Oral Answers to Questions

Nic Dakin Excerpts

Thursday 4th September 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk) (Con)]

1. What assessment he has made of the security of the UK's energy supply.

[Nic Dakin (Scunthorpe) (Lab)]

5. What steps he is taking to increase the UK’s energy security.

[Stephen Mosley (City of Chester) (Con)]

6. What assessment he has made of the security of the UK's energy supply.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Davey]

I am pleased at the way in which our demand-side measures have been advancing. They are something on which I have placed a lot of stress. I know that my Minister of State appeared before my hon. Friend’s Committee when it was investigating this matter. We certainly want to ensure that we move forward on this and that there is nothing in the way of taking up more demand-side measures.

[Nic Dakin]

Last month, EDF announced that it was temporarily closing four of its nuclear reactors, reducing the UK’s nuclear capacity by a quarter. With most of the nuclear fleet being decommissioned by 2023, what steps is the Secretary of State taking to ensure maximum use of those assets before that date?

[Mr Davey]

With regard to the two nuclear plants involved, Heysham and Hartlepool, we are taking only precautionary measures to ensure that proper safety and security measures are examined, and I am sure that the whole House will agree that that is the right step. The impact that that will have on our margins over the winter has already been taken account of in National Grid’s analysis and procurement plans. On the hon. Gentleman’s longer point, the whole energy strategy is designed to ensure that we have the capacity that we need not just for the short and medium term but for the long term. I refer him to the investment report that we published in July, which shows a fantastic record of investment in energy across the piece. Indeed, there have been record levels of investment in energy, especially in low-carbon energy.