Speeches by Miliband.

“I think I have explained to you the practices we are following and—”

“With certain countries, we have certain approaches, and with others, we have other approaches, as have previous Governments—”

“Tax matters are for the Chancellor. I think your concern in your cost of energy report about the old regime for the previous RIIO price period is correct, and it has been corrected for the coming price period. I am old enough and wise enough not to get into tax matters, but if your point is that the job of my Departmen…”

“As I say, just ask me any questions you like on this topic.”

“There’s a headline: Miliband not blamed for sun not shining. That is extremely generous.”

“I have given an answer. I do not have any more to add to the answers I gave.”

“Yes; I am saying to you that that is why we have to be very cautious about our energy system.”

“We inherited a situation where, as you are right to say, the solar industry across the world and indeed in the UK was dominated by China. Unlike the previous Government, we actually want to develop UK supply chains. That is why we have had the clean industry bonus, which is going to invest in, or lever in billions of p…”

“Mr Thomas, do ask me any questions you like.”

“I completely agree. I said in my statement yesterday that it was very important to look at questions of not just the financial barriers that community energy groups face or the capacity barriers, but the system barriers. That is one of the discussions that we are going to have. Sometimes you do things in politics and y…”

“I have answered the question, Mr Thomas.”

“Oh for goodness’ sake—most definitely not.”

“Well, you obviously do not have any questions actually about the substance. What is your question on the substance, Mr Thomas?”

“Even when the sun is not shining, Sir Christopher, solar works.”

“Because we don’t have the industry, because of the failure of your Government.”

“Candidly, the question about what they took into account for their projections is a matter for them. It is obviously something that we will scrutinise as part of our response to CB7. Let me just go to the more general question—”

“Yes. I do not underestimate the challenges that the sector faces from the windfall tax, and I do not want to minimise them, and I do not think the Chancellor would either. All I can say to you is that I know from my conversations with the Chancellor that she is fully aware of some of the challenges the sector faces. Th…”

“Both together. I want to be clear about this: there is absolute, universal agreement on this. The cost of living crisis is the biggest issue families face. We made our commitments to cut bills deliberately because we recognise that, and we are determined to do it. The reason I highlighted the role of the Chancellor in …”

“You would have to ask them.”

“My hon. Friend is right to draw attention to this important issue. As part of our warm homes plan, we are going to set up a warm homes agency to give people proper information, advice and guidance on what they can do to cut their bills. We have made the biggest public investment ever seen in this country to help people…”