Contributions
1,299 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Subsidy Control BillI do not agree with the hon. Gentleman’s description of what the Bill does. If he listens to the rest of my remarks, he may well hear further clarification. Of course, as is…22 Sept 2021HANSARD Subsidy Control BillLocal authorities have to declare spending at much lower levels than the figure that my hon. Friend has just put forward. Clearly, transparency is at the centre of what we are…22 Sept 2021HANSARD Subsidy Control BillThat is precisely why I am addressing this precise point in my speech, if the right hon. Gentleman will allow me. We are setting out the detail of a UK regime that is far from…22 Sept 2021HANSARD Subsidy Control BillAs I said, there is agreement on the fundamentals of the regime. The seven principles are not contested; they are agreed across the devolved Administrations and the UK Government.…22 Sept 2021HANSARD Subsidy Control BillAs I have stressed, this regime has been discussed extensively with the devolved Administrations. Clearly we have conflicting views, but I believe the Government have worked…22 Sept 2021HANSARD Subsidy Control BillMy right hon. Friend makes a legitimate and correct observation about the general obstructionism we sometimes see. There are seven principles outlined in the Bill, however, and…22 Sept 2021HANSARD Subsidy Control BillI thought that I could not have been clearer on this precise point in my opening speech. I repeat: it is clearly no longer necessary for Northern Ireland to be subject to the EU…22 Sept 2021HANSARDTopical QuestionsI will not admit that at all. The right hon. Gentleman got the date wrong—it was to be published in quarter 1 of 2021. I was the Energy Minister who said that.21 Sept 2021HANSARDTopical QuestionsWith regard to Cambo, the hon. Member will appreciate that the decision has been scrutinised in the normal regulatory way. As an energy Minister I helped to negotiate a North sea…21 Sept 2021HANSARDTopical QuestionsThat is absolutely right. I fully recognise, as my hon. Friend appreciates, that we have had huge success in decarbonising our power sector, but we need to accelerate the…21 Sept 2021HANSARDTopical QuestionsYes, it is still late, and I want to publish it as quickly as possible. I can admit that candidly. The right hon. Gentleman talks about the green homes grant. I remind him that of…21 Sept 2021HANSARDTopical QuestionsI know, as a former Treasury Minister, that my hon. Friend is very focused on making the green transition as economically successful as possible. I and others in the Government…21 Sept 2021HANSARDTopical QuestionsI would like to hear more from the hon. Gentleman about this, and I am very happy to meet him to talk about it.21 Sept 2021HANSARDTopical QuestionsI have discussed with the sector the ongoing issue of electricity prices or energy prices for the steel industry. That is why one of the first things I did as Secretary of State…21 Sept 2021HANSARDTopical QuestionsWe have spoken about this issue many times in this House, and the hon. Member will appreciate that carbon capture is a key part of our net zero strategy. I think that is widely…21 Sept 2021HANSARDTopical QuestionsAbsolutely. In relation to this question, I pointed out that UKRI spent £15.9 million in the last fiscal year. The UKRI portion of our Department’s spend is being negotiated in…21 Sept 2021HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe hon. Gentleman is quite right. I make no apology for the fact that we have a twin-track approach in the hydrogen strategy. We have endorsed the production of green hydrogen,…21 Sept 2021HANSARDTopical QuestionsI have a sense of déjà vu, as we addressed this issue directly yesterday. The right hon. Gentleman knows with his experience—I was going to say in government but I mean and in…21 Sept 2021HANSARDTopical QuestionsYesterday I updated the House on the UK gas market. As I said in my statement, protecting consumers is our primary focus and is shaping our entire approach to the issue; they must…21 Sept 2021HANSARDMotor Neurone Disease Research FundingAbsolutely right. UKRI is responsible for the budget and I am in frequent conversations with UKRI. We have to work to see what we can do to focus, with laser-like attention, on…21 Sept 2021