Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what discussions she has had with (a) Ofgem and (b) the National Grid on steps to encourage coal plants to stay open.

Ministers and officials have regular discussions with Ofgem and National Grid on the outlook for generation including the relative profitability of coal and gas generation. DECC consulted National Grid and Ofgem when preparing proposals for an early capacity auction to ensure this would be deliverable and effective. This auction is technology neutral so open to all capacity providers but the prospect of success in this auction has been welcomed by coal plant operators who may otherwise have closed.