Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Thérèse Coffey and Charles Hendry

Thursday 8th March 2012 Commons Chamber

[Dr Thérèse Coffey (Suffolk Coastal) (Con)]

I was concerned to read the scaremongering in The Guardian today about how nuclear power station sites are at risk of flooding. My understanding is that there has been no cover-up of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs report on flooding, but we know that the Department of Energy and Climate Change has taken action through the Weightman report to say that coastal defences must be maintained. Does the Minister agree that such scaremongering is not helpful to residents in Suffolk?

[Charles Hendry]

I can give my hon. Friend an absolute assurance on this. We will not compromise on safety in any respect with regard to new nuclear power stations. That is an integral part of the national policy statements and the planning process. We have the most effective and toughest regulatory system anywhere in the world and one of the most highly regarded international inspectors is leading the process. We will not compromise on safety in those areas.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Thérèse Coffey and Charles Hendry

Thursday 20th October 2011 Commons Chamber

[Julian Smith (Skipton and Ripon) (Con)]

12. What progress he is making on ensuring that off-grid households have access to affordable heating fuels in the winter of 2011-12.

[The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Charles Hendry)]

On Tuesday, the Office of Fair Trading published its study of the off-grid energy market, which found that action is needed to protect heating oil consumers in some areas. Ahead of next winter, the Department has been working with industry and consumer groups in a national campaign to encourage customers to order early and ensure they are well prepared for winter. We have also reminded terminal operators to ensure that they have sufficient salt to maintain access to their depots in the event of snow and ice over the coming winter.

[Dr Coffey]

I welcome the study published this week and the debate yesterday, when a lot of contributions were made on this matter. I encourage the Minister, though, to think about extending Ofgem’s protection to consumers so that they can all enjoy greater focus and access to the energy ombudsman.

[Charles Hendry]

As my hon. Friend will be aware, I extended an offer to her and other colleagues yesterday to meet me to talk about how we can take forward the work of the Office of Fair Trading to identify potential market abuses that still need to be dealt with, to see how the gas grid can be developed and to check that the appropriate regulation is in place.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Thérèse Coffey and Charles Hendry

Thursday 16th December 2010 Commons Chamber

[Dr Thérèse Coffey (Suffolk Coastal) (Con)]

18. What recent discussions he has had with energy companies on domestic oil pricing.

I declare an interest, as my home is heated by domestic oil.

[The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Charles Hendry)]

I declare an interest, as mine is as well. We are in regular contact with energy companies, including the trade associations that represent those who supply domestic oil. Heating oil is a seasonal product, and its prices vary over the course of the year. I have spoken to the Office of Fair Trading about the price of heating oil, as the enforcement of competition and consumer law is a matter for the OFT, and it assures me that it is keeping a very close eye on the situation and is keen to receive evidence from hon. Members about any market abuse that they experience.

[Dr Coffey]

I thank my hon. Friend for that answer. Several constituents have contacted me about the price of oil. Mr Gander, in particular, relies on oil for his heating, but his supply is running low. A month ago the price was 39p a litre; it is now 71p a litre, and as a consequence he has switched off his heating system. Will my hon. Friend take up that issue throughout the Government to ensure that people are not frozen out of their homes this winter?

[Charles Hendry]

My hon. Friend raises an extremely important issue, which is about both pricing and the time that it takes to secure deliveries. People calling today who reckon they will be short of oil over the coming weeks are being told that they will not receive a delivery for three or four weeks. We are monitoring that situation day by day and are extremely aware that, if there is further snow ahead of Christmas, it could become very serious indeed. I ask my hon. Friend to provide evidence on those price increases to the OFT, so that it can investigate them.

National Policy Statements

Debate between Thérèse Coffey and Charles Hendry

Wednesday 1st December 2010 Commons Chamber

[Dr Thérèse Coffey (Suffolk Coastal) (Con)]

rose—

[Charles Hendry]

I will give way to my hon. Friend, who has some issues in Suffolk.

[Dr Coffey]

Thank you. We do indeed have issues in East Anglia, and in Suffolk in particular. We have an enormous number of offshore wind farms, yet the green impact of pylons across our countryside is hardly palatable. I welcome the changes being made, and hope that we will have more detailed calculations of the costs and the impact of the benefits.

[Charles Hendry]

I shall give way again to the hon. Member for Wells and deal with both issues together.