Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Andy Sawford and Michael Fallon

Thursday 27th February 2014 Commons Chamber

[Andy Sawford (Corby) (Lab/Co-op)]

The German Chancellor is visiting Parliament today. May I invite the Secretary of State to hold talks with her about the support that her Government give to energy-intensive industries in Germany? I am sure that that support is welcomed by those industries, but it makes it increasingly difficult for energy-intensive industries in our country, such as the steel industry, to compete.

[Michael Fallon]

We are already paying emission trading system compensation—some £28 million so far—to 53 companies, including eight steel companies, nine chemical companies and 28 paper companies. I discussed a carbon price floor compensation scheme with Vice-President Almunia in Brussels last week, and I hope that that too will be approved next month.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Andy Sawford and Michael Fallon

Thursday 11th July 2013 Commons Chamber

[Michael Fallon]

We have a separate plutonium management strategy. I think that that will answer my hon. Friend’s inquiry on that matter. It is worth saying that local communities that are prepared to host shale will receive significant benefits, including some £100,000 for an exploration well and, potentially, between £5 million and £10 million over the lifetime of any production well. Those are significant amounts, and they would rightly recompense local communities for any of the disruption involved.

[Andy Sawford (Corby) (Lab/Co-op)]

Bloomberg’s new energy analysis of shale gas states that

“the expectation that UK shale gas could lead to gas prices similar to those which have been seen in the US in the last two years can be discounted”.

Does the Minister accept and agree with that analysis?

[Michael Fallon]

We know from the British Geological Survey, which we published two weeks ago, of the central estimate of 1,300 trillion cubic feet in the Bowland-Hodder basin. What we do not yet know is whether that resource can be recovered as economically or, indeed, technically as it has been recovered in the United States. That is why we need to get on and explore to see whether that resource can be made available in the same way and have the same significant reductions in the cost of energy for our businesses and our households.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Andy Sawford and Michael Fallon

Thursday 21st March 2013 Commons Chamber

[Michael Fallon]

I congratulate the Cleethorpes Chronicle on reaching that milestone and we should send our best wishes to Nigel Lowther, Mark Webb and the team. It is a great local paper, committed to the community and the businesses that it serves.

[Andy Sawford (Corby) (Lab/Co-op)]

rose—