We have now come to the end of another summer here in Mid-Cornwall and the schools are getting ready to go back this week. I also returned to Parliament this week after spending Summer Recess at home in the constituency where I had the opportunity to spend some time with my family and meet with constituents and local businesses.
I
am looking forward to getting back to Westminster and representing our
constituency in Parliament as your MP. Over the coming months a
number of important pieces of legislation will be coming forward in Parliament. This week the focus will be on the Energy Bill, which will reform
the UK’s energy system by addressing energy production and security, and the regulation of the energy
market.
Last week I wrote about
Ofgem’s announcement of a further reduction in the energy price cap, meaning
an annual energy bill for a typical household will fall to £1,923 in October –
the first price cap under £2,000 since last year. Bills will be around £151
lower than current rates and £577 lower than last winter.
The
government has stepped in with over £40 billion of support to help households
with both short-term and long-term measures, including the Energy Price Guarantee (EPG) scheme, Energy
Bills Support Scheme (EBSS), a £150 council tax rebate for households and
providing £9 million of additional support to the Household Support Fund. The
government also continues to make cost
of living payments to those who are most vulnerable and on certain benefits.
However, Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine last
year has put the need for energy security in stark perspective. While the UK
has little direct exposure to Russian gas, we faced significant indirect
impacts through our links to European gas networks and global markets. Never again should we allow
our energy security to be threatened, therefore it is crucial that we look at
the UK’s energy independence and renewable energy sources, and move away from
any reliance on Russia.
That is why the Prime Minister has tasked the new Department for Energy
Security and Net Zero with improving the UK’s energy security, creating greater
energy independence consistent with net zero and reducing the risk of higher
bills.
We now have an opportunity to address the UK’s
energy security and independence by reducing our dependence on oil and gas and
moving towards low-carbon energy, including wind, solar and nuclear power
generation alongside hydrogen production and carbon capture, usage and storage.
We want our energy to be cheap, clean and
reliable to protect households and businesses and the best way to do
this is by not only lowering the costs of the energy we consume, but reducing
the amount we use.
We all have a part to play in this and the
government continues to provide millions of pounds in grant funding for vital
energy efficiency upgrades for homes, which will help many households in St
Austell and Newquay decarbonise their homes.
The Energy Bill will also set out how homes will transition to greener
heating systems in the years to come, including those with oil boilers and without having to install
heat pumps, which I know are a cost many people would find difficult to cover.
I understand that many
households in Mid-Cornwall would have been hit hard financially by the proposed
ban on the installation of new oil boilers from 2026 and so was pleased to see the government publish an amendment that places a
new obligation on liquid fuel providers to supply renewable products.
This is thanks to the work of my Cornish colleague and Conservative MP
for Camborne, Redruth and Hayle, George Eustice, who has pushed for oil heated homes to be given the
choice of switching to a renewable liquid fuel, rather than a heat pump.
It is right that the government continues to take decisive action to
support households and businesses with rising energy bills, and while targeted support will still be offered to those who most need it,
I do believe it is important that the government take steps to fix the broken
energy retail markets for the long-term.
I am
looking forward to working with Ministers as we move towards a future of clean and abundant energy, which will not only cut costs for
households in Mid-Cornwall, but also boost the UK’s economy and attract future
investment.
