Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Oral Answers to Questions

Rebecca Long Bailey Excerpts
Tuesday 19th April 2016

(8 years, 7 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Damian Hinds Portrait Damian Hinds
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The tariffs are designed to make sure that there is a reasonable and appropriate return to investors. They have to be adjusted periodically when costs come down. Of course, one of the great parts of the success story of solar is the fact that costs have come down by about two thirds since 2010.

Rebecca Long Bailey Portrait Rebecca Long Bailey (Salford and Eccles) (Lab)
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According to the Solar Trade Association:

“Government will be spending just 1% of new expenditure under the Levy Control Framework supporting solar power…yet mainstream analysts expect solar power to dominate future energy supply.”

With that in mind, will the Chancellor promise to do much more to ensure that Britain becomes a market leader in the industry, or are we going to let China take the lead yet again?

Damian Hinds Portrait Damian Hinds
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Britain does have a leadership position in the industry, but we need a balance. We need a portfolio of energy sources and to recognise the importance of baseload power. That is why the development of new nuclear is also so important.