Speeches by Billington.

“I am keen to make sure that the water commission can tackle some of the most egregious failures of the water industry. For example, yesterday Southern Water dumped sewage into the sea alongside Ramsgate. This issue is fundamental to the environment and the economy in a seaside community such as Thanet, and it needs to …”

“We will probably want to know a little bit more about why you have decided that the distribution networks would deliver that 75% of solar capacity when the developers think that is unrealistic. We can write further on that, can’t we?”

“That is a very helpful answer in relation to the land use framework, which I think formally sits in DEFRA but obviously will need to integrate or have some relationship with your energy spatial framework. How much are the energy spatial framework, the land use framework and, indeed, the planning reforms considering the…”

“Thank you. I am being urged to move on. I will just make the observation that in the letter to NESO the role of nature in climate mitigation was not mentioned. That is something I would like to see the Departments collaborate on. I am being nudged by the Chair to move on to questions around solar and renewables.”

“As you will be aware, Solar Energy UK has pressed for a solar target range of up to 60 GW, to drive growth and send positive signals to investors. Why have you set a lower range of 45 GW to 47 GW when this has already been heavily criticised by the industry?”

“To clarify, in some ways the 45 GW to 47 GW is a floor rather than a target.”

“The developers say that your plan is wildly unrealistic in relying on the distribution networks to deliver that 75% of solar capacity. How much have you consulted with industry on this?”

“I am interested in that intentional approach, because it is obviously very different from what you have done before. Some people have said that your deployment targets for renewables effectively ban certain technologies from connecting to large parts of the grid. For example, there is a lot of opportunity, developers w…”

“Following on from that, on some of the issues around how you deal with the cost of energy for consumers, what more could the Government do in the shorter term—and very much in the shorter term—to lower the cost of energy for consumers from their current highs?”

“What, if any, support is your Department considering putting in place in case wholesale prices spike again?”

“It is clear from what you are saying that you are much more focused on targeted help rather than on stuff that would help everybody equally across the board.”

“Do you have any appetite for a social tariff?”

“I have one last question before we move on. As you will be aware, if you are in Ramsgate in my East Thanet constituency, you are nearer to France than you are to London. Co-operation with Europe is obviously relevant, particularly in terms of greater energy co-operation and trading between the EU and the UK. What obsta…”

“Sorry.”

“I was going to withdraw this question because of what Mike said, but I think it is relevant because of what you said, Jeremy, about the non-physical levers. I was initially going to ask the question about the future homes standard in relation to that being MHCLG’s responsibility. Increasingly, decarbonising our economy…”

“I welcome my right hon. Friend’s statement. Could she elaborate further on how this visit and the discussions she has started are not only consistent with the Government’s approach to China, but a vital part of it—co-operate where we can, compete where we need to, and challenge where we must?”

“The shadow Minister comes to the House with no shame. As has been referred to by my hon. Friend the Member for Sefton Central (Bill Esterson), the shadow Minister’s party closed Rough in 2017, leaving us exposed. I commend the Minister on taking urgent steps through our clean power mission to secure our energy system, …”

“I thank my hon. Friend for that answer. However, visual artists earn far below the minimum wage, and rely on copyright royalties to finance their work and continue to contribute to our world-leading creative industries—in Thanet and across the country. What reassurances can the Minister give that the plans for a copyri…”

“2. What steps his Department is taking to protect the copyright of people working in the creative industries in the context of artificial intelligence.”

“I am struck by the fact that many of the people living in the hon. and learned Gentleman’s constituency will be dealing with extremely high energy bills in poorly insulated houses, and will be desperate to see those energy bills go down and to see decent jobs come back to Northern Ireland, and for them and their commun…”