Contributions
1,014 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDNational Policy Statements for Nuclear Energy Infrastructure: ReviewMy hon. Friend Lord Vallance of Balham, Minister of State for Science, Innovation, Research and Nuclear, has today made the following statement: My Lords, the nuclear regulatory…16 Jul 2026HANSARD Peak Cluster Pipeline and ProjectNo, I will not just now, because the right hon. Lady has just given a speech. I will respond to some of her points.15 Jul 2026HANSARD Peak Cluster Pipeline and ProjectLet me respond to the right hon. Lady’s points. She has now accused me twice in this House of being “elusive” and of “obfuscation”. I have answered every single one of her written…15 Jul 2026HANSARDNational Energy System Operator: Blackout RiskFirst, I reiterate what I said at the beginning of the statement. The shadow Secretary of State raised these concerns about whistleblowers who had been in touch with her for the…15 Jul 2026HANSARDNational Energy System Operator: Blackout RiskOn 7 July, the shadow Secretary of State, the right hon. Member for East Surrey (Claire Coutinho), wrote to the Government alleging practices of poor information handling in NESO…15 Jul 2026HANSARDNational Energy System Operator: Blackout RiskI welcome my hon. Friend’s comments. Let me first reiterate that, as I said a moment ago, incredibly skilled staff work in the control room 24/7 to ensure that we are balancing…15 Jul 2026HANSARDNational Energy System Operator: Blackout RiskThe hon. Gentleman has made a number of important points. The terms of reference are available on Ofgem’s website for the inquiry that NESO has commissioned an independent law…15 Jul 2026HANSARDNational Energy System Operator: Blackout RiskI thank my hon. Friend for the way in which he has framed his remarks. He is right to say that these are incredibly serious allegations, and we take them with the seriousness with…15 Jul 2026HANSARDNational Energy System Operator: Blackout RiskI pay tribute to the right hon. Gentleman, and to all who were involved in that incredibly important exercise. I was not aware of it at all until I came into this job and read the…15 Jul 2026HANSARDNational Energy System Operator: Blackout RiskYes, I agree. At the risk of repeating myself, electricity supplies were maintained throughout this period. Tight margins were caused by unprecedented warm weather—as I think we…15 Jul 2026HANSARDNational Energy System Operator: Blackout RiskIt is right and proper that we are talking about this issue, but I can assure the hon. Gentleman that there is absolutely no complacency on my part or that of the Government. I…15 Jul 2026HANSARDNational Energy System Operator: Blackout RiskIn the past two years, during which I have had the privilege of doing this job, my hon. Friend has frequently shared her experiences as an electrical engineer, and she is right.…15 Jul 2026HANSARDNational Energy System Operator: Blackout RiskThe right hon. Gentleman asks a number of questions. On his point about the governance of NESO, I engage with its chair but also with the Government’s independent director. NESO…15 Jul 2026HANSARDNational Energy System Operator: Blackout RiskI thank my hon. Friend for both of his questions. On the first, he is right to imply that it is good that the vast majority of the public do not think about the electricity system…15 Jul 2026HANSARDNational Energy System Operator: Blackout RiskI think we are probably speaking at cross-purposes. I suspect that when the shadow Secretary of State refers to blackouts, she means a national power outage rather than supply…15 Jul 2026HANSARDNational Energy System Operator: Blackout RiskI congratulate my hon. Friend on getting a question about nuclear into this, and she is absolutely right.15 Jul 2026HANSARDNational Energy System Operator: Blackout RiskI agree with my hon. Friend 100%—as, I hear, does the shadow Minister. This is one of those rare areas where I think we do have complete consensus—well, maybe not complete…15 Jul 2026HANSARDNational Energy System Operator: Blackout RiskThere was a lot there, but I am sorry that the hon. Gentleman is not happy to see me at the Dispatch Box. I am very happy to see him in his place, and to be here to answer this…15 Jul 2026HANSARDNational Energy System Operator: Blackout RiskI almost thought my hon. Friend had asked a question without mentioning Harlow, but we got there in the end. I am afraid I cannot give him a specific answer about the work we are…15 Jul 2026HANSARDNational Energy System Operator: Blackout RiskFirst, I am not going to comment on leaks from internal conversations that may or may not have happened. I was not in the meeting, so I am not going to comment. On the right hon.…15 Jul 2026