Mark Menzies
Main Page: Mark Menzies (Independent - Fylde)(9 years, 8 months ago)
Commons ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text
Mr Davey
We consider all options, but the right hon. Lady presents state aid as a “get out of jail free” option when it is not. If the European Commission were presented with the state aid case, it is extremely likely that by the end of the support it would require the collieries to close. We think that there is an advantage in a commercial approach and that is what our attention is focused on.
Mark Menzies (Fylde) (Con)
2. What assessment he has made of trends in renewable energy investment since 2010.
The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Matthew Hancock)
Since 2010, an average of £7 billion has been invested each year in renewable electricity, compared with £3 billion a year in the previous Parliament.
Mark Menzies
May I take this opportunity to welcome my right hon. Friend to his new role? There has been a recent proposal for a tidal gateway across the Ribble estuary that could provide enough electricity for 18,000 homes. Will the Minister update the House on the progress of the project and ensure that environmental considerations will be at the forefront of the proposal?
Matthew Hancock
The project is proceeding and I would be very happy to hear more detail about my hon. Friend’s position and support for it. Ensuring that we get renewable investment of all kinds is an important part of our plan to deal with climate change and increase energy security, and that is something on which we are working hard.