British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme

Baroness McIntosh of Pickering Excerpts

Wednesday 22nd April 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Lloyd of Effra (Lab)]

We have seen the damage that volatility and energy price spikes have caused in the past. That is why the long-term plan towards a clean energy future will bring more stability, more resilience and more homegrown power.

In respect of the North Sea, as I mentioned earlier, we will introduce new transitional energy certificates that will enable some oil and gas production in areas adjacent to already licensed fields that are licensed via a tieback or areas that are already part of an existing field. That is what we are doing. The only way to take back control of Britain’s energy and bring down bills for good is with clean, homegrown power.

[Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Con)]

My Lords, I shall press the Minister on North Sea oil, as she rehearsed it this afternoon. We just had a debate on clean energy. My noble friend Lord Moynihan on the Front Bench said that 70% of gas imports to the UK are coming from Norway and that they are potentially under a challenge from the Norwegians because they are not that keen on exporting their oil to a third country. Are the Government apprised of that? That surely should be setting off alarm bells about why we need to take more oil from the North Sea.

Can I also just press the Minister on the urgent case for the phytosanitary agreement to be reached with the European Union? As my noble friend Lord Lansley said, our largest export now is food manufacturing. Salmon is part of that, and it is obviously very perishable. It is vital that we get a phytosanitary agreement with our nearest importing neighbours at the earliest opportunity.