Christopher Pincher
Main Page: Christopher Pincher (Independent - Tamworth)(9 years, 4 months ago)
Commons ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text
Mr Speaker
It is good of the hon. Member for Tamworth (Christopher Pincher) to drop in on us. We are grateful to him.
Christopher Pincher (Tamworth) (Con)
T3. Energy experts believe that by 2030 we will need an additional 25-30 GW of gas capacity to meet our needs. What does my right hon. Friend have in mind to meet that extra provision? Will it include 15-year contracts for new entrants and not contracts discounted to one year?
The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Matthew Hancock)
My hon. Friend is right that we need investment in our energy infrastructure, including gas-powered fire stations. The capacity market auction on which many of those investment decisions will be made is under way this week and is continuing today to get the best possible value for money for energy consumers. It would be insidious of me to comment on an auction while it is under way. [Hon. Members: “Invidious!”] It would be invidious of me as well, so I will not comment, but my hon. Friend makes a critical point that it is vital to get new energy generation investment.