Contributions
1,014 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDBiomass GenerationFirst, let me say that I have spent the last hour answering questions from Members on both sides of the House. I have not lectured anyone. I have, however, stated the facts—for…10 Feb 2025HANSARDBiomass GenerationMy hon. Friend makes an important point. I think we should consider two aspects of the analysis of the importance of Drax to the system. First, in comparison with the…10 Feb 2025HANSARDBiomass GenerationI thank the hon. Lady for her questions. Her tone means that I will resist the urge to say that, although I made fun of the shadow Minister for the eight announcements, it was of…10 Feb 2025HANSARDBiomass GenerationThe Chair of the Select Committee is absolutely right about where Drax, and biomass generally, fits in our wider energy system. What we want to build at pace is a clean power…10 Feb 2025HANSARDBiomass Generation“Under new management,” indeed! The tough thing about being the acting shadow Secretary of State is that it is not, of course, his script that the hon. Gentleman is reading out.…10 Feb 2025HANSARDBiomass GenerationWith permission, Madam Deputy Speaker, I would like to make a statement about support for biomass electricity generation. My apologies to the House for it having to put up with…10 Feb 2025HANSARDRosebank and Jackdaw OilfieldsIn terms of the tone of the debate, the Government and the Opposition will of course disagree on many things—by the sounds of it, we increasingly disagree on the importance of…10 Feb 2025HANSARDRosebank and Jackdaw OilfieldsIt is a huge shock, but I do agree with my hon. Friend, because failing to back an £8.3 billion investment in your own constituency seems an odd approach for a Member to take,…10 Feb 2025HANSARDRosebank and Jackdaw OilfieldsI agree with my hon. Friend—10 Feb 2025HANSARDRosebank and Jackdaw OilfieldsThe hon. Gentleman has rightly raised those questions with me on a number of occasions in different debates, and they are incredibly important. Indeed, in a Westminster Hall…10 Feb 2025HANSARDRosebank and Jackdaw OilfieldsI will not be drawn on the applications in this case, but I agree with my hon. Friend’s broader point about the important leadership role for the UK in building the green…10 Feb 2025HANSARDRosebank and Jackdaw OilfieldsThe whole House will have heard the hon. Gentleman repeat the point that the £8.3 billion investment in Great British Energy is not welcomed by the Conservative party, but it will…10 Feb 2025HANSARDRosebank and Jackdaw OilfieldsOn the right hon. Gentleman’s final point, we are moving as quickly as possible. Having built on what needed to be done about the scope 3 emissions, we introduced the consultation…10 Feb 2025HANSARDRosebank and Jackdaw OilfieldsMy hon. Friend is right. We are putting in place a robust and clear process, so that applications can come forward that are in line with what the Supreme Court ruled, and can be…10 Feb 2025HANSARDRosebank and Jackdaw OilfieldsI do think that carbon capture is important. We were delighted to put forward the investment to get the track 1 projects over the line, and we are looking forward to seeing those…10 Feb 2025HANSARDRosebank and Jackdaw OilfieldsThe reason we are in this situation is that the Court ruled that the previous Government made an unlawful decision by not taking into account the judgment of the Supreme Court.…10 Feb 2025HANSARDRosebank and Jackdaw OilfieldsMy hon. Friend’s point about investor confidence is important. Investors lost all confidence in this country under the previous Government; not quite knowing who was going to be…10 Feb 2025HANSARDRosebank and Jackdaw OilfieldsOn 20 June last year, the Supreme Court ruled that regulators must consider the impact of burning extracted oil and gas in the environmental impact assessment for new projects. Of…10 Feb 2025HANSARDRosebank and Jackdaw OilfieldsIt is important to separate the question of licences in these two cases from the consent process—licensing and consenting have always been different processes. We have said that…10 Feb 2025HANSARDRosebank and Jackdaw OilfieldsI think the hon. Gentleman seeks to take me far beyond what I said at the beginning by asking me not just to give an opinion but to adjudicate on applications, right here in the…10 Feb 2025