Oral Answers to Questions

Jim Cunningham Excerpts

Thursday 6th November 2014 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Hammond (Wimbledon) (Con)]

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

[Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South) (Lab)]

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

[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.

--- Later in debate ---

[Matthew Hancock]

Indeed, and over the summer we also had some impact on our energy generation, both in nuclear and hydrocarbon generation. The fact that we got 15% renewable generation last year—double what we had in 2010—of course adds to energy security, but, crucially, we have to make sure that this and every winter we take the action necessary to have the energy supply that is demanded by consumers, be they households or businesses.

[Mr Cunningham]

I would love to be able to praise the Secretary of State today, but I cannot because I have to ask him whether he can confirm that, under this Government, construction has begun on just one new gas-fired power station, and even that will not come online until after the next election. That compares with the 10 GW of new gas capacity built under the last Labour Government. I am very sorry that I cannot heap praise on him. I had to give him some bad news.