Live Energy and Climate Change Questions House of Commons

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the House of commons. In

an hour, the Shadow Health Secretary will be asking an urgent question on

the next series of strikes planned by junior doctors. The dispute has

been escalated to cover walk-outs from hospital emergency departments.

After 11am, the Leader of the House will be asking questions --

answering questions on forthcoming Parliamentary business after Easter

recess. The main business in the chamber today is a debate on Court

closures. One fifth of all cords and a tribunal in England and Wales are

scheduled for closure is to stop it is followed by a general debate

ahead of the two-week Easter recess, when backbench MPs can raise any

issue, local or national, that they want to. Don't forget to join me for

a round-up of the day in both houses of parliament at 11pm. First,

questions to the energy secretary Amber Rudd, and her ministerial

team. Order, order. Dame Rosie Winterton.

I beg to move that Mr Speaker to issue his warrant to the clerk of

the Crown to make out a new writ for the letting of a member to serve in

this present Parliament for the borough constituency of Sheffield,

Brightside and Hillsborough in the rid of the Robert Howley had

deceased. The question is that I do issue my warrant to the clerk of the

ground to make out a new rate for the electing of a member to serve in

the present Parliament for the borough constituency of Sheffield,

Brightside and Hillsborough in the room of Robert Hardman, deceased.

Those that opinion the eye. On the contrary no. The eyes might. The

eyes might have it. Dame Rosie Winterton. I beg to move that Mr

Speaker do issue his warrant to the clerk of the Crown to make out a

newsletter for the electing of a member to serve in this present

Parliament for the county constituency of Ogmore, in the room

of the MP who is in the selection for the said county constituency has

been appointed to the office of Stewart and beloved of Her Majesty's

manner of lost out in the county of Europe. The question is that I do

issue my warrant for the clerk of the ground to make out a new rate

for the electing of a member to serve in the present Parliament for

the county constituency of Ogmore in the room of Mr Davis, who since his

election has been appointed to the office of Steward And Beloved Of Her

Majesty's Manner Of North Stayed In The County Of Your Full So" As Many

Of That Opinion Say Ayes. The Ayes Habit. The Ayes Habit. Any More?!

Order, Questions To The Secretary Of State For Energy And Climate.

Question number one. I will answer this question with permission of

numbers four and men together. The government wants to see energy bills

reduced for all consumers and one of the best listed and is by switching.

The government... The honourable lady has written important point by

highlighting the barriers that indebted prepayment customers based

in doing so. The competition and market authority's provisional

remedies report greatly encrypts a recommendation that Ofgem should

take steps to address these barriers and I will consider these issues

carefully following publication of her final report. Thank you. Whilst

the competition and market authority's proposal on a safeguard

press control is very welcome, and will go some way towards addressing

an unfairness that impact the most honourable, it should go much

further. Will the Minister therefore committed today to ensuring that

pre-eminent customers are prioritised during the smart meter

roll-out? I share her support for the proposal from CMA to make sure

that the most vulnerable customers, a larger proportion of which are on

prepayment meters, and we welcome this approach to make sure we look

after them. On smart meters, some energy comes in it are themselves

prioritising prepayment meters. We not obliging them to do so because

the cost of the roll-out of smart meters is so inherently important in

terms of managing people's bills. Will the Secretary of State tell us,

so that only inform the 9255 constituents of mine who have

prepayment meters, will she tell us why her department will not bring

forward its deal poverty strategy for another two years? -- feel

poverty. This department takes that very seriously, Mr Speaker and take

steps and measures in order to address it. We are forming the

renewable heat incentive and equal to focus them or on those most in

need, those in fuel poverty. I will ask to reassert her constituents

that are committed to doing that and will continue to address that. The

CMA report exposes one of the biggest scandals this generation,

?1.7 billion that customers have been overcharged. The CMA report

recommendations will not kick in until 2018, when people will have

been overcharged by ?2.4 billion per year. The Minister must oblige the

energy companies to roll out smart meters now. Especially if the

government is going to achieve its own recommendations for all house.

Have smart meters by 2020. I can reassure the roll-out of smart

meters is an obligation on energy companies. They are being regulated

by Ofgem to ensure that every household has a smart meter by 2020.

The CMA's recommendations observed the competition is the best way to

deliver lower prices. We are making sure that more competition enters

the market so that customers like her constituents can have access to

it and cheaper bills. Prepayment customers are among the most fuel in

our society and have fewer dollars options and a more difficult time in

switching. -- are amongst the most vulnerable in our society. What is

she introducing that'll make it easier for these people to switch?

The CMA investigation is the biggest investigation into the energy

markets since privatisation. It was one that the Prime Minister promoted

by referring the market to Ofgem and on to CMA. In fact, the CMA has

specifically focused on this issue and we are going to look at the

recommendations they put forward to ensure that those most vulnerable

customers also have the option to switch so they're included from

competition within the market. Thank you, but the CMA found that 70% of

customers were being overcharged and those on prepayment meters only

represent 60% of that. They found they had been overcharging ?1.7 per

year -- ?1.7 billion per year, rising to more than that in 2015.

Whilst there is a cap available for those pre-payment meters, what about

the rest of that 70% of customers being overcharged? What will there

be for them, apart from urging them to switch? It was of course is

appointing that the party opposite both the recommendations... The

referral of the energy market from Ofgem to CMA and it is the CMA that

have gone forward with these recommendations. I think it is a

welcome development and the right honourable lady asks what can be

done for the other customers, and the answer is more competition in

the market will allow people to switch so her constituents will be

able to have access to cheaper bills. I hope that she will welcome

the reform in the market that has allowed more competition to develop,

which has resulted in lower bills for her constituents and everybody

else. GROANING

Order. The right honourable lady should not accuse anybody of

misleading the House. Order! I do not acquire advice from a woman is,

I am capable of dealing with these matters. If she wants to insert the

word inadvertently, it would make it moderately less disorderly, although

she still should not judge from a sedentary position in the evident

disapproval of the stance taken by the Secretary of State. Rather

beneath the dignity... I think the Secretary of State... Just withdraw?

Will do. Point of order, later on. Thank you. Can I welcome the action

that the CMA recommended for prepayment measures but can I urge

to go more. I am sure she is as angry as I am about the treatment of

these customers and also as angry as we are about the treatment of of

customers who have been overcharged to the tune of ?1.7 billion a year.

The energy select committee said that the Secretary of State's sudden

and numerous policy announcements, lack of transparency, insufficient

consideration of investors, policy inconsistency, contradictory

approaches, coupled with a lack of a long-term vision, has raised the

cost of investing in UK energy by ?3.14 billion per year. Given that

she is costing bill payers almost twice as much as the big energy

companies, will she refer herself to the CMA?

LAUGHTER Well, let me start first by

answering the key point that she has made about the 70% of consumers who

are not on prepayment meters and are overpaying. The central way to

address that 70% is to make sure there is more competition in the

market. When we came into office in 2010 there were six suppliers, there

are 31 new independent suppliers. Switching times are now down to 17

days, and we hope to move down to same-day searching by 2018. All

these measures will allow consumers to access a competitive market. In

terms of her comments on the Energy and Climate Change Committee, I must

say they are random selection of some of the efforts from the select

committee. I do not share their views. In fact, I have been advised

by a number of people who have attended the Select Committee, and

indeed major investors, that they take great comfort from the clear

direction that has been set out on this side of the House or the energy

policy in the future. Mr Speaker, it is extremely disappointing that

after this lengthy investigation she has decided to blame customers

themselves for not switching, and instead to let the energy companies

off the hook. So perhaps I will try another one with her, Mr Speaker.

The CMA inquiry also found that price comparison websites are taking

tens of millions of pounds per year in commissions from the biggest

energy companies bust up in 2014 alone, they were paid ?24 million.

Following her announcement that she will not hesitate to take forward

the CMA's recommendations, candy secretary tell the House today

whether she plans to implement the recommendation to allow these same

websites to know deliberately hide the cheapest deals from customers?

Mr Speaker, the honourable lady have misunderstood me. There is no blame

here at all for customers. There is no blame being apportioned. What we

are saying is that the CMA has provided a wake-up call to the

energy companies who now need to take action in order to address the

competition within the area. We are confident that their recommendations

are going to be key to delivering the competition and the lower prices

that the opposition so clearly failed to deliver before 2010. In

terms of price comparison websites, we already have a price comparison

website which we refer people to who would like to see the opportunity,

it will then give customers a choice and I urge the honourable lady to

take a look at it herself and perhaps considers watching.

Question number two, please. My honourable friend will be delighted

to know that we are delivering on our manifesto commitment to end new

subsidies for onshore wind and change the law so that local people

have the final say on onshore wind farm applications. As of the 14th of

March, 64 onshore wind farm applications had in submitted across

the UK since June 20 15. Only five of those were in England. I thank

her for this minister -- that answer. What impact is this change

to the subsidy regime having in ensuring that emerging technologies

of generation are able to come forward, because ultimately that is

what these subsidies are intended to do? He is exactly right and the

government wants to promote a range of energy sources including

renewables to help us meet decarbonisation targets while

keeping lights on and bills down. In the budget Chancellor announced our

intention to hold three allocation rounds in the course of this

Parliament, allocating ?370 million over the three auctions for new and

emerging technologies, importantly such as offshore wind. As he points

out, as the cost of technology has come down we will make sure

subsidies do as well. Does she agree with me and many of my constituents

that it flies in the face of claims to be the greenest government ever

when local people have a veto on onshore wind but when it comes to

fracking, particularly in my constituency, their views are not

heard and presented? The honourable lady is of course completely wrong

because all shale gas applications are subject to the local planning

system so communities absolutely do have a say on every planning

application for hydraulic fracking. In our constituency we have had many

applications for wind turbines. CGN have a Marine project which

harnesses tidal wave power as an alternative. Does she agree that

those particular types of projects should be given prominence? He is

exactly right to point out that there are huge prospects from marine

and tidal technologies. They do remain currently very expensive, the

government has supported demonstration projects and has

looked largely at those possibilities and as -- as they

become good value for bill payers we will ring forward proposals to

support them further. Does she expect the number of onshore wind

applications to fall in the coming year and what impact is this

anticipated to have on the renewable wind's proportional share of

electricity rates? What I can tell her is that there are a lot of both

onshore and offshore wind projects in the pipeline, so we expect the

share of renewables to increase in the coming years. She will be aware

that we have also announced further CFD auctions specifically to support

offshore wind, so we expect further increases in the deployment of

offshore wind as costs come down, and that is a key requirement. I

certainly expect that onshore wind farms, if communities want them,

will be able to deploy, as costs have come down significantly, and we

expect that where local communities want them they will be able to

deploy without bill payer subsidy. We need to speed up a bit and I am

sure we will be led by the honourable gentleman. The UK has

applied a reduced rate on 11 different types of energy-saving

materials since 2001. That remains in place and that is where we want

it to stay. The 13 years Gordon Brown and Labour reduced... With VAT

on installations set to increase to 20% after the ECG judgment, would

the Minister agree that the most likely route for the British

Government to be able to help consumers is to vote Leave on June

23. I take issue with his first point, there will be no changes, and

if he checked the Finance Bill today he will see that VAT is not rising,

as had been foretold previously. That is thanks to, among other

things, the Prime Minister's VAT action plan where he was able to go

to Brussels and negotiate a better relationship so countries can have

their own VAT rate. I would like to follow up on that. It is two days

since the government accepted the amendment that I and the honourable

friend for Wigan brought to the budget resolution, making the

Chancellor the first in history who has had to accept an opposition

amendment to his own Budget, that within delivering it in a week. We

discover now that the finance bill makes no provision regarding VAT and

energy -- on energy-saving products. It is worse than that, my honourable

friend has just received a written answer from the financial Secretary

stating the government is still considering its policy and that the

lower rate of VAT will only continue, quote, in the meantime.

Can she tell us if there is now a U-turn on the U-turn? A bit of

energy-saving would help. Can I point out to the honourable

gentleman that it may only be two days since he tabled that amendment

that we have been aware of the problem and have been engaging with

Brussels, has declared at the previous Select Committee, so we

know this is in the industry's interests and I welcome his rather

belated support for it. New gas is already coming forward since 2010

six new combined cycle gas turbines have commissioned, representing over

eight given -- gigabytes of capacity, but we will need more gas

as we close call flowered -- coal-fired power stations. We have

changed policy to be able to buy gas earlier in ensuring security of

supply during the transition and promoting investment in new plants.

Given that a coal-fired station is scheduled to close, can I suggest it

would be the ideal site for a new gas station? I want to pay tribute

to the Member for Cannock trace -- tannic chase for her work

representing those affected by the closing. I encourage the owners to

discuss plans with the planning Inspectorate who can discuss

building a new plant and how long it might take. Yesterday marked the end

of an era with the sad closure of long Annick power station. I would

like to give thanks to the countless folks who worked on that to keep the

lights on in Scotland for over 40 years. Can she tell us when she

expects new CC GT gas in Scotland to replace that station? I would like

to place on record in enormous gratitude for all of the work that

has gone on over 47 years at that station. It is astonishing that the

plant was due to last for about 25 years, so to have extended to 47 is

quite impressive. I would said to the honourable gentleman that the

capacity market, buying earlier and buying more capacity at a time when

wholesale prices are so low and various plants are struggling is in

part designed to ensure that new gas comes forward and the location of

those combined cycle gas turbines will be a matter for individual

developers. It will, but one of the biggest hurdles in terms of new CC

GT in Scotland and one of the reasons for the closure was

transmission charges, the additional costs levied on generators in

Scotland primarily due to their location. This is stopping new gas

generation coming forward. Margins are tight, they are getting tighter.

Can we remove this barrier? I said to the honourable gentleman, it is

quite extraordinary that he says that, because Scottish consumers are

huge beneficiaries of the locational charging and it is important to him,

he needs to look at the situation in the round. Scottish consumers are

beneficiaries of being part of a Great Britain wide energy market and

I would like to point out that had the Scots voted for independence

today would have been the day they would have been on there own and the

issues around things like the price of energy and locational pricing

would have worked very much to their detriment without that market. I

would like to thank the Member for Stafford, who raised the possibility

of building a gas powered power station. In the event that the power

station shuts, the existing infrastructure has national gives

connectivity and if it had a high skilled -- and it has a high skilled

workforce. Can she outline what steps are being taken to promote the

development of gas powered sites on such sites? I think she has done a

great job in promoting this idea. I don't want to stray into the realms

of telling a private company what to do, but we would certainly welcome

them looking at the opportunities for a new gas plant. The fact that

the capacity market is going to bring forward an auction to give

that certainty to prevent shall provide is of new gas plans should

give them the opportunity to consider it very seriously. Isn't it

very odd that the Tory government never seem to talk about the 40

million tonnes that they are importing from countries abroad?

Rather than keeping the British pits open, this Tory government has

presided over even more imported coal. Which of the power stations

will use that? It will not be gas, Babel have to have power stations to

use that coal. Where will they be? -- they will have to have. I am sure

he will be glad that a new opencast coal mine has just recently started

reducing. But the point is... The honourable gentleman must surely

acknowledge that the time for deep coal mines is over. The health

implications, the carbon implications... Low, but the

honourable gentleman must be aware that my department is committed to

moving away from coal to gas to energy future. -- no, but. The

Secretary of State has produced no impact assessment to go alongside

the proposals the Minister has mentioned to bring forward the first

year of auctions to the capacity market, but all estimates confirm

that the auction will have to clear at a far higher price than has

hitherto been the case, with a consequent huge cost for bill payers

as result, some estimates saying ?20 will be put on the cost of a bill as

a result of these measures. Can she tell us today what she thinks the

additional cost on energy bills the customers will be as a result of

this proposal and can she look me in the eye and tell me with reasonable

conviction that she is sufficiently certain that this auction will bring

about substantial long-term capacity agreements the new plant to make

that huge cost justified? I can absolutely tell him that

bringing forward the capacity market a year earlier, I am trying to make

serious eye contact, and tell him it is absolutely in the interest of

consumers. We are wholesale basis are no Israeli meaning that all

plants are struggling to continue. -- the level of wholesale prices now

mean that all plants. It is absolutely in the interests of

consumers. Question number six. My department is committed to providing

investors with certainty and I set out a clear vision for this

Government's energy policy last November in order to do just that.

In the past month, we have provided Centre date on the capacity market,

options over the next four years and taxation for the UK's Island gas

industry. As a result of changes in government policy, Greater

Manchester cover to scale back the project from 20 sites to four,

meaning 16 skills have missed out on solar panel for the local economy

has missed out on more than ?1 million of investment. There are

eight megawatts of stalled schemes are Greater Manchester, maybe ten

Burns rather amazement. Is that not an indication that government policy

is leading to a fall in investor confidence? I do not sure that in

tradition. We have seen increased investment in the world this year

and other renewables of the world. I would say to him that we have

changed the subsidies on solar, which means it will only go forward

or it is well faded and makes a good return for the investors. That is

what we have to do as a government because we wanted to get the balance

between supporting renewables and managing consumers' bills. Investors

in low carbon energy need clarity and confidence about the energy

strategy for the next decade and beyond. The Chancellor could have

provided that clarity by setting at the level of funding in the lady

control framework beyond 2020 in last week 's budget is that the

lovers conservative colleagues allegedly encouraged him to do.

Doesn't she agree this would have improved confidence in low carbon

energy? She will be aware that what he did set out in the budget was

certainly on the contract in terms of the amount and the ten and that

of course was very welcome from the investment community. There will be

further announcements but let's bear in mind that the LVF was the first

of its kind. It runs until 2021. We have said that we will set out how

much will be available in the future and she will just have to be a

little bit more patient. Last October, the independent committee

on climate change workers that the government's stop start investment

profile was undermining investor confidence and increasing the cost

of low carbon generation. The Secretary of State ignored them.

Last month, the Select Committee reported its concern that increased

policy uncertainty leads to increased risk premiums for their

stars, resulting in consumer is paying more in the long run. Can the

Secretary of State look me in the eye and explain how exactly she

thinks this ties in with the Prime Minister's and systems that his

government is one that safeguard the interest of future generations? Mr

Speaker, can I reassured honourable gentleman that I am quite capable of

looking him in the eye and indeed the whole shadow front bench, and

reassure him that we are absolutely focused, as the Prime Minister and

Chancellor are, in delivering for the future generation, looking after

Bill payers. It is about getting the right balance in terms of making

sure we support renewable energy for a sufficient amount of time until

they can stand on their own two feet. Mr Speaker, as confirmed last

Monday during report stage of the energy Bill, I can tell the

honourable member that the government will take the step of

enshrining into UK law a long-term goal of made zero emissions, which I

agreed in Paris last December. The question is not whether we do it,

but how we do it. Thank you, Mr Speaker. I am sure we all welcome

that, thanks to the campaign waged by my right honourable friend for

Doncaster North. But how does she think this will help achieve that

target when she has a Minister campaigning? There has been no

change of heart. I was at the Paris climate change talks, we fought for

a high ambition, we ran the high ambition coalition meetings. We are

absolutely committed to delivering on our existing commitments and

looking further ahead to them. This Government is committed to that and

believes he can do it better staying within the EU. After we pass to the

climate change act, we had hoped that other EU countries would follow

was in that commitment. None did and since 1990, many have made no

emissions savings at all, including for example Austria, Holland and

Ireland. We saw the result of this in Paris 21 when the EU submission

was significantly lower than the UK targets. Can the Secretary of State

look me in the eye, from her position, and tell me that this time

we will not be acting unilaterally? Rather tedious business of requests

for looking in that I! I say that in the context of answering the

honourable gentleman, because her responsibility is to address the

House, and if she looks at anybody, she should be looking at the chair.

She certainly should not be looking behind her at the honourable

gentleman, very agreeable side though they may be. Thank you for

that guidance, Mr Speaker. Can I point out to the honourable

gentleman that one of the positive elements of the deal achieved in

Paris is that other countries are now making commitments. Nvidia is

concerned that other EU countries are not making the same commitments

as we have made and it is indeed correct that the climate change act

as one of the most ambitious. -- I know that he is concerned. We are

now seeing the other EU member countries beginning to emulated,

although there is more work to do. Since 2010, the government has

presided over a sharp reduction in the number of households receiving

energy efficiency measures. Does she agree that meeting a net zero

emissions target will require a step change in the government's energy

efficiency policies? And when will we see that? I wonder if he is aware

that there is an EU directive coming in in 2020 to make all new houses

nearly net zero. We will be sticking to that and I think that will be a

helpful addition to making sure that new houses do not have the same

problems that some have at the moment.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Questions on the level of fuel duty are

principally a matter for the Treasury, however reducing emissions

from vehicles is an important part of this Government's approach to

tackling climate change and we are considering carefully how best to

deliver this in a way that is affordable for consumers. I do not

often argue for increases in prices, but fuel is now cheaper than any

time since 2009, less than ?1 per litre in most places where you get

fuel. Is it not a bad that this is a terrible impact on the environment.

More cars on the road, more air pollution and indeed more accidents

on the road. -- is it not a fact that this has a terrible impact on

the environment? Should we not think more carefully about this? We always

think very carefully about these issues but we believe on this side

of the House that it is right to protect family incomes, it is

welcome that the cost of fuel is down. And I would add to that that

we do not take it for granted that we can make changes to the important

we that... The important emissions from vehicles on their own. What we

are doing is investing in electric vehicles. We have committed ?609 of

funding in a period up to 2021 to support the update and manufacturing

of all global emission vehicles, a move which is projected to save 65

million tonnes of carbon. -- we have invested ?600 million.

Can I just gently point out to you that as my right honourable friend

and I are both mothers, we both eyes on the back of her head so you able

to make eye contact the chamber. Anyway, as my honourable friend

knows, sustainability criteria came into force from the 1st of April

2015 and under the renewable heat incentive from the 1st of October

2015 and stop these criteria will ensure that biomass is sourced from

sustainably managed forests and provide a minimum 60% life-cycle

greenhouse gas saving over our average fossil fuel mix. I am very

grateful. Then I congratulate the Minister and her department for the

fact that the UK's sustainability criteria for biomass is amongst the

most robust in the world. But could you tell the House while her

department is holding back from for the appointment -- further

deploying, deployment of reliable low carbon power? On the 17th of

March, the Chancellor announced that the overall budget will total ?730

million of annual support. And this is for port two, which includes

biomass combined heat and power, advised conversion technologies and

anaerobic digester in. We see the use of biomass in cold conversions

as a transitional technology helping of honour our part to a low carbon

economy. Were they made significant commitments to the sector,

supporting 1.6 gigawatts of biomass conversions.

I recently met with a group of EU foresters, a very unusual meeting,

at a supposedly in my constituency to discuss sustainable forestry.

Expressed concerns that are growing biomass industry is putting pressure

on many countries further afield to supply would, possibly causing

deforestation. But I wanted the Minister to give us assurances that

sustainability is an absolutely key part of encouraging this exciting

new biomass industry. Minister! My honourable friend enjoys that kind

of meeting very much indeed, I am aware of that, Mr Speaker. I can

absolutely assure her that we do keep the whole Western

sustainability under review. She will be interested to that analysis

of the 2013 slash 14 sustainability data that companies reported to

Ofgem under they are all sure that all of the report of biomass

achieved the greenhouse gas saving targets and met the land criteria

two years before these were mandatory. But we did keep this

under review. Questions 12, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, Shell gas could

become a valuable new industry and it is in the strong interest of the

UK to explore its potential. However, we are to tenant to protect

our most viable spaces and therefore it is our intention to answer those

liberal drilling in our most precious areas, including national

parks and triple S Is. We have also regulated to make sure that

hydraulic fracturing cannot take place at less than 1200 metres under

protected areas. Thank you for that reply and wealth I am sure it will

allay the concerns of some, as my honourable friend believes that more

can be done to extol the positive birches of shale gas, including for

example the new jobs and security of energy it will bring? Yes, my

honourable friend is right to point out there are lots of benefits of

shale gas. First of all, energy security, we could be importing

around 75% of the 2030. Secondly, jobs. The industry could mean jobs

and opportunities for the UK. The report estimated a thriving shale

industry would create up to 64,000 jobs. And thirdly, benefits to

communities, those developments will see a direct share of the benefits

to an industry funded package. The shale will fund will see up to 10%

of the tax revenues from shale gas levering benefit directly to

communities. Number 13, please. The government announced a package of

proposed cost control measures last year to tackle the projected

overspend on support schemes. It is right that subsidies do come down as

the president. We are committed to supporting, supporting renewable

energy but the lowest cost to consumers. I meet up regularly with

a number of business men and women in my constituency engaged in the

renewable and industry to stop but she agree we must support this

entrepreneurship in the renewables industry? My honourable friend is

absolutely right. That is entirely deeper before subsidies, to get new

industry, new innovations in the renewable industry, a good start. It

is not intended to be permanent. It is about giving them a good start so

they can then carry on and deliver secure, renewable energy, subsidy

free. Number 14. My department has taken action to make it simpler and

quicker to switch suppliers and I am happy to tell my honourable friend

that a number of house of switching supplier is increasing. In 2015, it

reached a four-year high. The latest figures released by Ofgem show that

6.1 million domestic energy supplier accounts were switched in 2015, a

15% increase on 2014. I thank her for that reply and also thank her

for assistance in my work at trying to create a receipt of that winter

field payment letter as a switching point for those who are retired.

Good she see what further steps her and her department will take to

ensure that the older citizens in this country are encouraged to

switch because they have traditionally been the hardest to

each group? My honourable friend is entirely right to focus on that

older group who sometimes are more resistant to switching. I thank him

for the help that he has given in terms of working with the

behavioural insights team and the Department on ways to encourage more

elderly people to switch suppliers through argumentation is to those

people who are energy for winter -- who are eligible for winter fuel

payments. Proposals were made just last week for a design to encourage

all consumers to switch, including those over 65. We have committed to

appropriate implementation of the recommendations following

publication of this report in full. Question 15, Mr Speaker. Last week,

the Chancellor announced a billion pound fiscal package to reduce the

additional taxes historically imposed on the North Sea as well as

introducing targeted measures to encourage investment in exploration

infrastructure and let live assets. This builds on the Prime Minister's

January announcement of a ?20 million package of new investment in

exploration, innovation and skills, a new interministerial group and

funding for the ?250 million Aberdeen city region deal.

Oil and Gas UK say we need a fourfold increase in production to

make sure the -- in exploration to make sure the oil and gas is

recoverable. Can she expand a little on what other action the UK

Government is going to take to increase the confidence in the

industry and encourage further exploration? It is a vital industry

for the UK and we will continue to support it in every way we can. I

have mentioned some of the measures, apps I can reiterate that in setting

up the oil in a spot authority we are establishing an authority that

is welcomed by the industry. -- oil and gas authority. It will improve

the economic recovery from the sector and make sure we don't move

to a early decommissioning. Number 16. My department has made good

progress in setting up the review team and we will shortly be

announcing the name of the individual to lead the review. The

review is on track to start in the spring and we hope to complete in

the autumn. It has been six weeks since the department announced the

independent review into tidal lagoon and two weeks since she assured me

that the make up was being considered, quad, right now. Why are

we still in the position, six weeks later that the review has not

started? I appreciate that the park -- that the department is genuine in

its desire to get the work done but we need this done urgently. I

appreciate the urgency but we want to get this right, so we have gone

ahead in the department with preparing for the review. It is a

question of appointing the independent reviewer to complete

that and agreeing the formal terms with them, but we appreciate the

urgency, we are serious about the review and we will move with all due

speed and keep her post it. Energy storage has been identified as one

of the eight great technologies where the UK has -- can lead the

world. My department has published a document, towards a smart energy

system, last December, and we are urgently investigating potential

barriers to deployment of energy storage and we will be issuing a

call for evidence in the near future. I welcome that statement.

Regulatory barriers, some minor, are having a chilling effect on the

roll-out of energy stories -- storage technologies. Can she give

an assurance that the government are removing these barriers with the

degree of urgency required to remain a leader of this field? Absolutely I

can. I recently held a round table meeting with players in the storage

sector and her first time -- first-hand exactly where they think

the challenges lie and my deportment is -- department is working hard to

make sure we remove barriers in the quickest and EDS to way possible.

Topical questions. -- quickest and easiest way. Since 2010 we have more

troubled our capacity. 50% has been invested in renewables. In 2010 they

provided just over 70% of electricity. That went up to nearly

one fifth of the UK electricity needs in 2015 and we are on track to

deliver 35% by 2020-21, exceeding our ambition of 30%. At the last

oral questions the Member for Ashton-under-Lyne asked about the

planned rise in VAT on solar energy and she told us the government had

no choice but to implement the European Court decision. When the

financial Secretary was filling in for the Chancellor on Tuesday he

said they had planned not to go ahead weeks ago. Did she

inadvertently mislead the House or was she not kept informed? I think

we should just welcome the outcome. It is always unwise to underestimate

the Prime Minister, who achieved a great victory for VAT and solar

energy in Brussels ten days ago. Does she agree that the best way for

consumers to get the best deal on energy bills is for energy companies

to take seriously the possibility that consumers will quickly and

easily switch suppliers, so the government is cutting down the time

it takes to switch? I agree that reliable switching underpins a

competitive energy market and puts consumers in control. That is why

the time it takes to switch has been halved from five weeks to two and a

half weeks but we don't want to start there so we are working with

Ofgem and the industry to deliver reliable switching with an

aspiration to do this by 2018 and we will bring forward legislation to

achieve this. With fresh doubts over whether a new nuclear station will

ever be built at Hinkley Point see, it appears that Britain's energy

security is in the hands of the French and Chinese governments. --

Hinkley Point C. If the Chinese government decides not to offer up

more money, will our taxpayers will be on the hook? I can reassure her

that this proposal in Hinkley Point will be going ahead. I don't share

her doubts, but to give further reassurance I would like to tell her

that Hinkley Point is an important part of our low-carbon future bid it

is not the only point in the budget. The Chancellor announced further

support the small modular reactors, which can be part of a low carbon

future. The government's affordable warmth obligation has enabled

thousands of low income households to replace bowlers but there is no

obligation on energy companies to upgrade the rest of the heating

system, leaving a pensioner in my constituency with no heating over

winter. Can she look into this and make sure that when energy companies

upgrade boilers they are following through and not leaving people

short? He raises an important point and we are absolutely committed in

mind department to support those in most need. Since 20 -- for years

boiler upgrades have come with a warranty covering the boiler and the

heating system it serves, so I would encourage customers to face problems

to register a complaint so remedial action can be taken. In 2012 the

Prime Minister stated that we will be legislating so that energy

companies have to give the lowest tariff to their customers. This has

not been done. The Secretary of State has 11000 and more customers

in her constituency who... If the Minister is reluctant to legislate,

or will she at least agree to total transparency in the energy sector?

She should know there is no reluctance on this side to take

action where required. This side of the House took action on referring

energy companies to the CMA and we will be supporting the proposals

from the CMA on prepayment customers, helping my constituents

and hers. I would like to congratulate her on progress made

steering us towards a low carbon economy. Many businesses are

dressing this head on and the value of the low carbon economy is ?120

billion but we need to tackle energy efficiency for our homes. Could she

give us an indication as to whether she might consider a zero carbon

policy being introduced again for houses? There are two things we can

draw attention to to address the question. One is the Bonfield review

which will be reporting shortly, which looks at consumer protection

within energy efficiency matters, ensuring that energy-efficient items

that are taken forward really deliver on what they set out to do.

Secondly, the EU energy performance are links directive requires all new

buildings to be nearly zero net energy by 2020. -- buildings

directive. I bet the Minister ?100, proceeds to charity, that Hinkley

Point C will not be built without even more public subsidy being

offered. Will she take that bet? Apart from looking people in the

eyes I am not in habit of taking bets across the chamber but I am

happy to reassure him that I am completely confident that the

project will go ahead and it will not be the only new nuclear

commission under this government. As a promoter of the Warm Homes and

Energy Conservation Act 15 years ago I am disappointed that fuel poverty

has not been eliminated. I know she is determined in trying to eliminate

fuel poverty but should -- but will she continue to consult widely on

energy efficiency matters so we meet these targets? I thank him and he

was at -- and early campaigner on this area. My department in place

measures requiring us to bring as many fuel poor homes as reasonably

practicable up to the band C level by 2030. We will be consulting

widely on our proposals to reform the scheme in the next few months.

Could I ask to say if she would like to reflect on her earlier answer to

the question where she may have inadvertently misled the House when

she said that Labour not support the suggestion by the CMA? We did

support it but before we -- before it was announced we acknowledged

that the majority of customers were being overcharged. Will she

acknowledge that CMA reports have now twice confirmed what we said,

that the majority of customers are being overcharged on energy bills? I

would not want the House to be misled in any respect so let us be

clear, Labour supported the referral to the CMA but then argued in 2014

that another investigation was not needed, and it is this investigation

that has delivered results that we will be legislating for that will

make the biggest difference to lower bills for customers. I know the

Secretary of State is aware of the horrendous flooding in my

constituency on Boxing Day. Will she say what steps her department is

taking to make sure that there is security of energy supply to flood

hit areas of Lancashire? I can tell him that I took part in the Cobra

meetings over Christmas and it was devastating to see the distress and

the awful problems the flooding caused. I can tell him as part of

the National flood resilience review we are working with industry to

reduce flood risk for energy infrastructure and we all looking to

improve resilience where ever we can and with energy companies we are

working to make sure there is an appropriate response to any revised

advice. Last Christmas saw the end of the mine coal mining in this

country. -- deep mine. 30% of cold imported into this country came from

Colombia. Her economic plan is being fuelled by child and slave labour. I

am sorry that he takes that approach. Domestic coal mining has

been in decline for the past 60 years and imports are absolutely

cheaper, and it is for private companies to decide to choose the

cheapest options. The government has done all it can to reduce the

impacts of the most recent closures, including injecting up to ?20

million to help the directors of Hatfield to manage the closure of

the business, ?17 million to UK Coal to help the company deliver its

two-year closure plan and to meet UK fuel allowances.

I thank her for the meeting she has held with me to do with the able

development in my constituency with the potential for 4000 new jobs. Can

she give me an update on whether there is any news of the

implementation of the memorandum of understanding with the energy

company? I am grateful to my honourable friend for continually

holding my feet to the fire on this point and I can assure him I have

added a number of individual meetings with developers to press

for UK content as far as possible in the offshore wind sector and I am

getting some very good responses. And in particular, he will be aware

that there is going to be a strategy review of East of England and that

will include the potential for the development at Abel. I am positive

about the prospects. If the Minister admitting today, as she apparently

seems to be, that this Government is more concerned about bringing in

cheap call from Columbia because it is cheap, even though it is produced

by child slave labour? -- cheap coal from Columbia. She has got a chance

to amend it. What I can say to the honourable gentleman is that private

companies in the UK choose their suppliers. It is not government

bringing in coal. You must understand that. And what this

Government absolutely urges all private companies to look very

carefully at their supply chain. They will choose cheaper imports but

equally they have to stand up and be counted for their own policies on

the sort of conditions that they are to sing. The government does not

purchase coal, he realises that. Many people in Cheltenham share my

wishes to see is strong and vibrant solar sector. Reducing the solar

feed in tariff is no doubt necessary and appropriate given the plummeting

costs also about what reassurances can be provided that the new price

will continue to sustain jobs in this important industry? I thank him

for that question and now that he has been a champion for the solar

industry within his constituency, where there are a number of

businesses that thrive on the solar area. And I can reassure him that we

are still seeing high levels of solar being installed, but they are

not going to be as high as they have been when the feed in tariffs were

really delivering such a high yield. That is right. It is right to get

the balance of supporting solar and renewables, which delivers important

jobs, and also looking after the consumer. With the intention of this

Government to build Hinkley point see at any price? The honourable

gentleman I am sure is aware that it is not for this Government to build

a Hinkley, it is for EDF to build it. That is why we have put the

arrangement in place where we only pay when they electricity is

generated. That is the sound arrangement that we have to do is

due to start generating that electricity, when we will start

paying, in approximately ten years. Thank you, Mr Speaker. Will the

Secretary of State confirm that in any assessment of the Hinkley point

project she will also look at the wider economic benefit to the

south-west peninsula from what would be the largest civil engineering

project? He is absolutely right, there are wider benefits to Hinkley

going ahead. There are benefits in terms of low carbon electricity and

meeting our targets and security, but there are also benefits, he is

absolutely right, in terms of jobs and developing skills. It is a great

loss to this country that under Labour we did not develop more

nuclear skills and nuclear reactors. We are putting that right. Urgent

question, Heidi Alexander. To ask the Secretary of State for Health

that he will make a statement on what steps he stay keen to avoid

further industrial action by junior doctors. -- he is taking. Mr

Speaker, yesterday the junior doctors committee of the just

medical Association