Member

The reason cost is not mentioned in the Bill is that the Government know—this might be a price people are prepared to pay, but at least be honest with them—that additional costs are involved in decarbonising the electricity system. Those costs will be paid for by the people who consume electricity—we cannot run away from that. If the argument is that we are so concerned about the impact of the fossil fuels we burn and that this is a Government priority—despite India, China and everybody else happily burning fossil fuels and increasing emissions, and despite the fact that we account for only 3% of the world’s emissions—then spell it out to ordinary consumers that there will be a price for them to pay. There will be a cost.