here - United Kingdom Parliament

1655 Oral Answers
6 JUNE 2013
Oral Answers
1656
Michael Fallon: We are discussing that matter with
the industry and will consult on more specific proposals
shortly. It is important that residents who suffer disruption
in areas where there is drilling see benefits from it, either
for their local community through grants or expenditure,
or, better still, through discounts on their bills, which
could be significant.
Home Energy Efficiency (Milton Keynes)
17. Iain Stewart (Milton Keynes South) (Con): When
he next plans to visit home energy efficiency schemes in
Milton Keynes. [158094]
The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate
Change (Gregory Barker): I was delighted to visit Milton
Keynes in July last year, when I was pleased to launch
new guidance for local authorities under the Home
Energy Conservation Act 1995 and to visit, with my
hon. Friend, the Lakes estate retrofit project, which is
improving homes and cutting energy bills for his
constituents.
Iain Stewart: As part of the pioneer places project in
Milton Keynes, the National Energy Foundation has
engaged with 30 local traders to promote the benefits of
becoming green deal installers. What plans does my
right hon. Friend have to roll out that scheme nationally?
Gregory Barker: My hon. Friend has done a huge
amount in the Milton Keynes area to work with small
and medium-sized enterprises and traders in the supply
chain. Nationally, we have provided more than £2 million
to support the training of 1,000 go-early green deal
assessors and 1,000 advisers as part of our support for
the developing market. Since last autumn, DECC has
organised a series of 12 roadshows, which have reached
more than 1,600 companies across the country. My
team has worked most recently with Energy UK to
deliver a further regional roadshow programme. It is
early days for the green deal, but the prospects are
exciting.
Mr Peter Bone (Wellingborough) (Con): Will the
Minister agree to my hon. Friend’s request to go to
Milton Keynes, because he could then pop down the
road to Wellingborough to meet councillors and constituents
who are worried about applications for wind farms that,
although not in the constituency, would affect them?
That would be a great opportunity to explain our new
policy.
Gregory Barker: I would be delighted to return to
Milton Keynes, and to visit the constituency of my hon.
Friend the Member for Wellingborough (Mr Bone),
particularly if there is an opportunity to compare notes
with Mrs Bone.
Off Grid Gas
18. Guy Opperman (Hexham) (Con): With reference
to the findings of the all-party parliamentary group on
off-gas grid, what plans he has to help residents living
off the gas grid. [158095]
The Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation
and Skills (Michael Fallon): I am grateful to the all-party
group on off-gas grid for its informative report. I chaired
a round table in May with colleagues from that group,
consumer groups, local government and industry, as a
result of which a better consumer code of practice is
being circulated by the Federation of Petroleum Suppliers.
Fuel Poverty Action is developing recommendations on
information sharing and vulnerable customers, and Ofgem
is considering connecting electricity and gas priority
service registers to other markets, including heating oil.
Guy Opperman (Hexham) (Con): I thank the Minister
for that answer and welcome the developments that
have been made as the all-party group continues its
good work. Will the Minister review the progress that
has been made and meet the group again so that further
representations can be made and we keep the providers
of that type of power up to speed?
Michael Fallon: I reassure my hon. Friend that the
round table I was privileged to chair was not a one-off
event and I shall be organising a further meeting on
11 September to chase up progress. I am happy to meet
specifically the all-party group, as well as continuing to
chair the round table.
Topical Questions
T1. [158097] Tom Blenkinsop (Middlesbrough South
and East Cleveland) (Lab): If he will make a statement
on his departmental responsibilities.
The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change
(MrEdwardDavey):Since my Department’s last question
time, the remaining stages of the Energy Bill have been
completed and approved by this House by 396 votes to
8. The Bill has been introduced into the other place as
we make further progress to build the world’s first ever
low-carbon electricity market.
For consumers, I published the Government’s response
to the discussion document, “Ensuring a better deal for
energy consumers”, which confirmed the Government’s
backing for Ofgem’s market reforms that are designed
to improve competition in retail markets and help
consumers. Today, along with the Department for
Communities and Local Government, we have published
the Government’s decisions on onshore wind to give
communities a greater say, setting out an industry-proposed
fivefold increase in benefits for communities in England,
and keeping financial support for onshore wind at the
rate of 0.9 renewables obligation certificates.
Tom Blenkinsop: Middlesbrough South and East
Cleveland has more than 7,000 households living in fuel
poverty, and since this Government came to power the
energy bill of the average family has leapt by more than
£300 a year. Will the Minister please tell the House why
the Government have halved support for people in fuel
poverty while giving millionaires a tax break?
Mr Davey: We have not halved fuel support and will
increase it over the lifetime of the spending review. We
are changing and reforming it to ensure that it is more
effective, which the hon. Gentleman ought to support.
T2. [158098] Chris White (Warwick and Leamington)
(Con): One way we can reduce the cost of heating and
carbon emissions is through the use of biomass boilers,
which can save households hundreds of pounds each