E

Earl Russell (LD)

Speaking in the House of Lords on 13 January 2025

Debate

Great British Energy Bill

Contribution

I thank the Minister for responding, and I thank everybody who spoke in the debate: the noble Lord, Lord Cameron of Dillington, the noble Viscount, Lord Trenchard, and the noble Baroness, Lady McIntosh of Pickering. These are important issues; they are absolute powers. I recognise the point made by the noble Baroness, Lady Noakes, that there are other ways of summoning Ministers and that the whole idea of ministerial accountability is that Parliament afterwards can question Ministers. I think that is a bit of a second-tier kind of accountability, but I recognise that there may be situations where the Government need to act with urgency and even the act of giving a Statement could impede the Government from doing that, whether it relates to nuclear energy, energy security or foreign interference in our energy security. I did, therefore, offer the Government the possibility of amending my amendment. It is important that we have discussed these issues. They are important powers, and it is important we debate them. I do not think we found an answer or a way forward, but the debate itself has been interesting. I thank the Government.

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