Electricity Generation

Lord Bishop of Chester Excerpts

Wednesday 7th November 2012 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Verma]

My Lords, I reassure the noble Lord and the House that we have enough capacity to ensure that the lights do not go out. We have been in this place before. As noble Lords will know, in the last decade we had a similar prediction that we would have a drop in supply, but of course the lights remained on. We are working with all our efforts to ensure that, through renewables, gas and coal, those lights stay on.

[The Lord Bishop of Chester]

My Lords, could the Minister tell the House to what extent we already depend on the interconnectors with France and the Netherlands? What potential is there to go cap in hand to our European friends for more supplies in the years to come?

[Baroness Verma]

The right reverend Prelate raises a point of which I am sure noble Lords are aware, which is that we have a very good relationship with our European friends, particularly with Norway. We are focused on ensuring that our renewable marketplace will assist us to be self-sufficient and have our own security of energy. We will do that through our energy Bill. However, these issues are of long standing. This Government have taken a very proactive, positive step to ensure that we address these issues.