Speeches by Reader.

“If we were to invest in gas storage, do you have any idea what that would do in terms of the impact on bills? It would be a capex outlay from Government, I guess.”

“I will perhaps wrap up on a couple of bits that I have heard, just because most of the questions I had down have been answered. Alex, the shadow Secretary of State for Energy yesterday called foreign gas from places like Norway “dirty” and “worse than British gas”. Is that correct?”

“Okay, and what about electricity storage, batteries et cetera? There was a big focus under the previous Government on renewables. There is a bigger focus now from this Government on transition, network and improving the grid. Are we doing enough on energy storage in terms of electricity capacity?”

“Does that code of conduct include transparency over profits in the retail sector?”

“To what extent have high retail prices reflected the wholesale costs? To what extent have they been reflected by additional margins and profit in the supply chain, with your retailers taking the public frustration because of that hitting the supply chain?”

“Okay, and what about electricity storage, batteries et cetera? There was a big focus under the previous Government on renewables. There is a bigger focus now from this Government on transition, network and improving the grid. Are we doing enough on energy storage in terms of electricity capacity?”

“These are perhaps two different crises for petrol retailers. Finally for you, Gordon, if you were making recommendations to Government on how we improve resilience in the sector that you work in, what would those recommendations be?”

“Is that something that your organisation should focus on, given the price gouging we have seen from some retailers?”

“For members joining your organisation, is there a code of conduct that they have to sign up to, or any bar that means you have reputable retailers joining your organisation?”

“Gordon, we talked about commerciality. What benefit do retailers have in joining your organisation?”

“These are perhaps two different crises for petrol retailers. Finally for you, Gordon, if you were making recommendations to Government on how we improve resilience in the sector that you work in, what would those recommendations be?”

“To what extent have high retail prices reflected the wholesale costs? To what extent have they been reflected by additional margins and profit in the supply chain, with your retailers taking the public frustration because of that hitting the supply chain?”

“What amount of energy storage does the UK currently hold, and how does this compare internationally?”

“If we were to invest in gas storage, do you have any idea what that would do in terms of the impact on bills? It would be a capex outlay from Government, I guess.”

“I will perhaps wrap up on a couple of bits that I have heard, just because most of the questions I had down have been answered. Alex, the shadow Secretary of State for Energy yesterday called foreign gas from places like Norway “dirty” and “worse than British gas”. Is that correct?”

“Are we looking in the wrong place? We have had some evidence around excessive margins and profit-making in the supply chain rather than from the retailers themselves. Are the retailers the fall guys for others making excess profits in the supply chain?”

“What about electricity storage? How does the UK compare?”

“On gas and electric, do you think the Government should be investing more in gas and electricity storage, or is relying on international imports the way we get energy security?”

“Does the Secretary of State share my concern, or dismay, perhaps, that at a time when families are concerned about the cost of energy and the price at the pumps, the Conservatives have become obsessed with oil and gas licensing and not taking any action at all to reduce bills?”

“I have found this debate quite fascinating. What nonsense from the Conservatives! We are watching a party rip itself up as it worries about more defections to Reform, and Conservative Back Benchers parrot the lines of their Front Benchers. We know from media coverage that the Conservatives are promoting people to the F…”