Energy Bill [Lords]

Debate between Sammy Wilson and Nigel Adams

Monday 18th January 2016 Commons Chamber

[Nigel Adams]

I totally agree. That is another great advertisement for sustainable biomass. We have paid for these assets—the Central Electricity Generating Board built these power stations—so let us sweat them for more decades. Biomass is the answer in the short term. Who knows? There might be other technologies that we could be using at them, such as hydrogen power. I am sure that there are the brains out there to find a way to use that resource.

[Sammy Wilson]

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

[Nigel Adams]

I will give way one more time if I am allowed, Madam Deputy Speaker.

[Sammy Wilson]

Does the hon. Gentleman accept that another reason for keeping coal generation is that it is the cheapest form of electricity generation at present? Our competitors, for example Germany, are building new coal stations. When it comes to retaining jobs in the United Kingdom, we have to be cognisant of that.

[Nigel Adams]

I agree with the hon. Gentleman. It is tragic that we have sped up the demise of coal in this country. He will be aware that the last remaining deep coalmine was in my constituency. Unfortunately, it closed at the back end of last year.