Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Onshore Wind Farms

Tuesday 28 February 2023 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial Questions were held on 2023-02-28 regarding onshore wind farms.
  • Afzal Khan questioned the Government's onshore wind ban, stating it raised household bills by 150 each.
  • Stephen Crabb discussed the opportunity for industrial advantage in the floating offshore wind industry, particularly in the Celtic Sea.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Afzal Khan Lab Manchester Rusholme
Climate Energy Environment
Context

The question pertains to the number of onshore wind farms established since a ban was imposed, affecting electricity prices and family bills.

Question

How many onshore wind farms have been established in England since 2015. The Government's onshore wind ban has raised bills for every family by £150 each. Keeping this ban in place would mean bills are £16 billion higher in 2030 compared with Labour's plan to double onshore wind.

Answer from Graham Stuart

The hon. Gentleman is a very fine Member of this House, but I really would warn him against reading out the screeds produced by his party centre. In 2010, just 7% of our electricity came from renewables; it is now heading its way to half. Onshore wind has an important part to play, and we are looking at ways in which we can enable communities that do support onshore wind to go ahead and deliver it.

Not addressed: The apology for raising bills and profiting energy companies was not addressed

How: Warn Against Reading Out The Screeds Produced By His Party Centre

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Q2 Afzal Khan Lab Manchester Rusholme
Energy
Context

The question relates to a government policy that banned onshore wind farms, causing electricity bills to rise for families.

Question

The Government's onshore wind ban has raised bills for every family by £150 each. Keeping this ban in place would mean bills are £16 billion higher in 2030 compared with Labour's plan to double onshore wind. Will the Secretary of State apologise for the dogma of his Government that has led to more imported gas and raised bills, with energy companies making record profits and families paying the price?

Answer from Graham Stuart

The hon. Gentleman is a very fine Member of this House, but I really would warn him against reading out the screeds produced by his party centre. In 2010, just 7% of our electricity came from renewables; it is now heading its way to half. Onshore wind has an important part to play, and we are looking at ways in which we can enable communities that do support onshore wind to go ahead and deliver it.

Not addressed: The apology for raising bills and profiting energy companies was not addressed

How: Warn Against Reading Out The Screeds Produced By His Party Centre

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Q3 Stephen Crabb Con
Energy Business & Trade
Context

The question is about seizing industrial advantage in floating offshore wind, particularly regarding the Celtic Sea.

Question

Alongside onshore wind, does my right hon. Friend agree with me that in this country we have a tremendous opportunity in front of us to seize first mover industrial advantage in the new floating offshore wind industry, particularly with respect to the Celtic sea? Does he agree with me that crucial to doing that, and to building domestic supply chains and domestic capability, is alignment of the Crown estate leasing process, the contract for difference and interventions such as freeports?

Answer from Graham Stuart

My right hon. Friend is absolutely right on every single count.

Answered
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