Oral Answers to Questions

Martin Horwood Excerpts

Thursday 31st January 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Hayes]

We will have discussions with the communities who understand the significance of this and its potential value to them, and of course those discussions will be ongoing.

Let me be clear about transparency. In the Bill Committee to which he referred, the hon. Gentleman has repeatedly made the case for a more transparent approach, and I am sympathetic to that argument. This Government must be characterised by openness in the way in which they conduct their affairs, in this matter and in all matters.

[Martin Horwood (Cheltenham) (LD)]

18. What recent progress has been made on strike price negotiations with EDF.

[The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Mr John Hayes)]

Shale gas has exciting potential, but we need to—

[Mr Hayes]

I was racing ahead of myself for a moment, Mr. Speaker.

Discussions are ongoing, with the aim of finding a fair, affordable, value-for-money deal. No commitment has been made on commercial terms or the strike price.

[Martin Horwood]

Another interpretation of those ongoing discussions is that they are offering a consumer subsidy to the French state nationalised energy company Électricité de France in a mature market, without much competition, and in advance of the relevant legislation. Should that not be subject to proper parliamentary scrutiny?

[Mr Hayes]

As I have already said, the strike price that we agree and the process that leads up to that agreement will indeed be subject to such scrutiny, because we will be transparent about the arrangements that we make. Let me be perfectly candid. If this deal does not stack up, we will not proceed with it. It must be in the interests of taxpayers and it must be fair, although of course it must be commercially attractive as well. The negotiations are going ahead, and it would be inappropriate for me to say more about them, but I will say that this can be a win-win for our future.