§ Mr. PoundTo ask the Prime Minister what additional projects are planned for the Performance and Innovation Unit; and if he will make a statement. [975]
§ The Prime MinisterI have asked the Performance and Innovation Unit to undertake a review of the strategic issues surrounding energy policy for Great Britain.
The review will be set within the context of meeting the challenge of global warming, while ensuring secure, diverse and reliable energy supplies at a competitive price.
The aim of the review will be to set out the objectives of energy policy and to develop a strategy that ensures current policy commitments are consistent with longer-term goals. The findings will also inform the Government's response to last year's report from the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution "Energy—the changing climate".
The work the PIU has already started, on resource productivity and renewable energy, will be an important input into this project. This review will work closely with the resource productivity team and the main Whitehall Departments, as well as business, international institutions, other Government and non-governmental organisations.
The Minister for Industry and Energy will chair an advisory group for this project, which will report by the end of the year. Other Ministers on the advisory group include the Minister for the Environment and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury.