Speeches by Esterson.

“Are we talking about surveyors doing the work?”

“Are you confident that the support for the individual person who is carrying out this accreditation certification process is also being assessed adequately?”

“Strangely enough, we are.”

“That doesn’t sound terribly encouraging if we have the existing problems and they are hardwired in.”

“All very laudable. Is that what we can expect for the continuation of the existing schemes and for the warm homes plan?”

“Between you, you have beautifully confirmed what the NAO Report says in paragraph 21: “The government created an overly complex system that ultimately failed”. It names DESNZ, Ofgem, TrustMark and UKAS, and says there is fragmentation and confusion over responsibilities and accountabilities. Have you learned from this?…”

“It comes from the 2016 review. Is that what you are saying?”

“Sorry to interrupt you, but this is important. Why go for the arm’s length quality assurance scheme you are describing?”

“That was in 2016. We are now in 2021.”

“Given that there have been problems with insulation for decades—I mentioned spray foam and cavity wall in the first panel—why did you not foresee the need for this level of oversight? Why did you not look at the regulatory system, which was described as inadequate in the first panel?”

“You are the Permanent Secretary. Ultimately, you, with Ministers, have responsibility. This scheme was very high profile. Were you not giving it the attention that it deserved?”

“But ultimately it is your responsibility.”

“Okay—I do not want to spend too long on that. You also said that you did not oversee the scheme. Why not?”

“One of the challenges in bringing down energy costs is the up-front cost of the equipment people need to take advantage of cheaper electricity. My hon. Friend knows a lot about electric vehicles because he used to work in the sector, and he knows that the salary sacrifice scheme was the biggest single way of getting el…”

“The Conservatives also privatised the national grid. We were warned at the time, in 1989, that that would not lead to massive investment from the private sector, and we are now living with the consequences of that lack of investment over something like 40 years. Does my hon. Friend agree that that Conservative failure …”

“The right hon. Lady was kind enough to go through her plan with me. I will be honest: I think there is merit in discussing some of the proposals—[Interruption.] No, it is not what Opposition Members think. There is merit in discussing some of the proposals on a cross-party basis, and I am sure the Government will do th…”

“The Conservative party gave us austerity, Brexit and Liz Truss, including high interest rates and high inflation. This Government, so far, have delivered the highest growth in the G7, five interest rate cuts and record high levels of investment. Is it not the truth that the Conservative party, over 14 years, was the re…”

“Q5. Mental ill health affects one in four of us, and it costs this country up to £300 billion a year, so will the Prime Minister join me in thanking the staff at Maghull health park, who do a brilliant job in looking after those suffering from mental ill health? Will he wish them well with their plans to set up a world…”

“Lord Stern reminded us just today that “Investment in climate action is the…growth story of the 21st century,” while expecting growth from fossil fuels is “futile because the damage it causes ends in self-destruction.” The Office for Budget Responsibility confirmed the same thing in the summer, referring to the huge co…”

“Q7. Let’s talk about fracking. It contaminates the water table, it causes air pollution and the test drilling in Lancashire led to earthquakes. Will the Prime Minister stand up to the climate deniers? Will he ban fracking once and for all? Does he agree that those who are backing it are supporting fracking stupid refor…”