Mr Redwood’s intervention during the Opposition Debate on Fuel Poverty and Energy Inefficiency, 16 Jan

Mr John Redwood (Wokingham) (Con): I agree with the right hon. Lady that we want lower energy bills. Does she understand that America followed a much more successful policy than the EU by going for cheap gas? Would she recommend that the EU learns from America so that we can have cheaper gas for all our people as well?

Caroline Flint (Don Valley) (Lab): We have to look at the diversity of our energy supply, but it is unfounded to suggest that there is a silver bullet in relation to gas, because it is unknown as yet. There is another side to what America has done. For example, 40 million people in America are involved in collective switching schemes and, at a local level, community energy generation programmes have been supported through investment. There are things that we can learn from our cousins in America and elsewhere.

4 Comments

  1. margaret brandreth-j
    January 17, 2013

    Where did they get their cheap gas from?

  2. Brian Taylor
    January 17, 2013

    Ye gods talk about fiddling while Rome burns,don’t they know how the price of gas through Fracking has brought down the price of electricity by switching to gas from coal,this has not only brought down CO2 emissions but has brought jobs back to America due to the price of all energy,ask the steel aluminium and chemical industries.

  3. Barbara
    January 18, 2013

    We will have ‘fracking’ here although many are careful about it, and worried. It may bring wealth and lower bills, but we are a small island compared to the expanse of the USA. We have built up areas, where people own homes, you can understand the hesitation from some people. If it affects you, you will be concerned, it’s not all about money and weatlh for the nation, it’s about people too. If its safe, all well and good, if something happens will they compensate? Is it risky? We have prospect of a new industry and I welcome that with reservations.

  4. Keith Moore.
    January 19, 2013

    Is fracking opposed by people unaware that underground explosions were carried out as a matter of course by our once very extensive coal industry?

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