Oral Answers to Questions

Desmond Swayne Excerpts
Tuesday 8th January 2019

(5 years, 2 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Claire Perry Portrait Claire Perry
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My hon. Friend has been a doughty campaigner on this issue and will know that we have contributed almost £20 million to the industrial strategy heat recovery fund, and the low-carbon heating technology innovation fund is also receiving funds of up to £10 million. I entirely agree with my hon. Friend’s principle. I am not convinced that a further consultation is required, but I am always happy to discuss it with her.

Desmond Swayne Portrait Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)
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Is it fair to continue to subsidise solar panels by charging higher prices to other customers who could not possibly afford that investment?

Claire Perry Portrait Claire Perry
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No, and that is why the intention to close the feed-in tariff scheme was signalled many years ago: it has cost to date over £5 billion and we have a legacy cost of over £1.5 billion to fund that scheme going forward at a time when the price of solar is tumbling. We know that many companies are bringing forward large-scale solar installations without needing subsidy.