[Dr Rupa Huq in the Chair]

We are now sitting in public and the proceedings are being broadcast—Big Brother, so watch your words.

I have a few preliminary announcements. Hansard colleagues will be grateful if Members email their speaking notes. Please switch electronic devices to silent mode. Tea and coffee are not allowed during sittings.

We will first consider the programme motion on the amendment paper, and then a motion to enable the reporting of written evidence for publication and a motion to allow us to deliberate in private about divvying up the questions before we get into the oral evidence sessions. In view of the time available, I hope that we can take such matters formally, without debate. I will first call the Minister to move the programme motion, which stands in his name and was discussed yesterday by the Programming Sub-Committee.

Ordered,

That—

1. the Committee shall (in addition to its first meeting at 9.25 am on Tuesday 8 October) meet—

(a) at 2.00 pm on Tuesday 8 October;

(b) at 11.30 am and 2.00 pm on Thursday 10 October;

(c) at 9.25 am and 2.00 pm on Tuesday 15 October;

2. the Committee shall hear oral evidence in accordance with the following Table:

TABLE

Date

Time

Witness

Tuesday 8 October

Until no later than 9.50 am

Juergen Maier CBE

Until no later than 10.20 am

Trades Union Congress; Prospect

Until no later than 11.00 am

Green Alliance; Nesta; Aurora Energy Research

Until no later than 11.25 am

RenewableUK; Energy UK

Until no later than 2.30 pm

SSE plc; EDF Renewables

Until no later than 2.50 pm

The Crown Estate

Until no later than 3.10 pm

Flint Global

Until no later than 3.50 pm

The Carbon Capture and Storage Association (CCSA); Scottish Renewables; Net Zero Technology Centre

Until no later than 4.10 pm

Offshore Energies UK (OEUK)

Until no later than 4.30 pm

GMB Union

Until no later than 5.00 pm

Michael Shanks MP, Minister for Energy, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

3. the proceedings shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion at 5.00 pm on Tuesday 15 October

Resolved,

That, subject to the discretion of the Chair, any written evidence received by the Committee shall be reported to the House for publication.—(Michael Shanks.)

Copies of written evidence will be made available on the desk in the Committee Room.

Resolved,

That, at this and any subsequent meeting at which oral evidence is to be heard, the Committee shall sit in private until the witnesses are admitted.—(Michael Shanks.)

The Committee deliberated in private.

We are now sitting in public again and the proceedings are being broadcast. Before we hear from the witnesses, does any Member wish to make a declaration of interest in connection with the Bill?

My husband is company secretary of Sheffield Renewables, a community energy project in Sheffield that generates energy.

This is registered, but I have been told to say it out loud: I am a member of the GMB, which is appearing before us later, and before the election I was the deputy general secretary of Prospect, which is also speaking to us this morning.

I am also a member of the GMB.

I am also a member of the GMB.

I am also a member of the GMB.

I am also a member of the GMB.

I am also a member of the GMB.

I am not!

For full transparency, I am a member of Unison.