Oral Answers to Questions

Mike Thornton Excerpts

Thursday 3rd April 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Davey]

The coalition’s policy is to continue to support the deployment of onshore wind. We already have 7.2 GW operational—a very big increase under this coalition—as well as 5.2 GW that have been consented and 6.5 GW in planning. We do not expect all that to come forward, but it does suggest that investors believe that Britain is a good place for onshore wind.

[Mike Thornton (Eastleigh) (LD)]

I heard with interest the Secretary of State’s answer which demonstrated how European support for renewable green energy makes a substantial contribution to energy security. Is he surprised that climate change sceptics often seem also to be Eurosceptics?

[Mr Davey]

There is certainly a link. I have not done a detailed analysis to see whether the correlation is 1:1, but I would not be surprised.