§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the legal basis is for the use of emergency powers to secure energy supplies during a fuel crisis; and what parliamentary scrutiny there has been of the emergency powers which would be used to secure energy supplies during a fuel crisis. [174637]
1565W
§ Mr. TimmsThe Energy Act 1976 allows the regulation or prohibition of the production, supply, acquisition or use of fuel where there is or is imminent an actual or threatened emergency in the UK affecting fuel or electricity supplies or to meet international obligations. The Act provides wide-ranging powers to make Orders of general application (subject to negative parliamentary procedure) and specific directions to particular persons (including companies). An Order would lapse after 28 sitting (parliamentary) days, unless it is revoked earlier or the Order is approved by affirmative resolution of both Houses and which then continues for the rest of the 12-month period, unless revoked earlier. The Act provides that the Order may be continued for 12-month periods more than once, each time after resolution of both Houses.