Contributions
1,299 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDBulb Energy: AdministrationThe hon. Lady will appreciate that matters to do with taxation, VAT and all those things are subject to the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s departmental policy. She will also know…24 Nov 2021HANSARDBulb Energy: AdministrationI would like to point out that an energy price cap such as we have does not occur in other countries, so consumers here are being protected. Many of those who are actually bearing…24 Nov 2021HANSARDBulb Energy: AdministrationAs many people in the House will know, when energy suppliers leave the market, the regulator, Ofgem, runs a competitive supplier-of-last-resort process. Last week, Bulb informed…24 Nov 2021HANSARDBulb Energy: AdministrationOn a point of fact, the number is actually 22 companies, not 18, and I refer back to that— [ Interruption. ] No, that is the figure. That shows the incredible resilience of the…24 Nov 2021HANSARDBulb Energy: AdministrationMy right hon. Friend will know that this is the first Government in about 25 years or more who are firmly committed to nuclear power. He will understand that the Cabinet…24 Nov 2021HANSARDBulb Energy: AdministrationThis is where the hon. Gentleman and I disagree. We are firmly committed to nuclear power; he is against it. We can do two things: we can commit to renewables, as we are doing…24 Nov 2021HANSARDBulb Energy: AdministrationMy hon. Friend will appreciate that Ofgem, as I alluded to in my statement, has already launched a consultation on precisely the issue of the retail price gap. It will be driving…24 Nov 2021HANSARDBulb Energy: AdministrationAbsolutely. My hon. Friend will be happy to realise that that is exactly what we are doing through the 10-point plan, with commitments to offshore wind, solar power, nuclear power…24 Nov 2021HANSARDBulb Energy: AdministrationI am happy to talk to the hon. Lady about specifics in her constituency. The supplier of last resort process was set up for precisely this process. Generally, it is working, and…24 Nov 2021HANSARDBulb Energy: AdministrationThe House should understand that we have a security of supply. For example, in 2020, 50% of the gas was from the UK continental shelf, 30% was from Norway, 18% was essentially…24 Nov 2021HANSARDBulb Energy: AdministrationI do not agree with the hon. Gentleman’s characterisation; I do not think that we are going back to an oligopoly, as he said. I have always maintained that competition is…24 Nov 2021HANSARDBulb Energy: AdministrationI have two points in response to my hon. Friend. First, I am not embarrassed about the retail price cap. It has protected consumers effectively and we are proud to maintain it. On…24 Nov 2021HANSARDBulb Energy: AdministrationAs I have maintained, there are two forms of remedy to deal with this sort of situation: the supplier of last resort, and a special administrative regime. In the particular…24 Nov 2021HANSARDBulb Energy: AdministrationI mentioned in my initial response to the urgent question that consumer balances will be protected throughout the process.24 Nov 2021HANSARDBulb Energy: AdministrationI will answer the hon. Gentleman’s latter question. There is no Government bail-out; the poor, failing companies have not been bailed out—I want to reiterate that. If he knows…24 Nov 2021HANSARDInnovation LoansInnovation is central to tackling the largest challenges the world faces, from climate change to global pandemics. The UK must be in the vanguard of the response to these…22 Nov 2021HANSARDLife SciencesThe “Life Sciences Vision” outlined our bold ambition to bring scientific excellence and the dynamism of industry together to solve the most pressing health challenges. I am…16 Nov 2021HANSARDLife SciencesI fully agree with my hon. Friend that world-class life sciences are vital, and I am pleased to confirm that we have already allocated £354 million in the spending review to…16 Nov 2021HANSARDLife SciencesMy hon. Friend smuggled a leading question into his first question. He knows that ARIA is a key part of our strategy to become a science superpower, and he and I can discuss the…16 Nov 2021HANSARDLife SciencesI think it is absolutely vital that the net zero agenda—the climate change action agenda—is situated firmly in a Business Department, and I am delighted to head that Department.16 Nov 2021