
:50:59. > :51:07.steering us towards a low carbon economy. Many businesses are
:51:08. > :51:12.dressing this head on and the value of the low carbon economy is ?120
:51:13. > :51:17.billion but we need to tackle energy efficiency for our homes. Could she
:51:18. > :51:23.give us an indication as to whether she might consider a zero carbon
:51:24. > :51:29.policy being introduced again for houses? There are two things we can
:51:30. > :51:34.draw attention to to address the question. One is the Bonfield review
:51:35. > :51:40.which will be reporting shortly, which looks at consumer protection
:51:41. > :51:43.within energy efficiency matters, ensuring that energy-efficient items
:51:44. > :51:49.that are taken forward really deliver on what they set out to do.
:51:50. > :51:56.Secondly, the EU energy performance are links directive requires all new
:51:57. > :52:08.buildings to be nearly zero net energy by 2020. -- buildings
:52:09. > :52:11.directive. I bet the Minister ?100, proceeds to charity, that Hinkley
:52:12. > :52:18.Point C will not be built without even more public subsidy being
:52:19. > :52:21.offered. Will she take that bet? Apart from looking people in the
:52:22. > :52:26.eyes I am not in habit of taking bets across the chamber but I am
:52:27. > :52:29.happy to reassure him that I am completely confident that the
:52:30. > :52:37.project will go ahead and it will not be the only new nuclear
:52:38. > :52:42.commission under this government. As a promoter of the Warm Homes and
:52:43. > :52:50.Energy Conservation Act 15 years ago I am disappointed that fuel poverty
:52:51. > :52:54.has not been eliminated. I know she is determined in trying to eliminate
:52:55. > :52:58.fuel poverty but should -- but will she continue to consult widely on
:52:59. > :53:04.energy efficiency matters so we meet these targets? I thank him and he
:53:05. > :53:12.was at -- and early campaigner on this area. My department in place
:53:13. > :53:18.measures requiring us to bring as many fuel poor homes as reasonably
:53:19. > :53:26.practicable up to the band C level by 2030. We will be consulting
:53:27. > :53:33.widely on our proposals to reform the scheme in the next few months.
:53:34. > :53:38.Could I ask to say if she would like to reflect on her earlier answer to
:53:39. > :53:43.the question where she may have inadvertently misled the House when
:53:44. > :53:47.she said that Labour not support the suggestion by the CMA? We did
:53:48. > :53:51.support it but before we -- before it was announced we acknowledged
:53:52. > :53:55.that the majority of customers were being overcharged. Will she
:53:56. > :54:00.acknowledge that CMA reports have now twice confirmed what we said,
:54:01. > :54:06.that the majority of customers are being overcharged on energy bills? I
:54:07. > :54:10.would not want the House to be misled in any respect so let us be
:54:11. > :54:17.clear, Labour supported the referral to the CMA but then argued in 2014
:54:18. > :54:21.that another investigation was not needed, and it is this investigation
:54:22. > :54:24.that has delivered results that we will be legislating for that will
:54:25. > :54:32.make the biggest difference to lower bills for customers. I know the
:54:33. > :54:37.Secretary of State is aware of the horrendous flooding in my
:54:38. > :54:41.constituency on Boxing Day. Will she say what steps her department is
:54:42. > :54:48.taking to make sure that there is security of energy supply to flood
:54:49. > :54:52.hit areas of Lancashire? I can tell him that I took part in the Cobra
:54:53. > :54:57.meetings over Christmas and it was devastating to see the distress and
:54:58. > :55:01.the awful problems the flooding caused. I can tell him as part of
:55:02. > :55:07.the National flood resilience review we are working with industry to
:55:08. > :55:13.reduce flood risk for energy infrastructure and we all looking to
:55:14. > :55:17.improve resilience where ever we can and with energy companies we are
:55:18. > :55:24.working to make sure there is an appropriate response to any revised
:55:25. > :55:34.advice. Last Christmas saw the end of the mine coal mining in this
:55:35. > :55:41.country. -- deep mine. 30% of cold imported into this country came from
:55:42. > :55:48.Colombia. Her economic plan is being fuelled by child and slave labour. I
:55:49. > :55:53.am sorry that he takes that approach. Domestic coal mining has
:55:54. > :56:00.been in decline for the past 60 years and imports are absolutely
:56:01. > :56:05.cheaper, and it is for private companies to decide to choose the
:56:06. > :56:10.cheapest options. The government has done all it can to reduce the
:56:11. > :56:14.impacts of the most recent closures, including injecting up to ?20
:56:15. > :56:19.million to help the directors of Hatfield to manage the closure of
:56:20. > :56:29.the business, ?17 million to UK Coal to help the company deliver its
:56:30. > :56:34.two-year closure plan and to meet UK fuel allowances.
:56:35. > :56:40.I thank her for the meeting she has held with me to do with the able
:56:41. > :56:44.development in my constituency with the potential for 4000 new jobs. Can
:56:45. > :56:47.she give me an update on whether there is any news of the
:56:48. > :56:52.implementation of the memorandum of understanding with the energy
:56:53. > :56:55.company? I am grateful to my honourable friend for continually
:56:56. > :56:59.holding my feet to the fire on this point and I can assure him I have
:57:00. > :57:06.added a number of individual meetings with developers to press
:57:07. > :57:11.for UK content as far as possible in the offshore wind sector and I am
:57:12. > :57:14.getting some very good responses. And in particular, he will be aware
:57:15. > :57:19.that there is going to be a strategy review of East of England and that
:57:20. > :57:25.will include the potential for the development at Abel. I am positive
:57:26. > :57:31.about the prospects. If the Minister admitting today, as she apparently
:57:32. > :57:38.seems to be, that this Government is more concerned about bringing in
:57:39. > :57:48.cheap call from Columbia because it is cheap, even though it is produced
:57:49. > :57:52.by child slave labour? -- cheap coal from Columbia. She has got a chance
:57:53. > :57:59.to amend it. What I can say to the honourable gentleman is that private
:58:00. > :58:04.companies in the UK choose their suppliers. It is not government
:58:05. > :58:08.bringing in coal. You must understand that. And what this
:58:09. > :58:13.Government absolutely urges all private companies to look very
:58:14. > :58:18.carefully at their supply chain. They will choose cheaper imports but
:58:19. > :58:24.equally they have to stand up and be counted for their own policies on
:58:25. > :58:32.the sort of conditions that they are to sing. The government does not
:58:33. > :58:37.purchase coal, he realises that. Many people in Cheltenham share my
:58:38. > :58:42.wishes to see is strong and vibrant solar sector. Reducing the solar
:58:43. > :58:45.feed in tariff is no doubt necessary and appropriate given the plummeting
:58:46. > :58:48.costs also about what reassurances can be provided that the new price
:58:49. > :58:53.will continue to sustain jobs in this important industry? I thank him
:58:54. > :58:59.for that question and now that he has been a champion for the solar
:59:00. > :59:01.industry within his constituency, where there are a number of
:59:02. > :59:06.businesses that thrive on the solar area. And I can reassure him that we
:59:07. > :59:10.are still seeing high levels of solar being installed, but they are
:59:11. > :59:14.not going to be as high as they have been when the feed in tariffs were
:59:15. > :59:18.really delivering such a high yield. That is right. It is right to get
:59:19. > :59:21.the balance of supporting solar and renewables, which delivers important
:59:22. > :59:26.jobs, and also looking after the consumer. With the intention of this
:59:27. > :59:32.Government to build Hinkley point see at any price? The honourable
:59:33. > :59:36.gentleman I am sure is aware that it is not for this Government to build
:59:37. > :59:39.a Hinkley, it is for EDF to build it. That is why we have put the
:59:40. > :59:45.arrangement in place where we only pay when they electricity is
:59:46. > :59:50.generated. That is the sound arrangement that we have to do is
:59:51. > :59:54.due to start generating that electricity, when we will start
:59:55. > :59:57.paying, in approximately ten years. Thank you, Mr Speaker. Will the
:59:58. > :00:01.Secretary of State confirm that in any assessment of the Hinkley point
:00:02. > :00:04.project she will also look at the wider economic benefit to the
:00:05. > :00:09.south-west peninsula from what would be the largest civil engineering
:00:10. > :00:13.project? He is absolutely right, there are wider benefits to Hinkley
:00:14. > :00:18.going ahead. There are benefits in terms of low carbon electricity and
:00:19. > :00:22.meeting our targets and security, but there are also benefits, he is
:00:23. > :00:25.absolutely right, in terms of jobs and developing skills. It is a great
:00:26. > :00:28.loss to this country that under Labour we did not develop more
:00:29. > :00:39.nuclear skills and nuclear reactors. We are putting that right. Urgent
:00:40. > :00:42.question, Heidi Alexander. To ask the Secretary of State for Health
:00:43. > :00:45.that he will make a statement on what steps he stay keen to avoid
:00:46. > :00:53.further industrial action by junior doctors. -- he is taking. Mr
:00:54. > :00:57.Speaker, yesterday the junior doctors committee of the just
:00:58. > :00:58.medical Association