Speeches by Reader.

“Thank you, Chair. You have nudged me. The advice given by the Committee is often founded on complex modelling. Through your answers, you have shown a particularly good understanding of the outputs and the headlines, but how do you make sure that when you interrogate technical assumptions in the work of the Committee, i…”

“My last question, what is your approach going to be to deal with the quite strong lobbying you are going to get, particularly from vested organisations? We experience it on the Committee, and I imagine you are going to experience it to an even greater extent from right across the spectrum in the net zero world.”

“Thank you. In your opinion, should the Committee be highlighting gaps that exist in Government delivery, particularly between Departments?”

“Shouldn’t you know that by now, given your experience and the roles you have had?”

“I will come to my question. Talk me through your 100-day plan, the first 100 days of your appointment. What are the key things you will be focusing on? What are you going to deliver in that first three months?”

“I recognise what you may do in the future, but can you give us examples of what you have done?”

“Could you give us an example from your career where you have challenged the Government or a major funder on the narrative and how you went about that?”

“We talked before about how the seventh carbon budget covers DFT and MHCLG. Is it the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero who owns it or actually is this not owned higher up given the importance?”

“Why do you think that is?”

“Who do you think owns it?”

“Do you think it is clear in the Government who owns the net zero strategy?”

“Last week, the Energy Security and Net Zero Committee heard from Make UK and representatives from the chemical, petrochemical, steel and ceramics industries that closer alignment and collaboration with the EU on energy pricing is critical to reducing bills. That is also recognised in the Government’s industrial strateg…”

“East Hunsbury primary school in my constituency has been named the kindest school in Britain. Will the Leader of the House join me in commending the school, Kelly Roberts the mental health lead, and, in particular, all the students who put themselves forward to be kindness ambassadors? Does she agree that in our acts i…”

“As a member of the Select Committee, I enjoy that I can give a wry smile every single week when academics, non-governmental organisations, consumer groups and industry say they had so much delay and faffing from the Conservative party and now we are getting on and delivering. On zonal pricing, it is fantastic to see th…”

“I thank the Chair of the Select Committee for leading us through the report. It is right that sometimes Select Committees pose more of a challenge to Government. In this case, I think it is right to call out that, while the Department is doing great things and working at pace, we need to ensure that everything is joine…”

“Before I begin, I should just declare I am a member of the all-party parliamentary beer group, and we had a very good dinner last night at the annual parliamentary beer awards, supported by the British Beer and Pub Association, just in case there is any suggestion of conflict. We had a lovely milk stout last night with…”

“Before I begin, I should just declare I am a member of the all-party parliamentary beer group, and we had a very good dinner last night at the annual parliamentary beer awards, supported by the British Beer and Pub Association, just in case there is any suggestion of conflict. We had a lovely milk stout last night with…”

“Paul, we heard from EDF, and it felt that that was not appropriate, because SMEs have their own usage patterns and requirements. For your members, would a price cap work, given the variety of them?”

“Do you think Ofgem is doing enough to address transparency and make sure customers are treated fairly in the business sector?”

“David, the BBPA did recommend to us that a price cap would be appropriate particularly for their sector. Do you think that sector-specific caps, like for hospitality, where there is such an economic and social benefit from the sector, would be appropriate?”