Caroline Dinenage
Main Page: Caroline Dinenage (Conservative - Gosport)(12 years, 3 months ago)
Commons ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text
Gregory Barker
As I said earlier, the number of tariffs proliferated by 75% in the last three years of the Labour Government, when they had the opportunity to do something about this. We actually want everyone to be on cheaper tariffs, but there is lots to do, because of the appalling inheritance from the last Government. We want everyone to get a good deal, not just the over-75s, and we are taking action to make that happen.
Caroline Dinenage (Gosport) (Con)
3. When he expects a decision to be taken on the EU target for carbon emission reductions under the second commitment period of the Kyoto protocol.
The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Gregory Barker)
The EU must submit a target for the second commitment period of the Kyoto protocol at the UN conference of parties at the end of the year in Qatar. There is a debate in the EU about whether to increase its 2020 emission reduction target from 20% to 30% from 1990 levels. The UK is a leading advocate of a 30% target.
Caroline Dinenage
The Secretary of State has publicly and consistently expressed his desire to see the EU 2020 emissions reduction target increase to 30%, but what concrete action will he take to realise that ambition?
Gregory Barker
We are very active on this agenda. The Secretary of State and I firmly believe that the EU should submit a 30% target in the Kyoto protocol. We are working closely with ministerial colleagues from key member states to build support for a 30% target, directly engaging the more sceptical. At the Environment Council in March, the Secretary of State will argue strongly for approval of the EU low-carbon road map, which sets out milestones for reducing emissions through to 2050.