Contributions
1,299 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDClimate ChangeI am grateful to my hon. Friend for that question. New nuclear obviously has an important part to play in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We are investing in new nuclear. On…16 Jun 2020HANSARDClimate ChangeSince 1990 we have grown the economy by 75% while cutting emissions by 43%, and in June 2019, we became the first major economy to legislate for a net zero carbon emissions…16 Jun 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsI do not think that is a fair characterisation of the situation. We have huge offshore capacity; 35% of the global offshore wind capacity is in the UK, with much of it sited in…16 Jun 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsI am very grateful to my right hon. Friend for the question. He will know that local consent and local support are absolutely key to the pot 1 auction, but he will also be aware…16 Jun 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsMy hon. Friend raises a hugely important issue. Employment and the possibilities and opportunities for people are something we are absolutely focused on. I assure him that we will…16 Jun 2020HANSARDElectricityI beg to move, That the draft Electricity Capacity (Amendment etc.) (Coronavirus) Regulations, which were laid before this House on 20 May, be approved. Before outlining some of…15 Jun 2020HANSARDElectricityIt is of its nature temporary. As my right hon. Friend will know from his long experience in Parliament, the last time we had an energy Bill was in 2013. The Government may well…15 Jun 2020HANSARDElectricityI give way one more time.15 Jun 2020HANSARDElectricityForgive me; the hon. Gentleman has raised some very specific points about our future energy policy, and I wish and hope that we can have a wider discussion of those specific…15 Jun 2020HANSARDElectricityWe have had a very wide-ranging debate—far more wide-ranging than any I can remember on secondary legislation. I suggest that many of these subjects would be better discussed in a…15 Jun 2020HANSARDElectricityI was just anticipating further interventions. I will try to make some progress if I may. I want to turn in particular to the temporary modifications that the draft instrument…15 Jun 2020HANSARDElectricityIn regard to climate change, my right hon. Friend will know that one of the big issues, or successes, that we have had in decarbonising electricity power generation has been…15 Jun 2020HANSARDElectricityI happily give way.15 Jun 2020HANSARDElectricityAll I can do is repeat the answer that I have given. These regulations reflect our past discussions about the operation of the capacity market. The hon. Gentleman and I and others…15 Jun 2020HANSARDElectricityI think it is achievable, but what the hon. Gentleman is talking about is way outside the scope of this statutory instrument. As I have said, we are talking about flexible…15 Jun 2020HANSARDElectricityThe right hon. Gentleman is absolutely right that the system needs to evolve. We are looking at some of the smart pricing he alludes to and the flexibility of the system, and I am…15 Jun 2020HANSARDElectricityI think there are issues, which the right hon. Gentleman raises, with regard to pricing and the ability to have a much more flexible grid system. With respect, however, these…15 Jun 2020HANSARDElectricityI know that my right hon. Friend is a noted sceptic about climate change—or he was, certainly, until very recently—but he will know that any country that, like us, wants to reach…15 Jun 2020HANSARDCovid-19: Support for BusinessesMy Department is supporting businesses through the coronavirus business interruption loan schemes. In addition to those programmes, we are providing grants for small businesses…04 May 2020HANSARDCovid-19: Small BusinessesMy right hon. Friend is quite right: we want to focus on getting business back to work; but these lockdown measures were introduced to protect lives. Relaxing the measures too…04 May 2020