Annual Energy Statement

Debate between Robert Smith and John Bercow

Thursday 31st October 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. A very large number of right hon. and hon. Members are seeking to catch my eye. I would like to accommodate the level of interest, but I remind the House that we have very important business to follow, and it is heavily subscribed. There is therefore a premium on economy, in which we will be led by Sir Robert Smith.

[Sir Robert Smith (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD)]

I am delighted to welcome the fact that the Government support the Energy and Climate Change Committee’s call for a competition review and to press Ofgem on greater implementation of BDO’s recommendations on transparency. Will the Secretary of State confirm that the market reforms will end the exploitation of the inertia on the part of customers on existing tariffs, which leaves them languishing on uncompetitive tariffs?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Robert Smith and John Bercow

Thursday 7th March 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I am deeply obliged to the Minister, but there are a couple of people called Smith whom I still want to accommodate. I call Sir Robert.

[Sir Robert Smith (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD)]

Thank you, Mr Speaker. May I reinforce to the Minister the importance of achieving affordability? Will he take the message from the people of Stonehaven, who have been flooded for a second time, that urgency is also important so that they can have the comfort of reinsuring their properties?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Robert Smith and John Bercow

Wednesday 4th May 2011 Commons Chamber

[Sir Robert Smith (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD)]

The Secretary of State may know that the Energy and Climate Change Committee has had meetings with investors in the renewables sector in which concerns have been raised that long-term capital investments are involved, and that if the price of carbon were to change in investors’ favour, future Governments might introduce a windfall tax to compensate electricity consumers. Will my right hon. Friend reinforce the point made in the debate on Treasury matters last night that the Government want to engage with the oil and gas industry to ensure that any concerns about the stability of the tax regime can be dealt with, so that we can have a constructive engagement with the aim of maximising investment in all energy futures for this country?

[Mr Speaker]

Order. We need to have time for the answer.