Energy: Costs Debate

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Lord West of Spithead

Main Page: Lord West of Spithead (Labour - Life peer)

Energy: Costs

Lord West of Spithead Excerpts
Tuesday 16th October 2012

(12 years, 2 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Baroness Verma Portrait Baroness Verma
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My Lords, I know that my noble friend is greatly concerned about wind farms, but perhaps I can reassure him that on 20 September last we called for evidence to see how well we are doing in terms of our targets on wind farms. I can also assure him that, by and large, we have reached our capacity for onshore farms through what we have already done and what is in the pipeline. My noble friend can rest assured that there will not be a burst of wind farms across the landscape. We are taking wind farms as part of the energy mix that this country needs.

Lord West of Spithead Portrait Lord West of Spithead
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My Lords, I am sure that the noble Baroness would agree that surety of supply of gas is an important part of keeping costs down. Some 14% of our energy comes from Qatar through to Milford Haven, and that is set to rise to 30%. Does she further agree that 19 destroyers and frigates might be a little too few to ensure the security of that supply?

Baroness Verma Portrait Baroness Verma
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My Lords, that is a very important question to which I know the noble Lord will want a fuller answer.