Speeches by Downie.

“I am not trying to suggest it. I can see the pained expression on your face: “Please don’t make us do this again.””

“You would not agree that the evidence base, from your knowledge, has changed that much since the decision was taken.”

“We have heard from Octopus Energy, which has told us that the evidence base has actually improved since the decision was taken. What evidence do you think would need to come forward? What strength of evidence would need to come forward to justify reopening the debate or discussion in future, and where would it have to …”

“Rob, you touched on this earlier; I want to come back to the impact of TNUoS costs on CfD bids and how that affects strike prices. We have seen increasing CfD bids as a result of TNUoS. Can you talk about your views on that and what impact in particular that is having on consumer costs?”

“It felt a bit like cake-ism. We were trying to get everything.”

“I am not trying to suggest it. I can see the pained expression on your face: “Please don’t make us do this again.””

“Do you think some of the evidence base has changed? Similarly to what I asked Chris, what evidence do you think would need to come to light, from where and when, and on what timescale, that would justify the discussion being reopened?”

“We have heard about—you mentioned it there—the divisiveness of the process and some of the delays inside the industry. Two questions are linked. Are there lessons for the Department about how they go about future consultation processes? Do you think there has been any damage done inside the industry through the lack of…”

“Chris, what does the wound that exists as a result of the process do to the evidence base that would be needed to be brought forward should a future Government want to reopen the decision? Presumably, it makes it much harder to do, and the evidence would have to be very strong indeed. Is there a risk that you end up wi…”

“I want to go back to something that Claire brought up and that you mentioned, Katrina, about the evidence base for REMA. You mentioned that there had been be no cost-benefit analysis published. I think you also mentioned that we needed a process that brought everyone along with us. Do you think some of the concerns abo…”

“Do you have any insight into why the Department chose that approach and why it has not been more transparent?”

“Jason, what is your view on this? In particular, why is it so difficult for them to look at TNUoS as something to reform or change?”

“You are not suggesting that devolution causes problems in energy markets?”

“Helen, can you pick up the points Rob and Jason made, particularly on the issues in Scotland that arise from TNUoS and how that affects bids in Scotland?”

“Is the risk that they price higher because of that uncertainty?”

“Rob, you touched on this earlier; I want to come back to the impact of TNUoS costs on CfD bids and how that affects strike prices. We have seen increasing CfD bids as a result of TNUoS. Can you talk about your views on that and what impact in particular that is having on consumer costs?”

“Is that more of a market-based solution, rather than having price fixing, which you could almost call an excessive intervention in the market, or a strong intervention in the market?”

“Do you have any views on why other reform options were rejected, or perhaps not considered fully?”

“We have heard from Octopus Energy, which has told us that the evidence base has actually improved since the decision was taken. What evidence do you think would need to come forward? What strength of evidence would need to come forward to justify reopening the debate or discussion in future, and where would it have to …”

“Tom, talk us through your view on the alternative market designs that might have been credible?”