Clause 44
Energy Bill
12:45 pm
Charles Hendry (Shadow Minister, Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform; Wealden, Conservative)
There are a number of concerns to express and points to make in relation to the clauses. It might be sensible to outline them at this stage, although I will probably get in only three sentences before the Minister goes for his lunch break. My concern is about the extensive powers that the Secretary of State seems to have. Businesses will be building new reactors based on an understanding of the costs involved in planning, building, running and decommissioning those power stations, and of getting rid of the waste. It is clear that they are looking for considerable certainty about the exposure to risks and to any additional costs. The clause seems to give the Secretary of State the right unilaterally to tear up an agreement and impose much tougher conditions. Businesses appear powerless to stop this, and as the Minister said in an earlier discussion, they do not have a right of appeal.