UK Energy Sources and Cost of Energy

Lord Kennedy of Southwark Excerpts

Thursday 19th March 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Redwood (Con)]

My Lords—

[Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms and Chief Whip (Lord Kennedy of Southwark) (Lab Co-op)]

We will hear from the noble Baroness, Lady Bennett.

[Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (GP)]

My Lords, I am sure that the Minister will agree that the cleanest, greenest, cheapest and most secure energy is the energy that you do not need to use. France, for example, is far ahead of us in avoiding wasteful use of energy, with measures such as switching off the lighting for shops, ensuring that offices switch off lights during the night and taking measures to stop wasting energy, such as with video screens with advertising. What steps are the Government taking to reduce the wastage of energy, which will make us all more secure?

--- Later in debate ---

[Lord Hintze (Con)]

My Lords—

[Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Lab Co-op)]

It is definitely the turn of the Conservative Benches.

[Lord Fuller (Con)]

My Lords, the crisis is immediate. What assessment have the Government made about the essential products that rely on gas—ammonia, CO₂, aniline, soda ash, ethylene and sulphuric acid—without which a modern economy cannot exist and without which factories will close?