Andrew Jones
Main Page: Andrew Jones (Conservative - Harrogate and Knaresborough)
Mr Davey
A number of final investment decisions were taken around 2007, before the 2020 agreement, and they are now resulting in some coal power stations coming online. Since then, however, almost all of the proposals for new coal power stations in Germany have been turned down. My right hon. Friend is right to say that there is an effect, but in the long term I am clear, from talking to German Ministers, that they will get their carbon emissions on a downward trajectory.
Andrew Jones (Harrogate and Knaresborough) (Con)
12. What steps he is taking to promote investment in energy generation.
The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Matthew Hancock)
We are working through our long-term energy plan for a further £100 billion investment in energy infrastructure up to 2020. Since 2010, we have delivered £45 billion of that, with much more to come.
Andrew Jones
Will the Minister give a bit more information about how much investment there has been in the energy sector under this Government?
Matthew Hancock
With that £45 billion, the investment per year is at least twice its previous rate, as is our investment in renewables. Renewables investment has been a large part of that overall investment, not least as a result of electricity market reform and the support for renewables under this Government. That means that 15% of electricity last year was generated from renewables, demonstrating that we are meeting our goal of being the greenest Government ever.