argyrotsipi/train-dataset huggingface dataset:
Paris Climate Change Conference — House of Commons, 2015-06-25
Topic: International Affairs
Amber Rudd (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Gentleman is right to say that we have reserved our position; having brought the EU to the agreement, we will make a 40% reduction by 2030. We would still like to see it go further, but we are not pushing for that at the moment because we are looking to hold the whole of the EU together. We are working to make sure that we can use that unity to get a global deal, but that proposal is still on the table as a possibility we may yet push.
Nuclear Generating Capacity — House of Commons, 2015-06-25
Topic: Energy
Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom (Conservative, Centre-right): The Government fully support the expansion of nuclear generation. My hon. Friend might be interested to know that nuclear already supplies 19% of our electricity in the UK, which is broadly equivalent to the amount provided by renewables. It is therefore a key part of our base energy supply, and I am delighted that the industry has plans to develop approximately 16 GW of new nuclear power, across five sites.
Nuclear Generating Capacity — House of Commons, 2015-06-25
Topic: Energy
Robert John Blackman (Conservative, Centre-right): I welcome my hon. Friend to her new position. Clearly there is a need to replace the ageing nuclear power stations that we already have in order to create the mixed environment to which she has referred. What plans does she have to accelerate the development of new nuclear power stations so that we have that proper mixed economy?
Nuclear Generating Capacity — House of Commons, 2015-06-25
Topic: Energy
Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom (Conservative, Centre-right): The Government and EDF are working together to finalise the Hinkley project documentation. EDF anticipates Hinkley Point C beginning production in 2023. I can assure my hon. Friend that we are committed to the next wave of new nuclear projects, and we hope to be able to meet 35% of UK power needs from nuclear by 2028.
Nuclear Generating Capacity — House of Commons, 2015-06-25
Topic: Energy
Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Gentleman will appreciate that we are looking at all options for the production of new nuclear. As he will know, an arrangement has already been made for Hinkley Point C, and we are looking at the options for further nuclear projects.
Nuclear Generating Capacity — House of Commons, 2015-06-25
Topic: Energy
Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom (Conservative, Centre-right): I think I have said a number of times that diverse sources of energy are vital for our energy security. Currently, 36% of our electricity comes from coal, and around 19% is from old nuclear, much of which will shut down in the next decade. It is vital that we look to new nuclear to provide the base energy supply to meet the bulk of our energy security needs. Other technologies are also vital for diverse sources of energy. That is the approach we are taking.
Wind Farm Applications (Subsidies) — House of Commons, 2015-06-25
Topic: Energy
Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom (Conservative, Centre-right): As my right hon. Friend said during her statement to the House on Monday, we estimate that around 7.1 GW of onshore wind capacity proposed across the UK will not be eligible for the grace period and is therefore unlikely to go ahead as a result of the announcement of 18 June. That equates to around 250 projects totalling around 2,500 turbines.
Wind Farm Applications (Subsidies) — House of Commons, 2015-06-25
Topic: Energy
Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom (Conservative, Centre-right): As I and my right hon. Friend have said on a number of occasions, we believe that onshore wind has met our targets. Deployment will reach between 11 GW and 13 GW, which is within our target range. We want to keep bills down for consumers and to promote other sources of renewable technologies that will add to our energy mix. The hon. Gentleman must accept that, as the cost of onshore wind comes down, we do not want permanently to subsidise an industry that has the ability to stand on its own two feet.
Wind Farm Applications (Subsidies) — House of Commons, 2015-06-25
Topic: Energy
Thomas Georg John Tugendhat (Conservative, Centre-right): Does my hon. Friend agree that we have heard an awful lot about the generation of power, but in my constituency of Tonbridge and Malling a lot is being done to insulate and therefore save power in a different way? Will she please tell us a little about what she is doing to bring forward the commitment to do more with 1 million homes?
Wind Farm Applications (Subsidies) — House of Commons, 2015-06-25
Topic: Energy
Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend is right that energy generation is one part of the story but so too is energy use and ensuring that we have proper policies to try to manage the demand for energy. Our policies, such as insulating homes and the warm home discounts, are under review, and we will make a statement soon.
Wind Farm Applications (Subsidies) — House of Commons, 2015-06-25
Topic: Energy
Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom (Conservative, Centre-right): We intend to bring forward primary legislation in the Energy Bill to close the renewables obligation for onshore wind early. As my right hon. Friend said in her statement, that will mean that the grace period will be for those that already have planning consent, grid connection and land rights.
Wind Farm Applications (Subsidies) — House of Commons, 2015-06-25
Topic: Energy
Nigel Martin Evans (Conservative, Centre-right): May I thank the Government for having the guts to get rid of the subsidy on wind turbines? If it does mean fewer applications, it will bring three cheers from the people of the Ribble Valley. Does my right hon. Friend agree that wind turbines have a visual impact, and is it not about time that local people finally had their wishes known as far as their siting is concerned?
Renewable Energy — House of Commons, 2015-06-25
Topic: Energy
Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom (Conservative, Centre-right): I have had the pleasure of meeting a number of representatives of the renewable energy industry in my new role. I am delighted to hear how the sector is thriving in the UK, with seriously good prospects for new, emerging technologies, including storage, on the horizon.
Renewable Energy — House of Commons, 2015-06-25
Topic: Energy
Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom (Conservative, Centre-right): As we have explained, the early closure of the RO for onshore wind will save consumers money. The subsidies in their bills, which would have gone towards an excess of deployment above our target would have cost consumers hundreds of millions of pounds more.
Renewable Energy — House of Commons, 2015-06-25
Topic: Energy
Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom (Conservative, Centre-right): As the hon. Gentleman will know, the policy on CfDs is being considered right now. It is certainly our intention to continue to promote a successful and thriving renewables industry and we will make announcements in due course.
Renewable Energy — House of Commons, 2015-06-25
Topic: International Affairs
Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom (Conservative, Centre-right): We are very focused on removing all the potential obstacles to the project, including by having conversations with the European Commission on state aid issues. Our foot is firmly on the accelerator and we will do everything we can to support the project.
Household Energy Efficiency — House of Commons, 2015-06-25
Topic: Energy
Amber Rudd (Conservative, Centre-right): I am determined to help keep homes warmer for less, save carbon and meet our important fuel poverty targets. We need a long-term, coherent and affordable policy framework that ensures that Government support is targeted at those who need it most. My Department is already working closely with consumer groups and industry alike to test and develop ideas based on evidence of what works, and I look forward to setting out our approach in the autumn.
Household Energy Efficiency — House of Commons, 2015-06-25
Topic: Energy
Amber Rudd (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Lady will be aware that the previous Government redefined fuel poverty to the satisfaction of most groups, who agreed that we had proposed a better definition. She should be under no illusion: addressing fuel poverty will remain a priority of this Government. She is probably aware that the energy company obligation, or ECO, measures installed by the energy companies have been the most efficient way of delivering energy efficiency. In her constituency, 6,323 measures were installed to nearly 5,000 individual households and £700,000 was invested through the green deal communities fund. I hope that she saw some significant improvements under the previous Government and we will continue on that route.
Household Energy Efficiency — House of Commons, 2015-06-25
Topic: Energy
Amber Rudd (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Lady is right to focus on the need for energy efficiency in large buildings. I am delighted to hear about the infrastructure investment in her constituency. The National College for Nuclear will help the UK seize opportunities for economic growth in the nuclear industry and provide skills and jobs. I remind her that the DECC-funded Salix loan scheme provides public sector organisations with interest-free loans to make a range of energy efficiency improvements in their existing estates. The scheme has already supported more than 1,000 public bodies, so she might find it helpful.
Household Energy Efficiency — House of Commons, 2015-06-25
Topic: Energy
Timothy Paul Loughton (Conservative, Centre-right): I welcome the Secretary of State and the Minister of State to their new positions. They have made a good start, although "putting your foot down on the accelerator"—a phrase they have used repeatedly—is perhaps not the most energy efficient approach. Does my right hon. Friend share my astonishment at the ruling by the European Court of Justice earlier this month that effectively directs the UK to charge full-rate VAT on the supply and installation of energy-saving materials? Will she robustly, and jointly with the Treasury, challenge that ruling and impress on our European partners that if they are serious about energy efficiency, that is exactly the wrong way to go about it?
Household Energy Efficiency — House of Commons, 2015-06-25
Topic: Energy
Amber Rudd (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend makes an important point. The ruling is unwelcome and we are considering the full implications. No one who has already pre-ordered or prepaid will be affected by the changes required as a result of the ECJ ruling, but we remain committed to tackling fuel poverty, and we will look at it very carefully.
Household Energy Efficiency — House of Commons, 2015-06-25
Topic: Social Welfare
Amber Rudd (Conservative, Centre-right): It is disappointing that the hon. Gentleman fails to recognise the good progress we made in the last Parliament, both with the ECO and various grant groups that went out and reached people in fuel poverty. I was particularly pleased with the green deal communities programme, which went street by street to reach people in fuel poverty and was able to build community confidence in the programme—not everybody wants strangers coming to their door. I assure the hon. Gentleman that we are engaging with industry and voluntary groups to make sure that the new proposals from this Government tackle fuel poverty in the most efficient way. We are also working with the Department for Work and Pensions to use, where possible, the data that it holds to target measures more efficiently.
Oil and Gas Industry — House of Commons, 2015-06-25
Topic: Energy
Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom (Conservative, Centre-right): The Government are committed to supporting the oil and gas industry, which is vital to our energy supply, as well as supporting 375,000 jobs across the UK. We are establishing the new Oil and Gas Authority, which is already helping industry to drive down costs and improve efficiencies. The Chancellor has also introduced strong fiscal measures to maintain and build investment.
Oil and Gas Industry — House of Commons, 2015-06-25
Topic: Energy
Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom (Conservative, Centre-right): We are absolutely committed to that. The establishment of the Oil and Gas Authority under Dr Andy Samuel is a vital part of that. The hon. Gentleman will be aware that the Government have provided some money for seismic studies to identify potential new finds. I assure him that we and the Oil and Gas Authority will be doing everything we can to support the very important work to maximise economic recovery from the North sea basin.
Oil and Gas Industry — House of Commons, 2015-06-25
Topic: Energy
Peter James Guy Aldous (Conservative, Centre-right): The oil and gas industry in the North sea faces very challenging times, and it is very important to the East Anglian economy. New Anglia local enterprise partnership is creating an oil and gas taskforce to support the industry in these difficult times. Will my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State arrange for her Department to be represented on the taskforce, alongside my hon. Friend the Member for Great Yarmouth (Brandon Lewis) and me?
Oil and Gas Industry — House of Commons, 2015-06-25
Topic: Energy
Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom (Conservative, Centre-right): I am grateful to my hon. Friend for mentioning this to me. I had the great pleasure of speaking in Parliament at a recent east of England oil and gas meeting. I would be delighted to meet him to discuss this further, and if appropriate, we will certainly make sure that officials attend the meeting he mentions.
Renewable Energy Jobs (Scotland) — House of Commons, 2015-06-25
Topic: Energy
Amber Rudd (Conservative, Centre-right): Renewable energy supported around 23,200 jobs in Scotland in 2013. As green energy is not about having wind farms "any time, any place, anywhere", which is how the Scottish Minister for Business, Energy and Tourism once criticised the approach in Scotland, it is important to note that these jobs were supported across a variety of renewable energy technologies, and by supply chains.
Renewable Energy Jobs (Scotland) — House of Commons, 2015-06-25
Topic: Energy
Amber Rudd (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Gentleman will not be surprised to hear me say that job creation and job support are incredibly important in Scotland, and in the UK overall. Renewable energy remains a growth area, with high employment and investment. Scotland has a number of employees in the offshore wind sector, which continues to grow. I attended a conference on the sector yesterday. It is beginning to have a serious impact on exports.
Renewable Energy Jobs (Scotland) — House of Commons, 2015-06-25
Topic: Energy
Amber Rudd (Conservative, Centre-right): As my hon. Friend the Minister of State pointed out, onshore wind has been a great success. If we continued to support it at the level that we had done over the past few years, there would be an impact on everybody’s bills, because we already have an aim for 2020 of getting between 11 GW to 13 GW from onshore wind; if onshore wind continues to be deployed at the level it has been over the past few years, that will contribute to an additional cost on people’s bills. I urge the hon. Member for Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East (Stuart C. McDonald) to think about his constituents, who would not welcome another £10 or £15 on their bills.
Renewable Energy Jobs (Scotland) — House of Commons, 2015-06-25
Topic: Energy
Peter Lilley (Conservative, Centre-right): Has my right hon. Friend any estimates of, or would she care to hazard a guess, how much it would cost the average Scottish household if the ambitions of the Scottish National party to resume subsidising wind farms were realised, but the cost was met by the Scottish Government and Scottish taxpayer?
Renewable Energy Jobs (Scotland) — House of Commons, 2015-06-25
Topic: Macroeconomics
Amber Rudd (Conservative, Centre-right): My right hon. Friend makes a very good point that highlights the impact on people’s bills of supporting these subsidies. We have the levy control framework to make sure that we provide for a cap. As for what it would cost the Scottish Government to reapply the subsidies, I urge them to look at that themselves.
Renewable Energy Jobs (Scotland) — House of Commons, 2015-06-25
Topic: Energy
Questions: The Secretary of State will by now have received a copy of a letter from the Binn Group in my constituency, with whom I met earlier this morning. It is involved in one of the £3 billion-worth of onshore wind projects that are in the planning pipeline and at risk owing to the Government’s recent decision. Will she confirm that her Department will consider that letter, to help protect at least 100 jobs at the Binn Group and ensure the creation of at least 100 more?
Amber Rudd (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank the hon. Lady for her question. I have not yet seen her letter, but of course I will look carefully at what she has asked me to look at. I would, however, ask her, her constituents, and the developers who have obviously come to see her to bear it in mind that we have made our statement, and that our decision will be taken forward in primary legislation: we will end onshore wind subsidies.
Carbon Abatement Technologies — House of Commons, 2015-06-25
Topic: Environment
Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom (Conservative, Centre-right): I welcome the hon. Gentleman to his new position as Chairman of the Environmental Audit Committee. To meet our legally binding target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050 we are taking action right across the economy. This means delivering carbon savings through a range of technologies from nuclear and carbon capture and storage to low carbon heat technologies and energy efficiency measures in homes and businesses.
Carbon Abatement Technologies — House of Commons, 2015-06-25
Topic: Environment
Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom (Conservative, Centre-right): The Government have an open mind on the subject. We will put forward our policies towards the fifth carbon budget by the end of 2016. The hon. Gentleman is exactly right to point out the vital importance for the future of carbon capture and storage. He will be aware of the two projects—White Rose and Peterhead—that are currently under discussion, looking to achieve fulfilment so that we can prove the technology works. We hope to make progress on that.
Carbon Abatement Technologies — House of Commons, 2015-06-25
Topic: Environment
Rebecca Faye Clark (Pow) (Conservative, Centre-right): Trees can play a very important part in combating greenhouse gases—the gases that we are all talking about which cause climate change. How much is the Department encouraging tree planting, especially in my constituency, Taunton Deane—where we have had terrible flooding and are dealing with the wider area—and worldwide? If we stopped cutting down the rain forest, that would have an enormous effect.
Carbon Abatement Technologies — House of Commons, 2015-06-25
Topic: Environment
Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend is right to raise that point. She will be aware that tree planting has benefits not only for reducing carbon emissions, but for improving public health. In our environment it is vital to have trees and proper landscaping, so I can assure her that the Government are committed to such projects, and that the private sector, too, is pretty good at ensuring that its developments are properly screened and properly planted.
Carbon Abatement Technologies — House of Commons, 2015-06-25
Topic: Environment
Questions: The Prime Minister told the Liaison Committee in 2010 that he supported a substantially decarbonised electricity sector by 2020. Is that still his view, and does “substantially” mean more or less than 75%?
Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom (Conservative, Centre-right): It is, indeed, still the Prime Minister’s view. The hon. Gentleman will be pleased to know that in real terms between 1990 and 2013 emissions dropped by 30%. That is good. There is a lot more to be done, but we are making progress and we are fully committed to it.
Carbon Abatement Technologies — House of Commons, 2015-06-25
Topic: Energy
Questions: The Prime Minister told the Liaison Committee in 2010 that he supported a substantially decarbonised electricity sector by 2020. Is that still his view, and does “substantially” mean more or less than 75%?
Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom (Conservative, Centre-right): I welcome the hon. Gentleman to his new position. He is right. We want investor certainty. Our priority for the Department is to keep the bills down, to keep energy security and to decarbonise. In order to do that, we recognise that significant private sector investment is needed. We want to give certainty as soon as possible, and that is what we will be doing.
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2015-06-25
Topic: Energy
Amber Rudd (Conservative, Centre-right): I would like to take this opportunity to highlight an issue that crossed my desk earlier this week. Tuesday was National Women in Engineering Day, and in a visit to National Grid I was pleased not only to see the robust arrangements that it has in place to ensure the security of our energy supply, but to meet some of its fantastic female engineers. We had an excellent discussion in which I heard their views on what more we need to do to encourage girls and women to become engineers, including identifying more role models and challenging stereotypes, which are often reinforced from a young age. Only 6% of UK engineers are female—clearly, too few. That demonstrates how much remains to be done, and I was delighted to meet this group of inspiring women who go out and act as role models.
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2015-06-25
Topic: Energy
Questions: My constituency will benefit from the knock-on effects of the development of Hinkley Point C, the first new nuclear power station to be built in the UK for decades, which will bring with it a predicted 4,000 jobs across Somerset. Can the Secretary of State give assurances: a, that the project is progressing; and b, that the Government are working to enable and encourage other low-carbon industries to develop around it, as they will benefit not only Taunton Deane and Somerset, but the wider economy?
Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom (Conservative, Centre-right): I am grateful to my hon. Friend for raising that important point. As she knows, the Government are committed to supporting new nuclear. Hinkley Point C is close to a final investment decision, and we are doing everything we can to push that as fast as we can. We are also excited about other opportunities for new nuclear, and we will be lending those as much support as possible.
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2015-06-25
Topic: Energy
Questions: My constituency will benefit from the knock-on effects of the development of Hinkley Point C, the first new nuclear power station to be built in the UK for decades, which will bring with it a predicted 4,000 jobs across Somerset. Can the Secretary of State give assurances: a, that the project is progressing; and b, that the Government are working to enable and encourage other low-carbon industries to develop around it, as they will benefit not only Taunton Deane and Somerset, but the wider economy?; Improving home energy efficiency in my constituency is important for reducing fuel poverty. Will the Minister update me on the progress the Government are making in Kingswood in that regard?
Amber Rudd (Conservative, Centre-right): The Government are committed to tackling fuel poverty and meeting the 2030 statutory target. We estimate that in 2013 there were around 3,300 fuel-poor households in Kingswood. By the end of March 2015 the energy company obligation had delivered over 1,600 measures in around 1,400 households in Kingswood, including 336 affordable warmth measures, which were targeted at low-income and vulnerable households. Keeping homes warmer for less and helping those who find it most difficult to pay are my top priorities.