Oral Answers to Questions

John Bercow Excerpts

Thursday 5th February 2015 Commons Chamber

[Mr Davey]

The problem with the Opposition’s policy is that if we had listened to them and frozen bills, people would now have even higher bills and would be in even more debt. We are not going to listen to the Opposition’s failed energy policy. Our policy has seen bills come down, not just frozen. People can get some of the best deals by switching to the independents that we have encouraged into the market.

[Mr Speaker]

I call Mr Geoffrey Robinson. Not here.

[Pamela Nash]

With the news this week that price comparison sites do not always show customers the cheapest offers because they would not get their share, and given that switching is so crucial to the Government, is it not time that we had a non-commercial Government comparison site?

--- Later in debate ---

[Sir Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton) (Lab)]

rose—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. It is always a pleasure to hear the right hon. Gentleman, but his question is in a later group. We are saving him for the delectation of the House at a later stage in our proceedings.

[Sir Gerald Kaufman]

I am grateful to you for that guidance, Mr Speaker. I received a letter from the Department yesterday saying that my question, which was then question 22, was linked with question 5, tabled by my hon. Friend the Member for Coventry North West (Mr Robinson). The Department has created great confusion which you, Mr Speaker, with your usual efficiency and consideration, are clearing up.

[Mr Speaker]

I am extremely grateful to the right hon. Gentleman. All compliments gratefully accepted.

[Mr Andrew Robathan (South Leicestershire) (Con)]

2. What estimate he has made of the proportion of electricity demand that will be met by renewable energy in 2015 compared with 2010.

--- Later in debate ---

[Matthew Hancock]

I admire the hon. Gentleman’s ability to get a question on coal into one on the Order Paper about renewables. I come from coal mining stock, and I have delivered support to the three remaining deep pits so far to make sure they stay open on a commercial basis, and to ensure, as far as possible within the constraints of affordability and value for money, the continuation of this mining. There is nobody who has done more than me in the past six months to make this happen. I will continue to work with all parties, including the National Union of Mineworkers, to get there.

[Mr Speaker]

Never use one word where 100 will do. I call Jim Shannon.

[Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP)]

To change the question slightly, one area in which there could be improvement is in encouraging industry to move from electricity to more renewable sources for heat and energy. Is the target of 20% being met, and what discussions has the Minister had with his equivalent in the Northern Ireland Assembly, Arlene Foster, to ensure that these targets are met across the whole United Kingdom?