Oral Answers to Questions

David Rutley Excerpts

Thursday 6th November 2014 Commons Chamber

[David Rutley (Macclesfield) (Con)]

2. What recent assessment he has made of the security of the UK’s energy supply.

[Stephen Hammond (Wimbledon) (Con)]

6. What recent assessment he has made of the security of the UK’s energy supply.

[The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Matthew Hancock)]

Today we published our annual energy statement, which shows the action we have taken to deliver a secure supply of energy while reducing bills and carbon emissions, meeting the needs of households and businesses.

[David Rutley]

Given the approaching winter and the increasing uncertainty in our international relations, will my right hon. Friend tell the House what steps he is taking to secure energy supplies in the face of possible extreme weather and other external threats?

[Matthew Hancock]

Of course, secure energy supplies are the most critical part of our responsibilities in the Department of Energy and Climate Change. We have taken steps to ensure that the market operates better, through the electricity market reform programme. We have also taken steps to ensure that there has been £45 billion of investment in energy infrastructure since 2010. This winter, we have worked with the National Grid Company to make sure there is additional capacity so that energy needs are covered no matter what the winter throws at us.