argyrotsipi/train-dataset huggingface dataset:
EU Referendum: Climate Change Commitments — House of Commons, 2016-07-14
Topic: Environment
Questions: What assessment she has made of the potential effect of the outcome of the EU referendum on the ability of the UK to meet its climate change commitments.; What assessment she has made of the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU on the ability of the UK to meet its climate change obligations.
Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom (Conservative, Centre-right): The UK’s climate change commitments are grounded in the UK’s Climate Change Act 2008, which commits us to a reduction in emissions of 80% by 2050, from 1990 levels. Our membership of the EU has no impact on our commitment to this Act, as hon. Members will have seen in our decision to accept the Committee on Climate Change’s advice on the level of the fifth carbon budget just two weeks ago.
EU Referendum: Climate Change Commitments — House of Commons, 2016-07-14
Topic: Environment
Questions: What assessment she has made of the potential effect of the outcome of the EU referendum on the ability of the UK to meet its climate change commitments.; What assessment she has made of the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU on the ability of the UK to meet its climate change obligations.
Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom (Conservative, Centre-right): The UK is a world leader in tackling climate change. The 2008 Act is a UK Act that we are absolutely committed to. We are outperforming on our target on energy renewables by 2020, and we remain committed to that.
EU Referendum: Climate Change Commitments — House of Commons, 2016-07-14
Topic: Energy
Questions: What assessment she has made of the potential effect of the outcome of the EU referendum on the ability of the UK to meet its climate change commitments.; What assessment she has made of the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU on the ability of the UK to meet its climate change obligations.
Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom (Conservative, Centre-right): In my view, leaving the EU will not make a difference to the innate cost of energy or the challenges for the energy sector. Most of our transactions for electricity generation are home-grown. There is a global market for gas. We have very good connections with European and non-European countries on interconnection, and we will continue to make commercial arrangements that are to the advantage of both the UK and those partners in energy.
EU Referendum: Climate Change Commitments — House of Commons, 2016-07-14
Topic: Environment
Questions: What assessment she has made of the potential effect of the outcome of the EU referendum on the ability of the UK to meet its climate change commitments.; What assessment she has made of the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU on the ability of the UK to meet its climate change obligations.
Peter Lilley (Conservative, Centre-right): I congratulate my hon. Friend on her ability to do the work of four Ministers with such panache. She will know that normally economists disagree about everything, but one of the few things they are agreed about is that the best way to achieve an objective such as that set by the Climate Change Act 2008 is through a price mechanism. However, if subordinate targets are set, that inevitably means a less efficient and more costly route. When we leave the EU, will we therefore be able to scrap unnecessary targets while maintaining that final target, and thereby reduce the cost to consumers of reducing emissions by 80% by 2050?
EU Referendum: Climate Change Commitments — House of Commons, 2016-07-14
Topic: Energy
Questions: What assessment she has made of the potential effect of the outcome of the EU referendum on the ability of the UK to meet its climate change commitments.; What assessment she has made of the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU on the ability of the UK to meet its climate change obligations.
Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom (Conservative, Centre-right): My right hon. Friend is right to point out the importance of keeping costs down while we decarbonise. The Department has always made it clear that every opportunity to decarbonise at the lowest cost to consumers will be taken. It is my view that leaving the EU will enable us to do that to an even greater extent than we have in the past.
EU Referendum: Climate Change Commitments — House of Commons, 2016-07-14
Topic: Environment
Questions: What assessment she has made of the potential effect of the outcome of the EU referendum on the ability of the UK to meet its climate change commitments.; What assessment she has made of the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU on the ability of the UK to meet its climate change obligations.
David Mowat (Conservative, Centre-right): Since 1990 the UK has decreased emissions by a third more than the EU average. We have now set a target for 2030 that implies a decrease of about double that which the EU put into the Paris INDCs—intended nationally determined contributions. Does the Minister agree that the real concern about Brexit might be that we will no longer be able to influence the EU to make more progress in decarbonisation?
EU Referendum: Climate Change Commitments — House of Commons, 2016-07-14
Topic: International Affairs
Questions: What assessment she has made of the potential effect of the outcome of the EU referendum on the ability of the UK to meet its climate change commitments.; What assessment she has made of the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU on the ability of the UK to meet its climate change obligations.
Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom (Conservative, Centre-right): I am entirely clear: European countries remain our friends and great allies, and we will continue to work with them. Leaving the European Union does not mean that we are suddenly leaving Europe in any sense, so it is my expectation and anticipation that we will remain closely aligned on global issues such as climate change, and that we will continue to play a leading role in the world’s attempts to tackle that great threat.
EU Referendum: Policy Implications — House of Commons, 2016-07-14
Topic: Energy
Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom (Conservative, Centre-right): At the heart of our energy strategy is the need to encourage new investment in the UK’s energy system, so my Department will continue to take action to deliver secure, affordable and clean energy for hard-working families and businesses. This work is already under way. Since the referendum we have accepted the recommendations of the Committee on Climate Change for the level of carbon budget 5. We have published details of our upcoming capacity market auction and confirmed that our contracts for difference allocation round will go ahead later this year.
EU Referendum: Policy Implications — House of Commons, 2016-07-14
Topic: Energy
Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom (Conservative, Centre-right): I do not recognise at all what the hon. Lady says about our failure to attract international investment—that is clearly not the case. We are attracting a huge amount of investment in offshore wind. We have the successful turbine blade plant that is being created up in Humber by Siemens, we have DONG Energy, and we have various international developers that are putting in bids and building new offshore wind facilities in the UK. Onshore wind in the UK has been a huge success story. Some 99% of all our solar installations have taken place since 2010 and I have already cited statistics about our share of the investment going into renewables, so, I am sorry, but I do not recognise what the hon. Lady says.
EU Referendum: Policy Implications — House of Commons, 2016-07-14
Topic: Environment
Andrew William Murrison (Conservative, Centre-right): I congratulate my hon. Friend on confounding the doom-mongers. Does she agree that COP 22 in Marrakesh in November will be a wonderful opportunity for the UK to showcase its world-beating edge in renewables technology and our industrial base?
EU Referendum: Policy Implications — House of Commons, 2016-07-14
Topic: Energy
Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom (Conservative, Centre-right): I could not agree more; my hon. Friend is exactly right. The UK is leading on the deployment of renewables—we are getting down the cost of those technologies through our policies—and through our commitment to decarbonisation and tackling climate change, and to showing the rest of the world how much we want to lead in this area, which we will continue to do.
EU Referendum: Policy Implications — House of Commons, 2016-07-14
Topic: Energy
Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom (Conservative, Centre-right): Yes, I agree that we need to move forward with this. The Government have recognised the potential of small modular reactors, and we have announced that we will invest at least £250 million over the next five years in an ambitious nuclear research and development programme that includes the competition the hon. Lady mentions. We have committed to publishing an SMR delivery road map in the autumn to clarify the UK’s plans for addressing the siting issues that she mentions, as well as regulatory approvals and, vitally, skills issues.
Energy Bills — House of Commons, 2016-07-14
Topic: Energy
Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom (Conservative, Centre-right): The best way to deliver lower energy bills for businesses and households is to have a robust and competitive energy market. There are now over 40 energy suppliers in the domestic retail energy market, which is up from 13 in 2010, and independent suppliers have over 17% of the dual fuel market. Competition is improving, but we are not complacent, and we look forward to implementing the recommendations from the Competition and Markets Authority’s final report on the issue.
Energy Bills — House of Commons, 2016-07-14
Topic: Energy
Mark Julian Francis Pawsey (Conservative, Centre-right): As a method of controlling its energy costs, CEMEX, which operates a large cement plant in my constituency, has adopted an alternative fuel, called Climafuel, which is derived from household waste and has the benefit of making use of material that would otherwise go to landfill. That is a great example of the circular economy. What steps can my hon. Friend take to encourage other energy-intensive industries to consider the use of alternative fuels?
Energy Bills — House of Commons, 2016-07-14
Topic: Energy
Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom (Conservative, Centre-right): I really welcome the initiative by CEMEX in my hon. Friend’s constituency. My Department is working closely with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, as well as with the energy-intensive industrial sectors, including the cement sector, on ways in which companies can reduce their emissions while maintaining their competitiveness, and the use of alternative fuels is an important part of that.
Energy Bills — House of Commons, 2016-07-14
Topic: Energy
Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom (Conservative, Centre-right): The CMA has said that the energy sector for larger businesses is competitive, but it has put forward some strong and sound remedies for microbusinesses to prevent automatic roll-overs without a business’s consent and to improve online quotations, competition and the service available to microbusinesses.
Energy Bills — House of Commons, 2016-07-14
Topic: Energy
Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom (Conservative, Centre-right): I am sure that the hon. Gentleman knows that we get about 16% of our electricity every day from nuclear. He will also know that our nuclear plants are all due to be retired by at least the end of the 2020s. Therefore, new nuclear forms a core part of how we replace our electricity supplies. Hinkley is a good deal for consumers. Of course, the mark-to-market costs change according to the wholesale prices, but the price of the electricity coming out of Hinkley by the mid-2020s is guaranteed, and that is very important so that we provide certainty. The Government do not take the view that we will just see what happens; we have to plan for the future. Why? Because electricity security is not negotiable.
Energy Bills — House of Commons, 2016-07-14
Topic: Energy
Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom (Conservative, Centre-right): Perhaps the hon. Gentleman has misunderstood. The cost of the project has not changed. The difference is because of wholesale prices. As there is a fixed price agreed for consumers, when forecasts and current wholesale prices change, so will the difference between the fixed price and the wholesale price. To be clear, the cost of the project has not changed. It remains a good deal for consumers—[Interruption.] The hon. Gentleman is chuntering at me from a sedentary position, but let us be clear: we cannot just wait and see. We have to make investment decisions and stick by them. We cannot simply magic electricity out of thin air; we need to invest, make decisions, and be committed to them.
Smart Meters — House of Commons, 2016-07-14
Topic: Energy
Questions: What progress her Department has made on working with the major energy suppliers on the smart meter roll-out to ensure maximum benefit to consumers.; What progress her Department has made on working with the major energy suppliers on the smart meter roll-out to ensure maximum benefit to consumers.
Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom (Conservative, Centre-right): Good progress has been made to date on the roll-out of smart meters, with more than 3.6 million meters installed across the country. There is evidence that these consumers are already saving energy. Research by British Gas shows that smart meter customers have reduced their energy consumption by an average of about 3% for both gas and electricity.
Smart Meters — House of Commons, 2016-07-14
Topic: Energy
Questions: What progress her Department has made on working with the major energy suppliers on the smart meter roll-out to ensure maximum benefit to consumers.; What progress her Department has made on working with the major energy suppliers on the smart meter roll-out to ensure maximum benefit to consumers.
Stephen James Metcalfe (Conservative, Centre-right): Having recently installed a smart meter, I can confirm that it is a very useful tool in managing energy consumption. Will my hon. Friend join me in encouraging my constituents to contact their energy supplier to explore how these very useful little gadgets can save them some money?
Smart Meters — House of Commons, 2016-07-14
Topic: Energy
Questions: What progress her Department has made on working with the major energy suppliers on the smart meter roll-out to ensure maximum benefit to consumers.; What progress her Department has made on working with the major energy suppliers on the smart meter roll-out to ensure maximum benefit to consumers.
Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom (Conservative, Centre-right): Yes. I can also tell my hon. Friend that they are very useful when going away for the weekend, as a parent, because if your electricity use suddenly goes up dramatically, you know the kids are up to something My hon. Friend is exactly right. We need to encourage consumers to have smart meters installed in their homes to make sure that they can enjoy the benefits that he sets out. I encourage his constituents, and all our constituents, to find out more about the benefits of smart meters, and to request an installation or visit the Smart Energy GB website.
Smart Meters — House of Commons, 2016-07-14
Topic: Energy
Questions: What progress her Department has made on working with the major energy suppliers on the smart meter roll-out to ensure maximum benefit to consumers.; What progress her Department has made on working with the major energy suppliers on the smart meter roll-out to ensure maximum benefit to consumers.
Alun Craig Williams (Conservative, Centre-right): Many of my vulnerable constituents are on pre-payment meters, so smart energy meters present them with a terrific opportunity to get better value for money. Does my hon. Friend agree that smart meters have a terrific role to play for pre-payment customers?
Smart Meters — House of Commons, 2016-07-14
Topic: Energy
Questions: What progress her Department has made on working with the major energy suppliers on the smart meter roll-out to ensure maximum benefit to consumers.; What progress her Department has made on working with the major energy suppliers on the smart meter roll-out to ensure maximum benefit to consumers.
Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend is exactly right. Smart metering will transform the experience of pre-payment customers. Topping up pre-payment meters should become as easy as topping up a mobile phone. I welcome the fact that a number of energy suppliers are already offering or trialling pay-as-you-go services for their customers.
Smart Meters — House of Commons, 2016-07-14
Topic: Energy
Questions: What progress her Department has made on working with the major energy suppliers on the smart meter roll-out to ensure maximum benefit to consumers.; What progress her Department has made on working with the major energy suppliers on the smart meter roll-out to ensure maximum benefit to consumers.
Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom (Conservative, Centre-right): I am sorry to disappoint the hon. Gentleman, but I am not actually in a new post; I am in my old post. Secondly, I do not recognise any damage to our smart metering roll-out as a result of contracts not being awarded to universities. I have not seen any evidence of that. Thirdly, it is our continued plan that all households and businesses should be offered a smart meter by 2020.
Smart Meters — House of Commons, 2016-07-14
Topic: Energy
Questions: What progress her Department has made on working with the major energy suppliers on the smart meter roll-out to ensure maximum benefit to consumers.; What progress her Department has made on working with the major energy suppliers on the smart meter roll-out to ensure maximum benefit to consumers.
Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom (Conservative, Centre-right): I agree with the hon. Gentleman that fuel poverty in this country has to be tackled, and that is an absolute priority for my Department. He may be aware that we have launched our consultation on the energy company obligation to ensure that we refocus it on the fuel-poor and do everything we can to ensure warmer homes.
Retail Energy Market: Switching — House of Commons, 2016-07-14
Topic: Energy
Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom (Conservative, Centre-right): I am happy to tell my hon. Friend that switching was at a four-year high in 2015, with 6.1 million electricity and gas switches across the UK. That is an increase of about 15% since 2014. Some 2 million further gas and electricity switches have already taken place between January and March of this year, with 52% of those customers moving to newer suppliers.
Retail Energy Market: Switching — House of Commons, 2016-07-14
Topic: Energy
Miriam Jane Alice Davies (Conservative, Centre-right): Will the Minister confirm that the Government are specifically ensuring that those who are in most need or who are financially challenged, including those in my constituency and across the UK who are in need of lower energy bills, are benefiting from an efficient and easier switching regime?
Retail Energy Market: Switching — House of Commons, 2016-07-14
Topic: Energy
Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom (Conservative, Centre-right): Yes, I can assure my hon. Friend that the Government are acting to do just that. In fact, customers on expensive standard tariffs could save £325 by switching to the cheapest fixed deal, which is why we continue to encourage customers to switch through our big energy saving network initiative.
Retail Energy Market: Switching — House of Commons, 2016-07-14
Topic: Energy
Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Lady is exactly right that this is a very important area. I reiterate that over the past three years the big energy saving network has reached about 350,000 vulnerable consumers, helping them to reduce their bills by switching. Last year we ran a successful national TV and press advertising campaign, Power to Switch, and more than £38 million was saved by 130,000 households switching energy supplier. We continue to support good organisations such as Citizens Advice, which often hosts such initiatives and works face to face with vulnerable consumers to help them with the process of switching. I urge people who are struggling with fuel bills to give it a try; it really is not too difficult.
Low-carbon Economy — House of Commons, 2016-07-14
Topic: Environment
Questions: What assessment she has made of the potential effect of the Government’s decision on the level of the fifth carbon budget on investment in the low-carbon economy.; What assessment she has made of the potential effect of the Government’s decision on the level of the fifth carbon budget on investment in the low-carbon economy.
Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom (Conservative, Centre-right): The UK’s system of carbon budgets provides the long-term certainty that businesses need to invest in our low-carbon economy. The Government announced last month that we would accept the advice of the Committee on Climate Change on the level of the fifth carbon budget. That announcement has been widely welcomed by the business community.
Low-carbon Economy — House of Commons, 2016-07-14
Topic: Environment
Questions: What assessment she has made of the potential effect of the Government’s decision on the level of the fifth carbon budget on investment in the low-carbon economy.; What assessment she has made of the potential effect of the Government’s decision on the level of the fifth carbon budget on investment in the low-carbon economy.
Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom (Conservative, Centre-right): As my hon. Friend would expect, we are already busy working on that plan with other Departments, businesses, consumers and civil society. For example, we are already in discussion with the CBI, the Aldersgate Group and Energy UK among others to arrange specific stakeholder events, ensuring that our emissions reduction plan is built from the ground up, with input from a range of stakeholders.
Low-carbon Economy — House of Commons, 2016-07-14
Topic: Energy
Questions: What assessment she has made of the potential effect of the Government’s decision on the level of the fifth carbon budget on investment in the low-carbon economy.; What assessment she has made of the potential effect of the Government’s decision on the level of the fifth carbon budget on investment in the low-carbon economy.
Mark Andrew Menzies (Conservative, Centre-right): Westinghouse nuclear fuels is the second largest employer in Fylde and produces nuclear fuel for 15% of the UK’s electricity production. What assurances can the Minister give that this Government will continue to support the UK’s domestic nuclear fuel industry and take us to a low-carbon future?
Low-carbon Economy — House of Commons, 2016-07-14
Topic: Energy
Questions: What assessment she has made of the potential effect of the Government’s decision on the level of the fifth carbon budget on investment in the low-carbon economy.; What assessment she has made of the potential effect of the Government’s decision on the level of the fifth carbon budget on investment in the low-carbon economy.
Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom (Conservative, Centre-right): Nuclear power is a vital part of our work to build a secure, affordable and clean energy system to keep the lights on in the decades ahead. The Westinghouse facility in my hon. Friend’s constituency has a crucial role to play, providing the fuel that powers our nuclear fleet, as well as employment to many in his constituency.