Oral Answers to Questions

John Bercow Excerpts

Thursday 12th July 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Dennis Skinner (Bolsover) (Lab)]

If the Minister is happy to meet the nuclear generation people, will he also take an interest in coal? We have 100 years’ worth of coal beneath our feet, and it is high time the Government paid some attention to the industry. Not many pits are left, and some of those are in jeopardy. It is high time the Minister met those people, together with the National Union of Mineworkers.

[Mr Speaker]

I assume that the hon. Gentleman is suggesting that as an alternative to new generation.

[Mr Skinner]

You have hit the nail on the head.

[Mr Speaker]

The approval of the hon. Gentleman means a great deal to me.

[Charles Hendry]

I had never seen the hon. Gentleman as an advocate of alternative energy policies.

I had a meeting yesterday with the head of the National Union of Mineworkers and the head of the National Association of Colliery Overmen, Deputies and Shotfirers, but if the hon. Gentleman feels that it is time for another meeting, I will of course consider that.

--- Later in debate ---

[Charles Hendry]

We are already seeing some decoupling. We have seen a decoupling of the oil price from the gas price. We are expecting to see that gas will be an important source of generation in its own right, but that it will also have a very important future in providing back-up to renewable generation, which will inevitably be intermittent in most areas.

[Mr Speaker]

We are ahead of time today, and we will move on now to topical questions.

[David Morris (Morecambe and Lunesdale) (Con)]

T1. If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.

--- Later in debate ---

[Several hon. Members]

rose—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. May I remind the House that topical questions are supposed to be significantly shorter, and the same goes for the replies? We will then be able to get more colleagues in.

[David Mowat (Warrington South) (Con)]

Over the past few months, there has been a significant increase in the level of electricity imports, mostly cheap nuclear from France, through the interconnector. Indeed, over the past 24 hours we have imported more electricity by a factor of two than we have produced from offshore and onshore wind. That is a big policy failure and is costing us thousands of jobs. How can we address it?