Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Alison Seabeck and Ed Davey

Thursday 6th June 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Davey]

I am afraid it is the Opposition who are refusing to listen. They should look at the Energy Bill, in which we have legislated for the power to set a decarbonisation target—the first country in the world to do so.

[Alison Seabeck]

On Tuesday, the Government said they opposed the 2030 decarbonisation target, in part on the ground that it would increase bills. If that were so, one would expect Fuel Poverty Action to agree with the Government, but it does not. Instead, it said:

“in failing to set a target for clean energy, the Government has yet again let down hard-up UK households.”

Will the Secretary of State explain his position in the light of that statement and say whether it would also apply to his long-grass target?

[Mr Davey]

I am afraid the hon. Lady has not read the Bill; she needs to go back and do some more research. The difference in the debate has been about when the target is set, not if a target is set. The new clause tabled by my hon. Friend the Member for South Suffolk (Mr Yeo) dealt with whether it should be set in 2014; the Government have legislated to give us the power to set it in 2016, 14 years before it needs to be met. That is an ambitious position and we are yet again leading the world.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Alison Seabeck and Ed Davey

Thursday 14th March 2013 Commons Chamber

[Alison Seabeck (Plymouth, Moor View) (Lab)]

The Hills fuel poverty review said that unless the Government changed course a further 200,000 families would be in fuel poverty within four years. Does the Secretary of State agree with the Hills conclusions, and if not, will he place in the Library the evidence on which he is basing his views?

[Mr Davey]

Professor John Hills’ report was extremely welcome and had a very important analysis. In reforming the design of the ECO, we took account of the understandings and research Professor Hills laid out, and that is also one of the reasons why we will be developing and publishing a fuel poverty strategy to show we are serious about tackling this issue.