To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the value for money for the public purse of the £8.6 billion estimated cost of the feed-in tariff scheme.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the value for money for the public purse of the £8.6 billion estimated cost of the feed-in tariff scheme.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will consider removing the requirement for approval through the Microgeneration Certification Scheme, together with product accreditation, for micro-hydro installations under the feed-in tariff regime, in light of the non-standard applications that apply to that technology, as recorded in section 1.3 of Analysis of...

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will consider removing the requirement for approval through the Microgeneration Certification Scheme, together with product accreditation, for micro-hydro installations under the feed-in tariff regime, in light of the non-standard applications that apply to that technology, as recorded in section 1.3 of Analysis of...

To ask Her Majesty's Government what responses they received from the micro-hydro sector to their consultation on feed-in tariffs; and how they responded to the points made when formulating their policies.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what responses they received from the micro-hydro sector to their consultation on feed-in tariffs; and how they responded to the points made when formulating their policies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he expects to make an announcement on the feed-in tariff rate for micro-combined heat and power.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he expects to make an announcement on the feed-in tariff rate for micro-combined heat and power.

Yes, but, as I understand it, the money announced in the pre-Budget report was exactly that—it will not do anything to help vulnerable people this winter. To put the figures into context, the Treasury collected £9 billion of VAT receipts from UK utilities and £1.2 billion from domestic fuel customers...

Yes, but, as I understand it, the money announced in the pre-Budget report was exactly that—it will not do anything to help vulnerable people this winter. To put the figures into context, the Treasury collected £9 billion of VAT receipts from UK utilities and £1.2 billion from domestic fuel customers...

Did the hon. Gentleman write his speech before the pre-Budget report? It had another £150 million for Warm Front, which takes the three-year spending figure to more than £1.1 billion.

Did the hon. Gentleman write his speech before the pre-Budget report? It had another £150 million for Warm Front, which takes the three-year spending figure to more than £1.1 billion.

I congratulate the right hon. Member for Gordon (Malcolm Bruce) on securing the debate. He has an excellent track record and is widely respected in the House for his knowledge of the subject and the wider agenda. This has been an excellent debate, albeit the contributions have come from one...

I congratulate the right hon. Member for Gordon (Malcolm Bruce) on securing the debate. He has an excellent track record and is widely respected in the House for his knowledge of the subject and the wider agenda. This has been an excellent debate, albeit the contributions have come from one...

I thank the Minister for that comment, which indicates that the Government recognise the value to the fuel-poor of being on mains gas. I would like to refer briefly to a concern about LPG supply that I raised with the Minister during Energy and Climate Change questions. Following my predecessor's...

I thank the Minister for that comment, which indicates that the Government recognise the value to the fuel-poor of being on mains gas. I would like to refer briefly to a concern about LPG supply that I raised with the Minister during Energy and Climate Change questions. Following my predecessor's...

In Ofgem's current price control round on the energy companies—the five-year control period—there is an incentive for the companies to extend mains gas to fuel-poor households, although admittedly the scheme is modest, covering about 20,000 households.

In Ofgem's current price control round on the energy companies—the five-year control period—there is an incentive for the companies to extend mains gas to fuel-poor households, although admittedly the scheme is modest, covering about 20,000 households.

I apologise, Mr. Cook, for your not being informed that there was a change in the Liberal Democrat spokesperson for today's debate. I congratulate my right hon. Friend the Member for Gordon (Malcolm Bruce) on initiating the debate at this most opportune time and on raising a number of issues...

I apologise, Mr. Cook, for your not being informed that there was a change in the Liberal Democrat spokesperson for today's debate. I congratulate my right hon. Friend the Member for Gordon (Malcolm Bruce) on initiating the debate at this most opportune time and on raising a number of issues...

I am sure that my right hon. Friend is right. An extension of the principle behind the boiler scrappage scheme to other technologies over a fixed period would provide an incentive, which would encourage industries to flourish and the training of technicians. That would make a big difference to the...

I am sure that my right hon. Friend is right. An extension of the principle behind the boiler scrappage scheme to other technologies over a fixed period would provide an incentive, which would encourage industries to flourish and the training of technicians. That would make a big difference to the...

My hon. Friend will have been to many presentations in this House by energy companies, where they offer all kinds of new technology but point out that the costs are disproportionately high. Does he agree that if the Government got their act together and put all of the schemes together,...

My hon. Friend will have been to many presentations in this House by energy companies, where they offer all kinds of new technology but point out that the costs are disproportionately high. Does he agree that if the Government got their act together and put all of the schemes together,...

I would state the point in a different way: many of the schemes sound good, but are difficult to access for the people who need them most, who are often those living in older homes, for whom the schemes would be more expensive. They are difficult to access partly because...

I would state the point in a different way: many of the schemes sound good, but are difficult to access for the people who need them most, who are often those living in older homes, for whom the schemes would be more expensive. They are difficult to access partly because...

The hon. Gentleman is touching on an important point. In parts of the UK, particularly Northern Ireland, advantageous schemes are unveiled by devolved Ministers. Sometimes, as advantageous as the schemes are, the people who could benefit most from them, namely the lower socio-economic groups, are unaware of the advantages. Unless...

The hon. Gentleman is touching on an important point. In parts of the UK, particularly Northern Ireland, advantageous schemes are unveiled by devolved Ministers. Sometimes, as advantageous as the schemes are, the people who could benefit most from them, namely the lower socio-economic groups, are unaware of the advantages. Unless...

Does the hon. Gentleman agree that one difficulty with the pricing of fuel, including gas, is that it is traded at least four or five times through commodity dealing before it reaches the shores of the United Kingdom, whether in Scotland, Northern Ireland or elsewhere?

Does the hon. Gentleman agree that one difficulty with the pricing of fuel, including gas, is that it is traded at least four or five times through commodity dealing before it reaches the shores of the United Kingdom, whether in Scotland, Northern Ireland or elsewhere?

I am grateful for that intervention, which made one of the points I was intending to make. That trend applies not just to the oil sector, but to gas and electricity. Companies are quick to increase the price but not as quick to pass on reductions. Certainly in my constituency...

I am grateful for that intervention, which made one of the points I was intending to make. That trend applies not just to the oil sector, but to gas and electricity. Companies are quick to increase the price but not as quick to pass on reductions. Certainly in my constituency...

On this important point, does the hon. Gentleman agree that the situation is even worse than has been stated because many energy companies forward-buy their oil or gas at a fixed rate? Therefore, when prices rise, they do not necessarily go up for the companies straight away; often it takes...

On this important point, does the hon. Gentleman agree that the situation is even worse than has been stated because many energy companies forward-buy their oil or gas at a fixed rate? Therefore, when prices rise, they do not necessarily go up for the companies straight away; often it takes...

I bow to the hon. Gentleman's knowledge of the trading conditions for such commodities. I accept that there probably is such a problem, although it is not an area on which I am particularly expert.

I bow to the hon. Gentleman's knowledge of the trading conditions for such commodities. I accept that there probably is such a problem, although it is not an area on which I am particularly expert.

Does the hon. Gentleman agree that a weakness of the CERT—carbon emissions reduction target—scheme is that the lack of transparency means that energy companies do not have much incentive to prioritise groups that are in fuel poverty? Too often, they go for the early easy wins, which are homes that...

Does the hon. Gentleman agree that a weakness of the CERT—carbon emissions reduction target—scheme is that the lack of transparency means that energy companies do not have much incentive to prioritise groups that are in fuel poverty? Too often, they go for the early easy wins, which are homes that...

I am delighted to hear that. I hope that the Minister enjoyed his visit. He is welcome to visit the north of Scotland at any time, not least if one purpose of his visit is to consider the issues raised by my right hon. Friend. This debate is taking place...

I am delighted to hear that. I hope that the Minister enjoyed his visit. He is welcome to visit the north of Scotland at any time, not least if one purpose of his visit is to consider the issues raised by my right hon. Friend. This debate is taking place...