Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment she has made of the effects of retention of Eggborough and Fiddler's Ferry coal plants on investment in new combined cycle gas turbine plants.

Security of supply is our top priority and we monitor all market developments closely. In the shorter term, extending the operation of existing plant can provide important capacity whilst new capacity is built.

We are confident that the Capacity Market is the right mechanism to bring forward new capacity as older, less efficient plants close. Industry and investors made clear during our recent review their confidence in the Capacity Market. Our plan to buy more capacity and buy earlier will improve the chances of new capacity, particularly gas, clearing in future auctions.