Conservative former ministers have voiced calls for changes to what the government has described as the most important piece of energy legislation to go before the Commons.
The Energy Bill seeks to unlock investment in low-carbon energy technologies, increase resilience and produce more energy in the UK, and reduce energy bills over the long term.
MPs debate the second reading of the bill in the Commons after the government imposed a number of changes in the House of Lords, including a ban on new coal mines and steps to increase the energy efficiency of housing and business premises.
Chris Skidmore, a Tory former energy minister and chair of the UK’s Net Zero Review, backed the Lords’ amendments and said he would like to reintroduce them if the government rejects them.
While he said he welcomed many of the provisions in the Bill, Mr Skidmore said there was scope to move forward with “cross-party support”, adding: “The Lords amendments added to the Bill are all welcome additions.
“In fact, many of these were recommendations in a net zero review.
“I will therefore support their continued inclusion and, if necessary, seek to bring many of these amendments back to the table.
“As chair of the all-party group on the environment, I am seeking to work across the House to introduce additional amendments that I believe are realistic and achievable, but require the government to meet the needs of the energy sector. and the government’s own statutory net-zero commitments.”
He said: “While they may not thank me today, I hope the Minister and the Government will understand that I and others who want to reform this Bill had no choice, as there was no time to do so.” There is nothing left to do.”
Conservative former cabinet minister Sir Alok Sharma sought clarification on whether the government would support the Lords’ amendments, particularly one that would force energy regulator Ofgem to meet the UK’s net zero emissions target.
Energy Secretary Grant Shapps said: “We will consider the proposed amendments very closely … It is the case that the regulator is already largely focused in that direction.”
Elsewhere, Conservative former minister Sir John Redwood said: “Why does this measure include a proposal for a 140% increase in imported energy through interconnectors which will make us more dependent and very vulnerable?”
Mr Shapps replied: “For example last winter we were able to export to France, providing us with income… They work in both directions, and they provide credibility in some cases.”
Conservative former minister Alec Shellbrook criticized the plans which could see levies imposed on gas and electricity suppliers to support low carbon hydrogen production.
He said: “The cost that we pass on to the public has to be minimised. And I sincerely hope that ministers will look into and deliver on the hydrogen levy before it gets to committee stage.
“I think it’s wrong and it’s in the wrong place, and we have to take the public on board with us on this, and we can’t keep adding up to people’s bills to try to make this work.”
And Conservative former cabinet minister George Eustice called on the government to bring in an amendment to allow oil boilers to run on renewable liquid fuels, raising concerns over the cost and practicality of the current plan to ban new oil boilers in 2026. Which he said affects 1.7 million families.
He said that if the government does not bring anyone forward, he will demand such an amendment.
Shadow Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said Labor would support the bill, but warned that “a number of measures” are “long overdue”.
He said the bill “still lacks the necessary urgency and long-term strategy”, and warned: “It is very half-hearted on the zero carbon sprint we need. It does little to prioritize the energy transition to working people”. and … it does not put the UK at the forefront of the race for low carbon jobs.
He said the bill should be used to match the US and EU rush for green investment, and called Mr Shapps the “dinosaur-in-chief” who has made progress on building more onshore wind. There is a shortage.
Mr Miliband said: “He’s a self-styled TikTok modernist, but he’s like a pterodactyl nimby stuck in the past on this.”
Initiating the debate, Mr Shapps said: “Indeed it is the longest and most important energy legislation to come through this House. It is an important part of making Britain an energy-secure nation.”
The energy secretary said the bill aims to “unlock private investment in clean technologies” and create markets for such technologies, including heat pumps, as well as harnessing the potential of carbon capture and storage and low-carbon hydrogen .
He also said it would “strengthen energy security and reduce costs for consumers” by including an independent system operator and planner, and prevent “malicious actors” from putting Britain’s energy security at risk.
He said: “I hope members across the House will recognize the opportunity that the bill represents: to support our long-term ambition to drive massive investment and growth in jobs and economic growth, to reduce energy bills and Making sure we pass power from Britain to Britain in the future.”
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