Oral Answers to Questions

Nick Smith Excerpts

Thursday 28th November 2013 Commons Chamber

[Michael Fallon]

It is very telling that in the year that Hinkley Point will come on stream—2023—eight of the nine existing plants will be off the system, unless their lives are extended, which shows the legacy of under-investment that we have to face. There are now proposals for 12 reactors in total, spread over five different sites.

[Nick Smith (Blaenau Gwent) (Lab)]

A quarter of our power supply will go off line in the next decade, so why is investment in new, clean energy infrastructure on course for a new low?

[Michael Fallon]

Since this Government came to office, five new gas plants have come on to the system and another is being built at Manchester, while two large wind farms opened this year and four more are under construction, and we have agreed terms, as we have heard, for the first new nuclear station in a generation. All that investment would be put at risk by the threat of price controls from a future socialist Government.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Davey]

I will certainly bring my hon. Friend’s point to the attention of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.

[Nick Smith (Blaenau Gwent) (Lab)]

Why has the UK fallen to seventh in the world for investment in clean energy since the Government came to power?

[Mr Davey]

I do not recognise the hon. Gentleman’s figures. A recent Ernst and Young survey had the UK as the fourth most attractive place in the world to invest in renewable energy.