Topical Questions

Answer from Grant Shapps

Next week will mark the 500-day anniversary since Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine and began trying to blackmail the world on energy. As ever, Britain stood strong in the face of tyranny, and I am pleased to report that from Saturday just past, energy bills are falling by an average of 17% for households. We are committed to powering Britain from Britain, despite some alarming energy surrender plans coming from the Opposition.

Answer from Grant Shapps

The actual data argues the opposite way. We have met all our carbon budgets to date. The Climate Change Committee last week said that the chances of reaching carbon budget 4 are “slightly increased”. We are confident of meeting it, and we have set out our plans for carbon budgets 5 and 6. I have to say that given that this country has the best record in the world among developed nations for getting carbon under control, it is surprising to hear the Opposition's view.

Answer from Andrew Bowie

Since day one, the skills challenges that we face have been a top priority for me, which is why my Department is working closely with the Ministry of Defence, the DFE and the sector to tackle them. With the employer-led Nuclear Skills Strategy Group, we have deployed a joint plan of skills actions to support the civil and defence programmes, but I would be happy to meet my hon. Friend to discuss that further.

Answer from Grant Shapps

As has been discussed more than once in these questions and answers, we have taken this country from having only 7% renewable energy to over 40%. We have decarbonised faster than any other G7 nation and we are on track for carbon budget 4, having already overdelivered on carbon budgets 1, 2 and 3. Based on our record to date, we are doing a pretty good job.

Answer from Grant Shapps

This is one of the problems with not being prepared to follow the data, which shows us overdelivering on the commitments of carbon budgets 1, 2 and 3, and that we are more likely to meet carbon budget 4 than we were a year ago. If the right hon. Gentleman wants to ignore all that and still roll out his pre-written question, that is how we get to his conclusions. The truth is that the Government are delivering on the issues of climate change while protecting every single household in the country from Putin's tyranny. I am afraid that has already been surrendered by the right hon. Gentleman, who subscribes to the Just Stop Oil approach.

Answer from Graham Stuart

We estimate that the net cost excluding air quality and emissions-saving benefits will be equivalent to about 1% to 2% of GDP in 2050. As my hon. Friend knows, emissions are global, and we all need to play our part. The UK has a part to play in tandem with others, and that is why I will be working with other Ministers at the conference of the parties in Dubai.

Answer from Graham Stuart

The hon. Gentleman is right to be frustrated about progress. But as the Secretary of State said, when the right hon. Member for Doncaster North (Edward Miliband), who is chuntering on the Front Bench, was in power, just 14% of homes were decently insulated; by the end of the year, it will be more than 50%. We have set up the energy efficiency taskforce because we want to go further and faster. We are determined to do more. We are spending £12.6 billion over this Parliament and the next, and—

Answer from Amanda Solloway

My hon. Friend will be interested to hear that the Government provided more than £7.4 billion of support to businesses—more than £35 million a day—through the energy bill relief scheme last winter.

Answer from Graham Stuart

The Government are taking steps to support mine water heating technology, and I am willing to meet with the hon. Lady to further discuss this matter.

Answer from Graham Stuart

The total output of renewable electricity in north Northamptonshire was 362 GWh in 2021. I do not have the full data for 2022 at this time.

Answer from Grant Shapps

The Government welcome the hydrogen economy as crucial for storing power in heavy industry. We aim to support this sector while ensuring it does not affect people's energy costs, which have recently decreased due to winter support measures.

Answer from Graham Stuart

We have recently completed a call for evidence on introducing non-price factors into the contracts for difference scheme, aiming to value more than just cost deployment. The Government want to maximize job creation in this country.

Answer from Andrew Bowie

This Government have delivered over 43% renewable electricity and created a Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. We will not take lectures from Labour on combating climate change.

Answer from Graham Stuart

I am aware of proposals involving shipping and piping of hydrogen. I would be happy to meet my hon. Friend to discuss further steps we can take.

Answer from Graham Stuart

We are progressing CCUS at top speed. The opportunity is enormous in areas such as the Tees, Humber, and north-west.

Answer from Grant Shapps

My right hon. Friend is correct about the opportunities of geothermal energy; it just received a potential allocation through the contracts for difference round.

Answer from Grant Shapps

I will write back to the hon. Gentleman with a more detailed response, as the development is actually in my hon. Friend's constituency.

Answer from Andrew Bowie

The Government have received Nick Winser's review and it will be published imminently.

Answer from Amanda Solloway

Speaking for myself, I would be delighted to have a meeting on that subject.

Answer from Graham Stuart

My hon. Friend is quite right to ask that question. We would all like to see gas setting the price of electricity less frequently. That is why we are accelerating the take-up of renewables, which were so pitifully low in quantity when Labour was in power. We need a Conservative Government to keep up progress and lower bills right across the country.

Answer from Andrew Bowie

Great British Nuclear will be launched later in July. We will also be launching the draw-down selection process for which technologies we will invest in and support. I would be delighted to speak to the hon. Gentleman in more detail about that progress moving forward.

Answer from Andrew Bowie

As I said, we are working with the sector and parliamentarians to find a way forward to further support community energy projects. As part of that, I would be delighted to meet the hon. Gentleman to discuss it further.