§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy why he is seeking powers in the Energy Bill in substitution for or in excess of those available to the Government under the Emergency Powers Act 1920.
§ Mr. John SmithThe Energy Bill—as the Fuel and Electricity (Control) Act 1973 does at present—would permit the introduction of longer-term controls in contrast with the duration of one month to which the proclamation of a state of emergency is limited. The activation of the reserve powers in the Bill does not depend on the existence on an extensive scale of a situation in which the essentials of life of the community are threatened. In many respects the powers in the Emergency Powers Act 1920 are wider than those in the Energy Bill.