HC Deb 21 January 1999 vol 323 cc1015-6
9. Mr. Owen Paterson (North Shropshire)

If he will make a statement on the Government's energy policy. [65199]

The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (Mr. Stephen Byers)

The Government are committed to competition, and to an energy policy based on secure, diverse and sustainable energy supplies at competitive prices.

Mr. Paterson

The Secretary of State did not mention that the Government are committed to raising 10 per cent. of energy from renewable resources by 2010. If half that energy were to come from wind, 10,000 to 20,000 turbines would have to be built. The 800 that have been built—in areas such as the Shropshire-Wales border—are an environmental disaster and bitterly resented by locals. Contrary to the Secretary of State's statement, they generate energy at three to five times the cost of other sources. They are extraordinarily unreliable. They have to be closed down in freezing weather, when demand is at its peak—

Madam Speaker

Order. The hon. Gentleman must ask a question; otherwise, I will refer him to an Adjournment debate, as that sounds like a very good subject for such a debate.

Mr. Paterson

Will the Government abandon this foolish policy?

Mr. Byers

A long question deserves a short reply. A paper on renewables will be published by the Government shortly.

Mr. George Stevenson (Stoke-on-Trent, South)

In the review of energy policy, will my right hon. Friend consider the activities of the Coal Authority, particularly in regard to abandoned and disused mine shafts? Is he aware that the Coal Authority's records in this regard are notoriously unreliable? Will he therefore consider urgently what action the Coal Authority should take to make sure that its records are accurate and clearly show not only the siting, but the status and condition of the abandoned mine shafts?

Mr. Byers

My hon. Friend makes a very important point, which affects many communities up and down the country. The Government take the matter seriously and, as a matter of urgency, we will be asking the Coal Authority to review its procedures to ensure that accurate information is available, so it can plan accordingly.

Mr. Eric Forth (Bromley and Chislehurst)

In congratulating the Secretary of State on his appointment, may I ask him to confirm that the motto of his Department will from henceforth be, "Let Byers beware"? Why have the Government sought on environmental grounds successively to increase the tax on fuel duty for motor vehicles, while simultaneously reducing the tax on domestic fuel, which pollutes the atmosphere as much as, or even more than, vehicle fuel?

Mr. Byers

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his welcome. As far as fuel is concerned, we know that the Conservative Government sought to dramatically increase the rate of VAT.

Mr. John Bercow (Buckingham)

Do not split infinitives.

Mr. Byers

The hon. Gentleman must be careful, otherwise someone will split his infinitives for him. There are many Labour Members who would gladly volunteer to do so. The hon. Gentleman is trying to divert me from the important political point that I was making. The previous Conservative Government put VAT on domestic fuel at 17 per cent. Even in opposition, we managed to defeat that and, in government, we were able to reduce VAT to 5 per cent. That has been welcomed by consumers, and we are looking at how we can ensure that, in terms of a proper, sustainable environmental policy, we can have fuel that is not costly—the right hon. Gentleman would like that—and within a safe and secure environmental policy.