:00:00. > :00:00.Prout, and her ministerial team. The first question comes about new
:00:00. > :00:16.energy technologies. Order, order. Questions to the
:00:17. > :00:24.Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change. Thank you. Question
:00:25. > :00:29.number one. Thank you. Encouraging and supporting innovation is central
:00:30. > :00:34.to everything we do. The UK has a proud record of leadership in energy
:00:35. > :00:36.and innovation, for example, through driving down costs of offshore wind
:00:37. > :00:41.technology. The Government took steps to build on this last year's
:00:42. > :00:44.Spending Review, more than doubling our innovation budget to a total of
:00:45. > :00:48.?500 million over the next five years. In this way, we can continue
:00:49. > :00:54.to support the development of clean, cheap and rival technologies. Thank
:00:55. > :01:00.you. I recently visited to farmers in my constituency. They are
:01:01. > :01:06.generating electricity through any real big digestion and another who
:01:07. > :01:12.is using the same process. To generate bio gas. This is connected
:01:13. > :01:14.to the national grid. With the Secretary of State joining
:01:15. > :01:16.congratulating these entrepreneurs who have shown considerable
:01:17. > :01:19.innovation in the use of neat analogy. Catch you when what further
:01:20. > :01:28.support Government is giving? Thank you. My honourable friend is correct
:01:29. > :01:35.that one of the biggest challenges we face is how to decarbonise our
:01:36. > :01:41.energy supply. We have provided low carbon heat and electricity and I
:01:42. > :01:45.would like to congratulate employers such as those mentioned, who make
:01:46. > :01:54.use of food and farm waste, to help deliver renewable energy. Can I ask
:01:55. > :02:00.the Minister to get out a bit more? Because I walk around my
:02:01. > :02:04.constituency and I talked to the big companies who invest in new
:02:05. > :02:08.technology. They think the stop start nature of Government policy,
:02:09. > :02:13.especially from the Treasury, has deeply harmed innovation and
:02:14. > :02:17.research in this area. I am sorry to hear that. The facts speak for
:02:18. > :02:24.themselves. Investment in renewable technology and energy is at a record
:02:25. > :02:27.high in the UK. This Government is always careful to consult before
:02:28. > :02:36.making changes. That is to ensure that we take industry with us and
:02:37. > :02:40.deliver the stability they need. The most dominant form of low carbon
:02:41. > :02:46.electricity is meagre power. In terms of innovation, the Secretary
:02:47. > :02:53.said updaters on the competition in nuclear power? Thank you. Nuclear
:02:54. > :02:57.power is an important part of the energy mix. We continue to need it
:02:58. > :03:02.and this Government supports going forward, to replace our ageing
:03:03. > :03:06.nuclear fleet as it comes off, over the next decades. We have launched
:03:07. > :03:10.this competition and have had 38 expressions of interest and we will
:03:11. > :03:13.work closely with those companies to make sure we are plans the
:03:14. > :03:19.competition to bring on the most likely investment. Last month, the
:03:20. > :03:24.US Senate passed an Energy Bill in a rare occurrence of bipartisan
:03:25. > :03:29.cooperation. This bill could potentially unleashed billions of
:03:30. > :03:34.dollars in research and development on new energy technologies,
:03:35. > :03:37.including energy storage, hydro- kinetic and advancing the electric
:03:38. > :03:41.grid in the United States. Can the UK Government Act in a similar
:03:42. > :03:48.manner, investing in the future and addressing the myriad of problems
:03:49. > :03:51.with our energy infrastructure? The Climate Change Act underpins the
:03:52. > :04:00.drive towards renewable energy in this country and it was indeed
:04:01. > :04:04.passed a cross-party and this area is developing in low carbon and
:04:05. > :04:08.remains cross-party and this Government is committed to making
:04:09. > :04:12.sure we make the investment and plan for the long term, to ensure we
:04:13. > :04:14.develop renewable energy, whilst always ensuring we do it at the
:04:15. > :04:19.least possible cost and putting energy security first. Will my
:04:20. > :04:23.honourable friend agree that supporting innovative electric
:04:24. > :04:28.vehicles is an excellent way to protect the environment and UK
:04:29. > :04:39.business? Will the Government do all I can to support this new
:04:40. > :04:43.technology? The future for transport is indeed electric. The Department
:04:44. > :04:49.for Transport has clear plans to make sure that we develop that and
:04:50. > :04:52.support that industry. One in four electric cars is driven around
:04:53. > :05:05.Europe at the moment and made in the UK. I hope the UK will continue to
:05:06. > :05:08.be a leader in this developing area. The honourable gentleman may be
:05:09. > :05:15.aware that we have recently launched a consultation on tidal energy. That
:05:16. > :05:19.is being headed by Charles Hendry. In terms of tidal stream, which he
:05:20. > :05:26.may also be asking about, we have yet to decide how allocations will
:05:27. > :05:30.be taken forward. I welcome the support for smart meters and I'm
:05:31. > :05:35.sure you will agree the role it is vital to put consumers in control of
:05:36. > :05:40.energy use. Consumers need ready access to data from smart meters. If
:05:41. > :05:44.we're going to achieve this, and that is why all households will be
:05:45. > :05:48.offered an in-home displays to allow them to see the energy they are
:05:49. > :05:55.using in real time. As well as its cost. It will also allow suppliers
:05:56. > :06:00.to trial innovative technologies alongside. Smart meters can
:06:01. > :06:04.transform domestic energy consumption and help save the
:06:05. > :06:09.planet. But only if consumers are given secure control and ownership
:06:10. > :06:13.of their own data. The display options she refers to will still
:06:14. > :06:19.allow smart meters to be a back door into our homes for hackers. Can she,
:06:20. > :06:22.before it is too late, overcome her ridiculous complacency and announce
:06:23. > :06:30.measures which will give consumers the digital rights that they
:06:31. > :06:33.deserve? The honourable lady should know that privacy is absolutely
:06:34. > :06:38.protected and at the heart of the smart meter programme. She should be
:06:39. > :06:42.careful not to put fear into the hearts of people, where none should
:06:43. > :06:46.exist. The data is protected and the data belongs, not to Government,
:06:47. > :06:50.which some people might not unreasonably fear, but to the energy
:06:51. > :06:54.companies. So, we will make sure that we always reassure consumers
:06:55. > :06:59.that privacy is at the core of delivering safe meters in the
:07:00. > :07:03.future. The Competitions and Markets Authority has recommended a
:07:04. > :07:07.temporary safeguard for vulnerable users on prepayment meters. This
:07:08. > :07:11.safeguard could be worth savings of up to ?300 million a year for those
:07:12. > :07:18.on prepayment meters. The secrecy committed to implement it as as
:07:19. > :07:25.possible? Thank you. You are correct. The preliminary report
:07:26. > :07:29.addresses head on the difficulties of higher costs paid by people with
:07:30. > :07:31.prepayment meters. We blame them and those recommendations and look
:07:32. > :07:37.forward to seeing the final recommendations. According to
:07:38. > :07:43.Government's calculations, smart meters installed could save ?17
:07:44. > :07:47.billion in collective energy bills over the next 15 years. Does the
:07:48. > :07:54.minister recognised that consumers have access to data usage? This
:07:55. > :08:02.allows them to shared with third parties, to improve competition.
:08:03. > :08:05.Yes, the Government will be glad to see the fact that Competition and
:08:06. > :08:10.Markets Authority has said they will make available in a controlled way
:08:11. > :08:14.the details of people who have not switched. We have to make sure it is
:08:15. > :08:19.done in a way that does not result in consumers viewing overwhelmed by
:08:20. > :08:22.the jesters. The Competitions and Markets Authority has yet to come
:08:23. > :08:25.out with final solution but I am confident it will do so and when it
:08:26. > :08:28.is measured and will help to make sure that people who have not been
:08:29. > :08:36.switching have access to switching and the opportunities that are
:08:37. > :08:41.there. Thank you. The Government has announced up to ?730 million of
:08:42. > :08:48.contracts for different support. For offshore wind and others. The first
:08:49. > :08:52.option will offer ?299 and I expect Scottish projects to bits. This is a
:08:53. > :08:56.huge opportunity for the UK supply chain and I am doing every day I can
:08:57. > :09:07.to persuade developers to buy British. The Government has
:09:08. > :09:14.cancelled the CFC for a wind farm in eastern Scotland. Without it, there
:09:15. > :09:18.will be no project at all. Can the Secretary of State and that's why
:09:19. > :09:24.this has been cancelled? And will be committed to redeploying funds to
:09:25. > :09:30.another Scottish project? Well, what I can say is that it is not the
:09:31. > :09:35.Government that decides whether delivery milestones are met, it is
:09:36. > :09:38.the low carbon contracts company who manages those CFT 's. That
:09:39. > :09:43.cancellation was a result of the milestone delivery date, not being
:09:44. > :09:51.met. There are ongoing discussions about it. I absolutely recognise the
:09:52. > :09:55.termination of a CFD is disappointing. There is a big
:09:56. > :09:57.project pipeline of Scottish onshore wind and I expect to see other
:09:58. > :10:03.projects coming forward next auction. I am happy to hear the
:10:04. > :10:05.mellifluous tones of the honourable gentleman but his inquiry must
:10:06. > :10:15.relate to Scotland, brother and Cleethorpes. There is a direct link.
:10:16. > :10:19.Clearly, developments in the industry in Scotland will impact on
:10:20. > :10:23.the success or otherwise of developments of the energy estuary,
:10:24. > :10:27.which is the Government ambition for the Humber. Could the Minister give
:10:28. > :10:36.an update on how developments in Scotland might impact on the Humber?
:10:37. > :10:40.Very neat. I commend my honourable friend for both his tenacity and his
:10:41. > :10:45.command of the English language. I can certainly say to him that this
:10:46. > :10:50.project pipeline, whether from Scottish projects, from the Humber
:10:51. > :10:56.region, will enormously benefit the UK supply pipeline and that is what
:10:57. > :10:59.we really want to do. I am talking with individual developers. He will
:11:00. > :11:04.be aware of the East Coast review that is ongoing, to try to make sure
:11:05. > :11:09.that wherever possible, we buy British. That is this UK fabricators
:11:10. > :11:13.and opportunities to get more of this valuable business, which has
:11:14. > :11:17.been a real success story for the United Kingdom.
:11:18. > :11:25.Scotland's and doubted potential in renewables is being squandered by
:11:26. > :11:32.removed control from here in Westminster. -- undoubted. When will
:11:33. > :11:36.Scotland be treated better? Mr Speaker, I'm not sure if it is
:11:37. > :11:42.Parliamentary language to say, what a rubbish, but that was absolute
:11:43. > :11:46.rubbish. There is no sense in which the UK Government treats Scotland as
:11:47. > :11:50.an absentee landlord, and the honourable gentleman will absolutely
:11:51. > :11:55.be aware that 60% of the renewables obligation has gone to Scottish
:11:56. > :12:01.projects, how on earth he can think that Scotland is somehow losing out
:12:02. > :12:05.is absolute nonsense! Thank you, Mr Speaker. If we are not being run
:12:06. > :12:09.from removed control, can the Minister tell us hammy times the
:12:10. > :12:13.Secretary of State has been to Dublin since the last election? I
:12:14. > :12:18.can tell the honourable gentleman I have been to Scotland a number of
:12:19. > :12:23.times. I do not know the answer to his question, I can write to him on
:12:24. > :12:27.that point. But my right honourable friend is absolutely committed, as
:12:28. > :12:36.am I, to the success of not just the renewables sector in Scotland, but
:12:37. > :12:39.also to the oil and gas sector, and he will be aware of the hours she
:12:40. > :12:41.and I have spent in this chamber desperately trying to get the
:12:42. > :12:44.authority sorted out through the Energy Bill that he and his
:12:45. > :12:51.colleagues have absolutely tried to delay and discover at every turn! Dr
:12:52. > :12:58.James Davies. Question number four, Mr Speaker. Minister. Thank you, Mr
:12:59. > :13:02.Speaker. It is quite right that network companies give proper
:13:03. > :13:04.consideration to protect immunities in sensitive areas, and my
:13:05. > :13:09.honourable friend is right to speak up for his local residents. I hope I
:13:10. > :13:12.can reassure him and his constituents that legislation does
:13:13. > :13:16.already put this requirement on them. Local communities will always
:13:17. > :13:20.be properly consulted on how new transmission networks might affect
:13:21. > :13:31.their local environment. Dr James Davies. I am grateful for this
:13:32. > :13:33.reply. She will be aware that many miles of new Alec Issigonis will be
:13:34. > :13:36.required across the country for new projects including in my area of
:13:37. > :13:38.North Wales. Would she agree that where there is controversy, the cost
:13:39. > :13:44.of delays to such infrastructure projects could far outweigh the
:13:45. > :13:47.costs of putting cables underground to overcome such controversy? Would
:13:48. > :13:51.she also agree that planning guidance may need firming up to
:13:52. > :13:56.enable clarity around this requirement? Minister. I certainly
:13:57. > :13:59.agree that getting on with project and avoiding delays is important,
:14:00. > :14:03.and I am sure he will appreciate that there is a balance to be
:14:04. > :14:07.struck. A recent independent study shows that under grounding of
:14:08. > :14:12.transmission lines can cost up to ?24 million per kilometre, compared
:14:13. > :14:17.to 4.4 million for overhead lines. These costs are ultimately paid
:14:18. > :14:21.through consumer bills. I do want to reassure him again that existing
:14:22. > :14:27.planning guidance will make sure that undergrounding is always fully
:14:28. > :14:32.considered. Thank you, Mr Speaker, I wanted to ask the Minister about
:14:33. > :14:36.broader vertical infrastructure. We have pylons, as you know, coming
:14:37. > :14:40.through Cumbria, but in my constituency we also have a lot of
:14:41. > :14:44.wind farms and telephone masts. My question to her, how do we mitigate
:14:45. > :14:52.bringing all of those together when we look at new panning? That
:14:53. > :14:55.planning. I hope I can reassure the honourable lady that local authority
:14:56. > :15:01.planning processes do always take into account the cumulative impact
:15:02. > :15:06.of yet one more project that is under way. I mean, I suppose this
:15:07. > :15:10.is, quite rightly, a question for the see Elche, but I think that the
:15:11. > :15:20.existing planning arrangements will certainly always allow for proper
:15:21. > :15:24.consideration of alternatives, but also to look at one more project
:15:25. > :15:27.does and whether somehow it can be brought together so that, if there
:15:28. > :15:32.is an area that is affected, it can have, you know, several different
:15:33. > :15:39.projects in the same place, rather than spreading it out and ruining
:15:40. > :15:43.the landscape. The best way to deliver energy bills for businesses
:15:44. > :15:48.and households is to have a robust and competitive energy market. In
:15:49. > :15:53.2010, the big six controlled 99% of the domestic market, but this year
:15:54. > :15:57.consumers can choose from over 30 independent suppliers who between
:15:58. > :16:00.them control over 15% of the dual fuel market. Competition is
:16:01. > :16:05.improving, but we cannot be complacent, and that is why I look
:16:06. > :16:07.forward to the final report of the Competition and Markets Authority,
:16:08. > :16:13.and I would encourage consumers to switch. I agree with the Secretary
:16:14. > :16:17.of State and banker for the answer, and the best way for consumers to
:16:18. > :16:21.get a good deal is to consider switching. -- and thank her. Can my
:16:22. > :16:26.right honourable friend confirm that the Government remains committed to
:16:27. > :16:30.reducing the time it takes for customers to switch? The fact is
:16:31. > :16:33.that consumers are sometimes put off from switching not only by the
:16:34. > :16:39.complications which they perceive but the length of time which it can
:16:40. > :16:46.take, and we are confident they will reach revival next day switching by
:16:47. > :16:48.2018. My friend the shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate
:16:49. > :16:53.Change recently visited the warning Trego house in my constituency where
:16:54. > :17:03.heating and lighting bills are kept and ?100 per year. -- the
:17:04. > :17:07.award-winning eco house. I thank the honourable lady for her question,
:17:08. > :17:11.and she's absolutely right that there are fantastic taking place
:17:12. > :17:14.through private sector investment to make sure they deliver innovations
:17:15. > :17:20.in this sector which will drive down bills. In terms of zero carbon
:17:21. > :17:25.homes, I can reassure heard there is a EU directive which calls for near
:17:26. > :17:33.zero carbon emissions which will reduce the cost of bills. Does my
:17:34. > :17:40.right honourable friend agreed that it is important to give more power
:17:41. > :17:43.to price comparison websites to give consumers more knowledge? Well, I
:17:44. > :17:47.agree that we have to have as many choices as possible for people, and
:17:48. > :17:51.Competition and Markets Authority have made some proposals, but we
:17:52. > :17:54.also have to be careful to make sure it is fairly addressed and the
:17:55. > :17:57.cheapest tariff is indeed available and there is full disclosure. What I
:17:58. > :18:06.intend to do is encourage people to go to the Ofgem website, be an
:18:07. > :18:09.energy shopper. Thank you, Mr Speaker. The Secretary of State is
:18:10. > :18:14.fond of telling us how keen she is to cut energy bills, but last Friday
:18:15. > :18:16.her department, when attention was diverted elsewhere, reveal that
:18:17. > :18:23.families in this country will be asked to pay an extra up to ?38 on
:18:24. > :18:27.their energy bills in order to fund her failure to get new power
:18:28. > :18:32.stations built. Can she now confirm to this House that not only is she
:18:33. > :18:36.asking families to pay more to fund her policy of closing coal-fired
:18:37. > :18:45.power stations, but now, at exactly the same time, she is also asking
:18:46. > :18:49.them to pay more to keep them open? What the honourable lady is faring
:18:50. > :18:55.too is changes in the capacity market, and she has not grasped the
:18:56. > :18:58.facts of the situation. -- is referring to. The consequences of
:18:59. > :19:02.wholesale prices falling is that coal and gas prices become an
:19:03. > :19:09.economic goal. Because we will take no risks with energy security, and
:19:10. > :19:12.because we are clear that energy security must be the number one
:19:13. > :19:16.priority, we have brought forward a new capacity market which will stop
:19:17. > :19:19.their being sort of price hikes which are most and welcome and
:19:20. > :19:25.actually my department estimates this will save consumers up to ?46
:19:26. > :19:29.on their bills. Mr Speaker, the absurdity of the situation appears
:19:30. > :19:32.to be lost on the Secretary of State, but since she has been on
:19:33. > :19:36.this panicked spending spree, perhaps I can ask another question.
:19:37. > :19:41.She recently announced generous subsidies to EDF, the big energy
:19:42. > :19:45.company that operates British nuclear facilities. She has agreed
:19:46. > :19:51.to hand over ?153 million in subsidies in 2018, a further ?139
:19:52. > :19:54.million the following year, to subsidise nuclear power stations
:19:55. > :20:00.that would have been open anyway. Is she now also aware of the recently
:20:01. > :20:06.breaking news that the cost of Hinkley Point C is now set to rise
:20:07. > :20:12.to ?21 billion? That is ?3 billion more than was forecast. And can she
:20:13. > :20:15.tell us what she estimates the cost to bill payers and taxpayers in the
:20:16. > :20:21.UK will be of this new revised estimate? I am concerned the
:20:22. > :20:25.honourable lady did not hear my answer to the earlier question.
:20:26. > :20:29.Energy security has to be the priority of Government. What we have
:20:30. > :20:33.done in bringing forward changes to the capacity market is make sure
:20:34. > :20:36.that, because of low wholesale prices, we have sufficient energy
:20:37. > :20:40.coming forward June be next two years. The honourable lady reveals a
:20:41. > :20:45.total lack of understanding of getting the right balance between
:20:46. > :20:48.secure electricity, nuclear and, yes, in the short-term coal, which
:20:49. > :20:52.supports our renewable investment, keeps bills low and ensures
:20:53. > :21:02.customers always have a good supply of electricity. Question number six.
:21:03. > :21:05.Indeed! Mr Speaker, the most effective way for consumers to
:21:06. > :21:09.ensure they are on the best value tariff is by engaging the energy
:21:10. > :21:17.market and switching supplier. I would encourage all members to
:21:18. > :21:22.encourage their constituents to make use of websites. We will make it
:21:23. > :21:29.easier for consumers to switch and we are planning to move to next day
:21:30. > :21:34.switching by 2018. My constituency is one of the coldest constituencies
:21:35. > :21:35.in England, so household energy costs are properly
:21:36. > :21:39.disproportionately higher compared to other areas in the country. As
:21:40. > :21:44.she made an assessment of the trends are people changing suppliers,
:21:45. > :21:47.whether they are actually keeping costs down? Well, I thank my
:21:48. > :21:52.honourable friend for his question, and I can reassure him that
:21:53. > :21:58.switching was at a four year high in 2015, six .1 million switches across
:21:59. > :22:04.Great Britain, a 15% increase. -- 6.1 million. I am aware some people
:22:05. > :22:08.are not willing to switch, which is why we have the big energy saving
:22:09. > :22:14.network programme, which this year gave ?10,000 of funding to two
:22:15. > :22:17.champions in the area who reached over 350 customers directly and
:22:18. > :22:24.trained 111 front line staff. Over the year, 1900 vulnerable customers
:22:25. > :22:27.were supported. It is important to reach all consumers. Last week the
:22:28. > :22:31.honourable gentleman the member for Lichfield and up to having brought a
:22:32. > :22:37.hedgehog into the chamber some years ago, I am pleased to say not during
:22:38. > :22:40.my tenure! With all the reference to to price comparison websites, I'm
:22:41. > :22:50.glad no-one has thought it necessary to bring a meerkat into the chamber!
:22:51. > :22:53.Jessica Morden! Secretary of State. The Government agrees with the
:22:54. > :22:56.Competition and Markets Authority that consumers on prepay meters are
:22:57. > :23:00.getting a poor deal and supporting such consumers was at the heart of
:23:01. > :23:04.the decision to support the CMA investigation in the first place.
:23:05. > :23:09.The honourable member may have seen the estimate by Citizens Advice that
:23:10. > :23:13.23% of households in her constituency have prepayment meters,
:23:14. > :23:17.above the national average of 16%. It is important we take on board the
:23:18. > :23:22.CMA recommendations after their report is published. In Wales, a
:23:23. > :23:27.staggering one fifth of households are on prepayment meters, paying up
:23:28. > :23:29.to ?330 per year more for gas and electricity than those on the
:23:30. > :23:36.cheapest tariff, so it is important for Wales and those 700 households
:23:37. > :23:41.in my constituency that we know which of the recommendations the
:23:42. > :23:46.Government is working on the CMA with and when constituents will
:23:47. > :23:49.start to see the benefit, can the Minister be specific? Well, Mr
:23:50. > :23:53.Speaker, I say to the honourable lady, we don't yet have the specific
:23:54. > :23:57.recommendations, but she will be aware, as I am, that what we have
:23:58. > :24:00.had proposed so far in the draft recommendations as a safeguard
:24:01. > :24:04.tariff for those people on prepayment meters. It is not clear
:24:05. > :24:12.yet whether that will be temporary or long-term, but we will look
:24:13. > :24:14.carefully at the recommendations of the CMA in order to get the best
:24:15. > :24:17.outcome for the most vulnerable customers, which I know is a desire
:24:18. > :24:21.she shares as well. Can I push the Secretary of State on that once more
:24:22. > :24:25.if possible? There are four million households still languishing on
:24:26. > :24:29.rip-off prepayment meters who would really like more detail from the
:24:30. > :24:33.Secretary of State on this, considering that your energy
:24:34. > :24:36.efficiency policies and your fuel poverty strategy is in tatters, I
:24:37. > :24:41.think they would like more detail on the timetable and when this will
:24:42. > :24:45.happen. Well, it is typical of the party of the said that they are not
:24:46. > :24:49.able to understand the concept of the CMA, who are preparing this
:24:50. > :24:52.report. It is up to them to come forward with the final
:24:53. > :24:56.recommendations, and it is their recommendations that we will be
:24:57. > :25:04.following. I must take issue too with the honourable gentleman's
:25:05. > :25:07.reference to tatters. This Government is committed to helping
:25:08. > :25:09.the most vulnerable, we are proud of the work we are doing to reforming
:25:10. > :25:11.our various schemes in order to support the most vulnerable,
:25:12. > :25:15.something we will continue to do in order to make sure that this side of
:25:16. > :25:22.the house always supports the people most in need. Can I just press the
:25:23. > :25:26.Secretary of State a little further? In my constituency of Heywood and
:25:27. > :25:29.Middleton, we are in the top 54 numbers of households with
:25:30. > :25:34.prepayment meters. My constituents are being ripped off, what can the
:25:35. > :25:39.Secretary of State tell me that I can tell my constituents about how
:25:40. > :25:44.long they will continue to be ripped off by prepayment meters? The
:25:45. > :25:48.honourable lady, I am sure, has looked at the CMA report. They have
:25:49. > :25:52.got this proposal for a safeguard tariff, we welcome that, one of the
:25:53. > :25:56.key reasons why we were keen to work to propose this view by the CMA. We
:25:57. > :26:01.are expecting them to come forward with the final report soon, and when
:26:02. > :26:05.they do so, we will then act on their recommendations. I hope it
:26:06. > :26:07.will deliver what we hope it will, as she does, support for those
:26:08. > :26:12.people on prepayment meters, often the most vulnerable.
:26:13. > :26:22.Question number nine. We have had extensive correspondence with the
:26:23. > :26:28.Speaker and the Government will publish the decisions about the
:26:29. > :26:33.contract for all this established technologies, including the strike
:26:34. > :26:36.prices. We will take all steps needed to deliver this auction,
:26:37. > :26:41.including submitting any necessary notifications to the European
:26:42. > :26:46.Commission. Thank you. I am grateful for that answer. The Minister will
:26:47. > :26:51.now that the application for the island strike price has been ready
:26:52. > :26:55.since the New Year. The continuing failure to us admit it is causing
:26:56. > :27:01.enormous uncertainty and a massive loss to confidence amongst renewable
:27:02. > :27:06.energy generators in the Northern and Western Isles. Will she agree to
:27:07. > :27:15.meet with near the honourable gentleman from the constituency,
:27:16. > :27:22.along with developers, to discuss and understand how serious this is
:27:23. > :27:25.for our industry and our islands? The right honourable gentleman and
:27:26. > :27:27.the chair of the Energy and Climate Change select committee met with
:27:28. > :27:32.officials recently to discuss these issues. I assured him that my
:27:33. > :27:35.officials also have met with several representatives of the renewables
:27:36. > :27:38.industry, specifically to discuss them in Island wind. I will
:27:39. > :27:42.certainly be happy to meet again with the remote islands to discuss
:27:43. > :27:50.our decisions once we have taken them. Thank you. Does the Minister
:27:51. > :27:59.not agree that the very fact we have to go begging the European Union
:28:00. > :28:02.before we can help our own fellow citizens in this country, not amply
:28:03. > :28:09.demonstrates the reason why we would be better off, and those citizens
:28:10. > :28:12.would be better off, if we left the European Union and took charge of
:28:13. > :28:16.our own controls and were able to decide for ourselves how we spend
:28:17. > :28:26.taxpayers money in this country? Minister. As an energy minister, I
:28:27. > :28:30.can say that the Governor position is the UK should remain within a
:28:31. > :28:34.reformed European Union. -- the Government position. Question number
:28:35. > :28:49.ten. Yes, Mr Speaker. We are among the
:28:50. > :28:52.first developed countries to be consulting on phasing out cold. It
:28:53. > :29:02.is vital for our decarbonisation that we move away from the dirtiest
:29:03. > :29:08.fossil fuels. -- coal. Consultation is important to ensure energy
:29:09. > :29:15.security. The consultation will begin in the near future. I am
:29:16. > :29:20.grateful to the Minister for her response. There are still many
:29:21. > :29:27.people in the UK and Wales and indeed in my constituency, working
:29:28. > :29:30.in or connected with the coal industry. What assurances can be
:29:31. > :29:32.Minister provided that the consultation will be properly
:29:33. > :29:35.thought through and take time to explore the issues thoroughly? So as
:29:36. > :29:44.not to leave people unduly concerned for their livelihoods. Of course,
:29:45. > :29:47.she is exactly right to speak out for her community. And that is
:29:48. > :29:52.precisely why we're doing the consultation. We want to take all of
:29:53. > :29:56.the factors account. And I am sure she and members opposite with agree
:29:57. > :30:00.that it is right we move away from the dirtiest fossil fuels overtime
:30:01. > :30:04.but in a measured way, taking into full account the impact on local
:30:05. > :30:11.communities and what other opportunities there are four them
:30:12. > :30:16.and I can totally sure we will be very carefully consulting. We would
:30:17. > :30:20.reach the question for the honourable lady but if she feels an
:30:21. > :30:31.irresistible urge to come in on this question instead, she can do so.
:30:32. > :30:35.Thank you. It called for -- eight coal-fired power station in my
:30:36. > :30:38.constituency will recently close. Will an application for a new gas
:30:39. > :30:43.power station be dealt with in a timely manner to help create future
:30:44. > :30:49.job opportunities for highly skilled workforce who work at the plant? I
:30:50. > :30:53.would really like to congratulate her for all the work she has done on
:30:54. > :30:58.this. It is an incredibly important constituency issue and I met with
:30:59. > :31:01.her and a number of other colleagues recently to talk about the
:31:02. > :31:06.possibility of closing coal-fired power stations comment becoming new
:31:07. > :31:11.CCG tees. And I welcome her and encourage her efforts to see if she
:31:12. > :31:17.can support that to happen. I have already said to her that I will have
:31:18. > :31:23.a LG to ask them what more, if anything, can be done, to make it
:31:24. > :31:31.easier for planning permission for a new gas-fired power station. We are
:31:32. > :31:36.holding a consultation for those making that transition. So they can
:31:37. > :31:43.understand better the processes. Question number 11. The renewable
:31:44. > :31:45.heat incentive is the world's first long-term financial support
:31:46. > :31:48.programme for renewable heat. It is essential to Everest to deliver
:31:49. > :31:59.renewable energy to consumers and businesses. In March, my Department
:32:00. > :32:02.launched a consultation, and a central aim of this reform is
:32:03. > :32:05.insuring the scheme offers value for money and allows a transition to
:32:06. > :32:11.cleaner heating technologies in a manner affordable to the UK. I
:32:12. > :32:16.recognise the importance of supporting the biomass industry.
:32:17. > :32:30.What assurances can you give to me and small businesses and biomass
:32:31. > :32:33.companies in my constituency? The Government is providing support for
:32:34. > :32:36.small and medium-sized biomass companies, through a range of
:32:37. > :32:39.incentives, ranging from the renewables obligation, and indeed
:32:40. > :32:45.the renewable heat incentive. We spent biomass to play an important
:32:46. > :32:48.role in industrial processes. There are fewer alternatives for lower
:32:49. > :32:53.carbon technologies and we want to ensure we bring forward deployment
:32:54. > :32:57.in these areas. The consultation that the Secretary of State
:32:58. > :33:05.mentioned reveals an intention to provide renewable heat and that is
:33:06. > :33:10.9% of the UK's heat requirements but less than the original 2020
:33:11. > :33:16.renewable heat target. How does the Secretary of State attends to meet
:33:17. > :33:23.that target, given shortages? It is more about the numbers of Houses are
:33:24. > :33:27.businesses that you support for the renewable incentive and not always
:33:28. > :33:30.about the pure cost. It is not necessarily about the league table
:33:31. > :33:33.of costs but rather about the outcome is that we get at the other
:33:34. > :33:38.end. We are consulting on the renewable heat incentive to ensure
:33:39. > :33:42.we deliver the best value for the taxpayer. We are committed to making
:33:43. > :33:52.sure we use this money in the most cost-effective way. The Secretary of
:33:53. > :34:00.State did not address the question of the relationship of the renewable
:34:01. > :34:14.heat incentive proposals finances to the UK's contribution to the use
:34:15. > :34:18.renewable target of 12%, by 2020. As mentioned, we are still short of
:34:19. > :34:25.that kind. Is she confident that the measures and finances she suggests
:34:26. > :34:29.in the new proposals will enable us to reach that target? Or is she
:34:30. > :34:34.actively considering other measures to ensure that we do? The honourable
:34:35. > :34:41.gentleman will be aware that the renewable target for 2020 covers
:34:42. > :34:44.tilting, heat, transport and electricity. The renewable heat
:34:45. > :34:50.incentive is a key part of it. That is why we have had the consultation.
:34:51. > :34:55.We will now examine those answers. In order to make sure we direct the
:34:56. > :35:02.funds we have in the most effective way. We recognise that it, although
:35:03. > :35:05.we have made good progress, there is more work to do in reaching the
:35:06. > :35:08.target, but we believe we have sufficient policies at the moment to
:35:09. > :35:11.address the need. But we will look at what else can be done,
:35:12. > :35:15.particularly in buildings and transport, to make more progress
:35:16. > :35:23.from the halfway mark that we have met so far. In the first quarter of
:35:24. > :35:29.our new more at sustainable cost control regime, six out of 11
:35:30. > :35:34.deployment caps were reached, including the two largest of the
:35:35. > :35:38.four solar caps. Take-up of domestic solar photovoltaic systems is strong
:35:39. > :35:46.but was still within the cap. We do estimate that it will support over a
:35:47. > :35:54.new solar PV installations on domestic scale by 2019. Domestic
:35:55. > :36:01.solar installers in my constituency support report that demand has
:36:02. > :36:06.plummeted and are down 80% on last year. Will the Minister acknowledged
:36:07. > :36:11.that they to law and that the disastrous broach this Government is
:36:12. > :36:13.taking to solar energy is effectively stopping individuals who
:36:14. > :36:16.want to make a contribution to comment on climate change in their
:36:17. > :36:25.own homes, by installing solar panels, from doing so? No, I don't
:36:26. > :36:34.recognise what she is saying. The solar deployment is amazing. Far in
:36:35. > :36:38.excess of all of our expectations. 99% of solar installations have
:36:39. > :36:44.taken place since 2010, so, under this Government and the previous
:36:45. > :36:48.one, not under the opposition Government, it has been a huge
:36:49. > :36:51.success story. And our subsidy regime takes into account the
:36:52. > :36:57.interest for the consumer, who has to pay at, and the developer, who is
:36:58. > :37:09.continuing to build. Some caps have been met and others are performing
:37:10. > :37:11.strongly. Number 14. We launched a consultation in March, with
:37:12. > :37:17.proposals for reform to the renewable heat incentive. It closed
:37:18. > :37:21.22nd of April. It includes a proposal to withdraw our HSI support
:37:22. > :37:26.for solar thermal technologies. We are looking carefully at responses.
:37:27. > :37:29.I assure the honourable gentleman that in coming to conclusions, we
:37:30. > :37:34.will address all relevant factors, including the impact on the UK
:37:35. > :37:37.supply chain. The Minister accept that solar thermal has the lowest
:37:38. > :37:44.CO2 footprint of all heating technologies? There are no ongoing
:37:45. > :37:48.fuel commitments and low space requirements. It is ideal for homes
:37:49. > :37:52.of vulnerable people because there is no requirement for it to be
:37:53. > :38:02.heavily insulated. By the Government proposing cutting support for solar
:38:03. > :38:07.thermal? I agree that it plays a part but as part of the reform of
:38:08. > :38:11.the RHI, we are trying to ensure the budget offers the best value for
:38:12. > :38:14.money full stop solar thermal does require the highest subsidy from
:38:15. > :38:20.Government of all RHI technologies. The evidence suggests 50% of RHI
:38:21. > :38:24.respondents said they would have installed it even without Government
:38:25. > :38:28.subsidy. So, we do need to look at the balance between keeping the cost
:38:29. > :38:36.down for the bill payer and supporting these technologies.
:38:37. > :38:40.Number 15. With permission, I will take this with question 19. The
:38:41. > :38:44.Government is taking steps to build on our proud history of energy
:38:45. > :38:47.innovation and is more than doubling our innovation budget over the next
:38:48. > :38:51.five years to a total of 500 million. We can continue to is where
:38:52. > :38:55.the development of clean, cheap and reliable technologies and the growth
:38:56. > :39:03.of green research and development across the UK. The honourable
:39:04. > :39:12.members not here. I don't know what happened to him. Thank you for that
:39:13. > :39:16.reply. With the new Grampian offshore wind farm being based in
:39:17. > :39:21.the enterprising in New Haven, and with the recent opening of a college
:39:22. > :39:24.in New Haven, Dougie said the state agreed that New Haven town has the
:39:25. > :39:28.potential for being a hub for research and development and could
:39:29. > :39:34.she outline how the Government might support that going for? I welcome
:39:35. > :39:38.the activity under way in my honourable friend's constituency and
:39:39. > :39:39.will of course consider opportunities to support research,
:39:40. > :39:45.development and demonstration, across the UK, as we develop our
:39:46. > :39:48.ovation programme. I would encourage her to speak directly to low carbon
:39:49. > :39:52.energy funding bodies, who stand ready to support innovation in the
:39:53. > :39:56.technologies we will need in our future. I really welcome the
:39:57. > :40:02.Government of the UTC, which has, amongst other companies, the college
:40:03. > :40:06.has partnered with, EDF Energy, and has focused on green engineering. I
:40:07. > :40:12.think there is an opportunity there for New Haven. Thank you. The
:40:13. > :40:15.Government's emissions reduction plan has been promised by the end of
:40:16. > :40:23.the year. The Secretary of State has said it will address the 10%
:40:24. > :40:28.shortfall for the carbon budget set in 2011. Section 14 of the Climate
:40:29. > :40:31.Change Act stipulates that the Government must lay before
:40:32. > :40:37.Parliament a report setting out how it will meet each carbon budget as
:40:38. > :40:42.soon as is reasonably practicable after setting it. After five years,
:40:43. > :40:48.the Secretary of State consider she is now in breach of the Act? Or does
:40:49. > :40:56.she have an unusually elastic definition of the phrase, as soon as
:40:57. > :41:01.is reasonably practicable? It is always a pleasure to receive such a
:41:02. > :41:06.detailed question. I can reassure him I am fully aware of Section 14
:41:07. > :41:09.and the sections either side of that. I am clear we will have an
:41:10. > :41:14.emission reductions planned by the end of the year. And also, that we
:41:15. > :41:18.have an obligation to come forward with our response to the fifth
:41:19. > :41:24.carbon budget. It is because we take these matters so seriously, it is
:41:25. > :41:26.because this is a big, realistic, important challenge for the UK, but
:41:27. > :41:40.we're not rushing it. Ronnie Cowan! Question 16, Mr
:41:41. > :41:43.Speaker. My department is currently considering responses to our recent
:41:44. > :41:47.consultation on reform of the renewable heat incentive. As part of
:41:48. > :41:50.the consultation, we have engaged with the relevant trade bodies and
:41:51. > :41:55.industry stakeholders to understand the impact of the proposed reforms,
:41:56. > :42:02.including specifically the impact on the biomass industry. Currently the
:42:03. > :42:06.sector directly supports the jobs of 11,500 people and 590 companies
:42:07. > :42:10.across the UK. With that in mind, cut the minister explained to me the
:42:11. > :42:15.UK Government's lack of ambition with respect to installation of
:42:16. > :42:20.biomass boilers which will lead to job losses in the sector? I am aware
:42:21. > :42:24.of the importance of biomass industry to the honourable
:42:25. > :42:27.gentleman, to his constituency, and indeed to Scotland overall. This is
:42:28. > :42:32.why we are consulting, to make sure we are fair with the money that we
:42:33. > :42:37.have, to make sure we deliver best value for the taxpayer. Small
:42:38. > :42:42.biomass has a role to play, the budget is travelling by 2021, we are
:42:43. > :42:45.committed to developing biomass, and we will be coming back with
:42:46. > :42:53.responses in due course. -- trebling. Question 17, Mr Speaker.
:42:54. > :42:58.Well, this year the Government has pulled out all the stops to support
:42:59. > :43:03.the oil and gas sector, including a fiscal package worth 1.3 billion
:43:04. > :43:07.over five years, ?20 billion for new seismic surveys, and our core policy
:43:08. > :43:11.of establishing the oil and gas authority, whose job is to maximise
:43:12. > :43:16.economic recovery from the North Sea. This is a vital UK industry,
:43:17. > :43:20.and we are totally committed to keeping the UK continental shelf as
:43:21. > :43:26.an attractive destination for investment, securing hundreds of
:43:27. > :43:29.thousands of jobs. I thank the Minister for her answer, and I do
:43:30. > :43:35.appreciate the work that has been done, and while the SNP welcome the
:43:36. > :43:38.support announced in the Budget, I think your characterisation would
:43:39. > :43:42.not be one that those were lost their jobs in the north-east would
:43:43. > :43:46.agree with. It is essential that we listen to those in the industry who
:43:47. > :43:50.are calling for a strategic review of the fiscal and regulatory regime.
:43:51. > :43:56.What steps are being taken to review the tax rate and investment
:43:57. > :44:00.allowance? Well, as I have said, the Treasury have already taken enormous
:44:01. > :44:05.steps with fiscal policy towards the North Sea, to promote further oil
:44:06. > :44:11.and gas exploration. They are constantly looking at that. In fact,
:44:12. > :44:18.it is next week that I a dinner to talk again to the maximising
:44:19. > :44:22.economic recovery group of operators and investors to try to look at what
:44:23. > :44:26.more we can do, and the Treasury plays their full part in that. But
:44:27. > :44:31.we have to be clear that the OGA is already transforming things like
:44:32. > :44:35.production costs, the level of co-operation between different
:44:36. > :44:38.operators in the North Sea. This is an incredibly important area. We
:44:39. > :44:42.have a group which is meeting again next week to discuss what more can
:44:43. > :44:48.be done. We are literally pulling out all the stops for the North Sea.
:44:49. > :44:50.Mr Peter Lilley. While sympathising with the constituents of the
:44:51. > :44:55.honourable member for Livingston who have lost jobs in the North Sea,
:44:56. > :45:00.would not the best thing for them to be to create new jobs by allowing
:45:01. > :45:04.fracking in Scotland for the very people with those skills who have
:45:05. > :45:12.been prevented from the prospect of search jobs by the hypocrisy of the
:45:13. > :45:15.SNP government in Scotland? Well, I absolutely agree with my honourable
:45:16. > :45:19.friend. Obviously, it is a matter for the Scottish Government to
:45:20. > :45:24.decide, but certainly one of the policy options I am looking at in my
:45:25. > :45:28.department, together with Business, is what all we can do in the energy
:45:29. > :45:32.space for those who have lost their jobs. For example, an experienced
:45:33. > :45:36.offshore engineer may well be of the region into work with offshore wind,
:45:37. > :45:40.for example, or even with nuclear. There are opportunities in the
:45:41. > :45:43.energy space, and I know that the Scottish Government are looking at
:45:44. > :45:46.this, and I would be delighted if they wanted to think again about the
:45:47. > :45:55.importance of shale gas. Topical question. Secretary of State. The
:45:56. > :46:00.Energy Bill receives Royal assent today, a vital part of the plan to
:46:01. > :46:03.make sure that families have access to clean, affordable energy, and we
:46:04. > :46:08.are delivering on a manifesto commitment to end subsidies for
:46:09. > :46:11.onshore wind. We are supporting the OGA with powers to drive greater
:46:12. > :46:16.collaboration and productivity in the industry. I would like to thank
:46:17. > :46:19.the committee, the minister who made this possible, and who went through
:46:20. > :46:27.the Bill, in such painstaking detail, to deliver it. Evidence from
:46:28. > :46:30.the universities of Leicester and York show that sick and disabled
:46:31. > :46:35.people are especially at risk of fuel poverty after the recent social
:46:36. > :46:38.security cuts from this Government and the previous coalition. Will the
:46:39. > :46:42.Secretary of State be approaching the Chancellor again to look at
:46:43. > :46:47.better targeting of the Warm Home Discount funding, especially after
:46:48. > :46:53.her rebirth just before the budget by him? I thank the honourable lady
:46:54. > :46:56.for her question and her suggestion, she will be aware that this
:46:57. > :47:01.Government and this department specifically is refocusing as far as
:47:02. > :47:05.possible our support to those who are most vulnerable. On the Warm
:47:06. > :47:08.Home Discount, we have just closed the consultation. We are looking at
:47:09. > :47:12.the results, but rest assured we will be targeting as far as possible
:47:13. > :47:18.those were most in need, which is the right thing to do. Thank you, Mr
:47:19. > :47:24.Speaker. I number of constituents are concerned about fracking in
:47:25. > :47:26.Dorset what reassurance can the Minister give to me and my
:47:27. > :47:30.constituents about Environ mental considerations, about issues of
:47:31. > :47:34.public consultation, letting residents have a say, and also that
:47:35. > :47:41.it will only be considered inappropriate locations? I can
:47:42. > :47:45.absolutely ensure my honourable friend that the UK has more than 50
:47:46. > :47:51.years of safely regulating onshore and offshore oil and gas, and we
:47:52. > :47:54.have the best regulatory environment in the world. We have the
:47:55. > :48:01.Environment Agency looking very carefully at any proposals for
:48:02. > :48:05.hydraulic fracturing, the payoff and safety executive who monitor all the
:48:06. > :48:09.activity in the area, and local authorities will of course consult
:48:10. > :48:12.widely with local communities. -- the Health and Safety Executive. I
:48:13. > :48:17.am desperate for local communities to be given the proper facts, and I
:48:18. > :48:24.think that is an important part of the job for us and local authorities
:48:25. > :48:28.to do. Mr Speaker, people across the country will be really quite
:48:29. > :48:32.concerned by the lack of answer just given by the Minister. They will
:48:33. > :48:36.also be looking very closely at Ryedale, where North Yorkshire
:48:37. > :48:40.County Council is set eminently to make a decision about whether
:48:41. > :48:46.fracking should be given the green light there. Can the Minister tell
:48:47. > :48:51.us, if the answer is no, Wilshere extend the same courtesy to that
:48:52. > :48:55.community as she has extended to communities affected by wind farms
:48:56. > :48:58.and give the people of Ryedale a promise that she will not override
:48:59. > :49:08.their wishes and impose fracking against their will? Where the
:49:09. > :49:12.industry for hydraulic fracturing is concerned, safety is absolutely
:49:13. > :49:16.paramount. If there is any likelihood or chance or any risk or
:49:17. > :49:23.any of the scare stories that the right are the lady likes to
:49:24. > :49:27.propagate, if any of those issues were real, this Government would not
:49:28. > :49:33.be looking at promoting such a vital industry. What I would say to her is
:49:34. > :49:39.that we provide 40% of our own natural gas. The rest is imported
:49:40. > :49:42.from overseas. It is vital for our energy security that we continue to
:49:43. > :49:48.use home-grown resources wherever we can. It is also a massive jobs and
:49:49. > :49:53.growth opportunity for very many communities in this country, where
:49:54. > :50:00.climate is desperately needed, and she should take some interest in
:50:01. > :50:02.that. Minister, you cannot be accused of excluding from her
:50:03. > :50:10.observations anything that might be in any way at any time to any degree
:50:11. > :50:22.material. Certainly, Benson, most grateful! Henry Smith. -- certainly
:50:23. > :50:24.comprehensive. What progress as the Minister made in working with EDF
:50:25. > :50:30.Energy with regard to the roll-out of smart meters for the benefit of
:50:31. > :50:33.consumers? I can assure my honourable friend that we are
:50:34. > :50:37.working closely with all energy suppliers on these aspects of the
:50:38. > :50:42.roll-out to ensure that the consumer benefits are fully realised. Good
:50:43. > :50:45.progress has been made so far, with over 3 million meters installed, and
:50:46. > :50:50.there is evidence that these consumers are already saving energy.
:50:51. > :50:54.Recent research by British Gas shows that consumers with smart meters
:50:55. > :50:58.have reduced energy consumption by 3% on average for gas and
:50:59. > :51:02.electricity. I hope this is a case of third time lucky, I have asked
:51:03. > :51:06.the housing minister twice this question, and I have notified the
:51:07. > :51:11.Minister's office of the question, so I hope I will get a reply. What
:51:12. > :51:17.is the difference in terms of the annual Energy Bill that a family
:51:18. > :51:23.would have to pay in a zero carbon home as opposed to a home that is
:51:24. > :51:28.insulated and has the energy efficiency standards that the
:51:29. > :51:32.Government are proposing? I think that the honourable gentleman is
:51:33. > :51:37.asking a question which starts from an incorrect premise. In so far as I
:51:38. > :51:42.am trying to answer his question, bear with me. I think what he's
:51:43. > :51:45.referring to is the zero carbon proposal that was rejected by the
:51:46. > :51:50.other place last night, although it was agreed that there would be a
:51:51. > :51:53.review on going. But the fact is that the problem with zero carbon
:51:54. > :51:58.homes, as perceived in this bill, was that they added costs to the
:51:59. > :52:03.house. If you do that, you are ultimately adding that to the house
:52:04. > :52:06.owner, the bill payer, and the problem was with the allowable
:52:07. > :52:09.solutions portion is that it would act as a tax on home-builders and
:52:10. > :52:18.ultimately be no benefit to the home owner. Thank you, Mr Speaker. The
:52:19. > :52:23.committee for climate change 2015, in its report to Parliament,
:52:24. > :52:26.recommended that the Government produces an effective policy
:52:27. > :52:32.framework on aviation carbon dioxide emissions, and part of that plan was
:52:33. > :52:39.UK emissions 2050 should not be higher than those of 2005. Will my
:52:40. > :52:43.right honourable friends tell me if her department will work with the
:52:44. > :52:54.Department for Transport to publish such an important policy before a
:52:55. > :52:57.decision on a new runway is made? Mr Speaker, my honourable friend has
:52:58. > :53:01.incorporated quite a few questions in that one question, and what I can
:53:02. > :53:04.say to her is that the most important element of addressing
:53:05. > :53:08.airport emissions is to have an international agreement. We do not
:53:09. > :53:11.want to have a situation where the UK is trying to do something
:53:12. > :53:16.independently, it is important that it is EU wide and international. We
:53:17. > :53:22.tried to get it incorporated into the Paris climate change agreement,
:53:23. > :53:26.but we're working with international partners to make sure we get an
:53:27. > :53:31.international agreement of this autumn, and I will certainly keep
:53:32. > :53:34.her updated. Rachael Maskell. I am going to pressure the Minister
:53:35. > :53:38.further, because one week tomorrow an important decision is being made.
:53:39. > :53:42.We know that one energy company wants to frack the beautiful
:53:43. > :53:47.landscape just south of the North Yorkshire Moors national park. 4000
:53:48. > :53:51.well-informed, over 4000 well-informed local people want to
:53:52. > :53:59.protect their local community and environment. Who should have the
:54:00. > :54:05.greatest influence? I say again, the shale industry is vital to the UK's
:54:06. > :54:09.energy security future, and we absolutely support the idea of local
:54:10. > :54:14.consultation and local people having their say, but as in all planning
:54:15. > :54:19.matters, as in all... If the right honourable lady could just stop
:54:20. > :54:24.chuntering for one minute, every time I try to answer a question, she
:54:25. > :54:28.just chant as! So the point is, there is a balance between the
:54:29. > :54:33.absolutely right case that local people should have their say and the
:54:34. > :54:37.national interest, and that is why there is a very clear local
:54:38. > :54:41.consultation process, and that is why the people of Ryedale will have
:54:42. > :54:52.their views taken into account, and the local authority will balance up
:54:53. > :54:55.those interests. Bob Blackman. What progress is my right honourable
:54:56. > :55:00.friends made in securing new nuclear power stations and in particular
:55:01. > :55:07.modular stations of a smaller scale? My honourable friend is right that
:55:08. > :55:12.new nuclear is an essential part of a new energy system going forward.
:55:13. > :55:15.We are supporting new nuclear, we are particularly enthusiastic about
:55:16. > :55:20.small modular reactors, which is why the Chancellor gave us double the
:55:21. > :55:26.funds for the innovation budget, and we have launched a competition which
:55:27. > :55:29.we hope will bring forward a great arrangement of different proposals
:55:30. > :55:35.so that we can take forward a number of them. Mary Creagh. See ABS to me
:55:36. > :55:39.that 7300 households in Wakefield are paying more than ?400 a year for
:55:40. > :55:43.gas and electricity than they should be because they are stuck on
:55:44. > :55:48.prepayment meters. Last month, the CMA recommended a price cap to
:55:49. > :55:51.protect my constituents from this indefensible overcharging, and this
:55:52. > :55:56.week we hear that the chief executive of the CMA is to be her
:55:57. > :55:59.department's new permanent secretary. Can we look forward to
:56:00. > :56:00.him implementing his own recommendations in the very near
:56:01. > :56:10.future? Mr Speaker, forgive me for making no
:56:11. > :56:15.comment about the appointment. I share The Right Honourable laid's
:56:16. > :56:20.view that prepaid metres need reform. That we need the safeguard
:56:21. > :56:26.tariff. It is unacceptable that those usually on the lowest income
:56:27. > :56:31.are stuck on higher tariffs. We will support them to make sure they
:56:32. > :56:36.deliver on. That Cornwall produces the world's finest China clay. The
:56:37. > :56:41.industry is facing increases in costs due to the implementation of
:56:42. > :56:46.the EU tradings scheme. The Government should do all it can to
:56:47. > :56:51.make sure British industry is not put as a disadvantage because of
:56:52. > :56:56.energy costs. Would she meet with me to discuss how we can support the
:56:57. > :57:02.China clay industry? I would be delighted to, he is a strong
:57:03. > :57:08.champion in his constituency. The ETAS provides a role in levelling
:57:09. > :57:12.out competitive within the EU to make sure our intensive industries
:57:13. > :57:15.are protected.ly meet with him to ensure his industry receives a fair
:57:16. > :57:21.settlement. Thank you, Mr Speaker. The Secretary
:57:22. > :57:24.of State will be aware of the devastating Super Puma helicopter
:57:25. > :57:29.crash in Norway less than a fortnight ago, which killed 14
:57:30. > :57:35.people, including Ian Stuart, from Lawrence Kirk. They have ditched in
:57:36. > :57:40.the North Sea three times since 2009, citing problems such as
:57:41. > :57:46.gearbox and oil pump failure. We don't know the cause of the crash on
:57:47. > :57:51.the 29th. 14 fam will be desperate to know. Will she engage with her
:57:52. > :57:56.counterparts in Norway to ensure any lessons learnt from their
:57:57. > :57:59.investigations can be applied to offshore commercial helicopter
:58:00. > :58:04.flights in the UK? Yes. I think we were all completed devastated to
:58:05. > :58:09.hear about that. Of course having been on one of those trips to an
:58:10. > :58:13.offshore rig and seeing the massive focus there is on health and safety
:58:14. > :58:18.it was doubly tragic. Of course he will be aware that the UK civil
:58:19. > :58:21.aviation authority have grounded the model involved. We are working
:58:22. > :58:25.closely with them and with colleagues in Norway to understand
:58:26. > :58:29.what has happened, so we can make sure this can't happen in the
:58:30. > :58:34.future. Thank you, Mr Speaker. Does minister
:58:35. > :58:39.agree with me that historic market towns built for the horse and cart,
:58:40. > :58:43.like my constituency, cannot cope because they don't have the
:58:44. > :58:49.infrastructure that is brought along? Well, I think, you know, I
:58:50. > :58:52.absolutely think that that is one of the factors that any local authority
:58:53. > :58:57.planning committee will take into account. That is precisely the point
:58:58. > :59:00.about having the local authority involvement with it and the
:59:01. > :59:04.community say, because of course local people know best who is --
:59:05. > :59:09.what is suitable for their area. Nevertheless, you know, the local
:59:10. > :59:14.planning aspect is one aspect of it. The health and safety and the
:59:15. > :59:18.environment agency, so a whole safety regulatory environment is
:59:19. > :59:23.vital this. I can assure her there'll be no compromise on either
:59:24. > :59:29.safety or on the local communities' views. Mr Speaker, the Secretary of
:59:30. > :59:35.State will know that we have scientific evidence that the noxious
:59:36. > :59:39.fumes from diesel engijs is poisoning our children and air. It
:59:40. > :59:44.is related to the climate change that we have?
:59:45. > :59:47.I share the honourable gentleman's concerns about pollution and about
:59:48. > :59:52.air quality. That is why this Government is so
:59:53. > :59:56.committed to delivering on the Climate Change Act. I think it is
:59:57. > :00:02.clear that the problem has been also derived from the support for diesel,
:00:03. > :00:07.which didn't, which basically we were all misled. I hope we can look
:00:08. > :00:12.carefully at making sure it doesn't happen again, that no defeat devises
:00:13. > :00:15.are installed.ly work carefully with the Department of Transport to make
:00:16. > :00:19.sure we can deliver on. That Thank you, Mr Speaker. The Secretary of
:00:20. > :00:25.State will be aware of the continuing speculation around the
:00:26. > :00:32.Hinckley C project. Will she assure me the Government will bear in mind
:00:33. > :00:36.it can create 25,000 jobs in the south west, the types of jobs this
:00:37. > :00:40.economy needs? I thank my friend for that question and the opportunity to
:00:41. > :00:45.say how much this Government supports the Hinckley project. We
:00:46. > :00:51.expect this project to go ahead and that it will deliver the much-needed
:00:52. > :00:55.clean, secure, affordable energy. This Government is focus ond a new
:00:56. > :00:59.nuclear programme, not just Hinkley Point but other new nuclear as well.
:01:00. > :01:05.We, on this side are doing what the other side of the House disally
:01:06. > :01:07.failed to do for 13 years, which is to deliver on infrastructure to the
:01:08. > :01:08.benefit of