Energy Efficiency

Lindsay Hoyle Excerpts

Wednesday 30th June 2010 Commons Chamber

[Barry Gardiner]

I would be delighted to expand on the question of imported biomass. It can play no sensible role in a model of energy efficiency; the transportation costs make it ludicrous to think we are being energy efficient in doing so. However, there are 4 million tonnes of biomass within not the forests but simply the under-managed broadleaf woodlands in England alone. That could be used to generate twice the amount of energy—

[Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Lindsay Hoyle)]

Order.

[Thomas Docherty]

I am grateful to my hon. Friend, who, it is fair to say, is an expert on this issue. He is entirely right that biomass has a role to play, but it must be UK-produced fuel, and he is right to give examples. Stevens Croft in Dumfriesshire has been doing an excellent job of taking cast-off from the timber industry. That is an excellent example. As I mentioned, however, we should not be importing fuel from Europe or further afield.

--- Later in debate ---

[Guy Opperman]

You make this point about Forgemasters, but why did you sell Westinghouse?

[Mr Deputy Speaker]

Order. I can assure hon. Members that I did not sell Westinghouse.

[Thomas Docherty]

Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Wayne David (Caerphilly) (Lab)]

On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. This afternoon, in the Welsh Grand Committee, the Government suffered their first defeat of this Parliament. By 21 votes to seven, the proposition that the Committee had considered the matter of the Government’s legislative programme and the Budget statement as they relate to Wales was rejected. In the light of that, will you use your good offices to ensure that another meeting of the Welsh Grand Committee takes place in order to consider these issues?

[Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Lindsay Hoyle)]

That is not a point of order for me. The hon. Gentleman has now put the matter on the record, and we will leave it at that.

Business of the House

Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 15),

That, at this day’s sitting, proceedings on the Motion in the name of Sir George Young relating to Select Committees (Membership), may be proceeded with, though opposed, until any hour.—(Stephen Crabb.)

Question agreed to.