Energy Supply
18 Jun 2012 : Column 820W
Tom Greatrex:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) if he
will publish correspondence between his Department and the European
Commission on the application of state aid rules to the Contracts for
Difference in the draft Energy Bill; [111348]
(2)
when he last discussed state aid rules with the European Commission in
relation to Contracts for Difference in the draft Energy Bill. [111380]
Charles Hendry:
Subject to parliamentary approval, the Government will ensure that the
provisions of the draft Energy Bill are applied in a way that is
consistent with the state aid rules.
State
aid issues are a bilateral matter between the Government and the
European Commission. The Government is in discussion with the Commission
as to the application of the state aid rules in this context. In common
with other similar situations, such discussions cover whether or not
state aid may be present, and if there is state aid, whether it is
approvable under the treaty.
If
the Government makes a formal notification of its arrangements, we
expect the Commission to make a decision as soon as possible consistent
with the proper exercise of its responsibilities. Such Commission
decisions are published and include an explanation of how the decision
has been reached.
Tom Greatrex:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he
expects a decision to be made by the European Commission on state aid
rules in relation to the Contracts for Difference in the draft Energy
Bill. [111381]
Charles Hendry:
The Government will ensure that the provisions of the draft Energy Bill
are applied in a way that is consistent with the state aid rules.
18 Jun 2012 : Column 821W
State
aid issues are a bilateral matter between the Government and the
European Commission. The Government is in discussion with the Commission
as to the application of the state aid rules in this context. In common
with other similar situations, such discussions cover whether or not
state aid may be present, and if there is state aid, whether it is
approvable under the treaty.
If
the Government makes a formal notification of its arrangements, we
expect the Commission to make a decision as soon as possible consistent
with the proper exercise of its responsibilities. Such Commission
decisions are published and include an explanation of how the decision
has been reached.
Tom Greatrex:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with
reference to page 14, Annex A, of the Draft Energy Bill, whether he
plans to publish the budget envelope for the delivery of EMR under the
Levy Control Framework. [111744]