Feed-in Tariffs Debate

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Kelvin Hopkins

Main Page: Kelvin Hopkins (Independent - Luton North)

Feed-in Tariffs

Kelvin Hopkins Excerpts
Monday 31st October 2011

(13 years ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord Barker of Battle Portrait Gregory Barker
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I am not aware of that particular paper, but I have to say that I remain a fan of solar. The issue is about the cost of solar. The fact is that it currently attracts four times as much subsidy as any other form of renewable generation. It is not viable to have a mass roll-out of that technology when costs are still that high. We need to bring the costs down. When we get to that point, we will see a mass roll-out in the UK—but not before costs have been brought down further.

Kelvin Hopkins Portrait Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North) (Lab)
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The Minister has not answered one important point made by my right hon. Friend the Member for Don Valley (Caroline Flint)—that he has buckled under pressure from the big six energy producers. Is it not the truth that they make money out of selling electricity and they do not want competition?

Lord Barker of Battle Portrait Gregory Barker
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That is why, unlike the previous Government, we are bringing forward transformational proposals as part of our electricity market reform. We have already had one Energy Bill in this Parliament; another will be along shortly.