Oral Answers to Questions

Sandra Osborne Excerpts

Thursday 1st November 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Davey]

My hon. Friend is right. Under the previous Government we had a multitude of tariffs, which became confusing and complex, but that Government failed to take action. It is good to know that Ofgem, with our support, has brought forward proposals after careful study, and we will act on them. Although it is possible to have too much simplification, which puts us in danger of reducing choice and competition, Ofgem is trying to strike the right balance and that is why we are studying its proposals so closely rather than dismissing them.

[Sandra Osborne (Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock) (Lab)]

When the Minister addressed 400—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. The hon. Lady has tabled Question 10 and must ask that first.

[Sandra Osborne (Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock) (Lab)]

10. What recent assessment he has made of levels of investment in clean energy infrastructure.

[The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Mr John Hayes)]

The electricity market reform White Paper, published in July 2011—I have a copy here for those who have not brought theirs with them—stated that up to £110 billion in investment in the power sector is likely to be required by 2020, of which approximately £60 billion relates to investment in clean energy capacity.

[Sandra Osborne]

I thank the Minister for that reply and apologise for pre-empting it. When he addressed 400 industry delegates at the renewable energy UK conference the other day, he spoke of the need for clarity and certainty in renewable energy policy to provide the right framework for investment. He then told the media that enough is enough when it comes to wind power. Which of those mixed messages represents the Government’s policy and what will he do to retrieve the situation, which has caused such uncertainty in the industry?

[Mr Hayes]

The commitment to renewable technology is an essential part of delivering the energy mix that I mentioned earlier. It is absolutely right that we should have renewables as part of that mix. That builds sustainability and resilience and helps us to meet our emissions targets. It is also good for consumers, because that mix guarantees our energy security.