Wednesday Volume 558 13 February 2013 No. 116 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Wednesday 13 February 2013 £5·00 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2013 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 839 13 FEBRUARY 2013 840 Mr Mike Weir (Angus) (SNP): Why are this Government House of Commons determined to throw money at an industry that has never been economically viable, while refusing to set a Wednesday 13 February 2013 decarbonisation target to boost the renewables industry, which is already creating thousands of new jobs in Scotland? The House met at half-past Eleven o’clock Michael Moore: Through energy market reform, we are underpinning the renewables sector for a very long PRAYERS time to come. What I do not understand is how the Scottish National party can propose independence, when Scottish Renewables would end up losing the biggest [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] source of consumers who underpin the economics of that very important sector. Oral Answers to Questions Under-occupancy Penalty 2. Dr Eilidh Whiteford (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): What estimate he has made of the number of SCOTLAND households in Scotland affected by the under- occupancy penalty. [142161] The Secretary of State was asked— The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (David Mundell): In its impact assessment, published on Nuclear Power 28 June 2012, the Department for Work and Pensions estimates that 80,000 claimants of housing benefit in 1. Alun Cairns (Vale of Glamorgan) (Con): What the social rented sector in Scotland will be affected by recent assessment he has made of the contribution of the under-occupation measure. the nuclear power industry to the Scottish economy. [142160] Dr Whiteford: The Minister knows as well as I do that thousands of people in low-income households in Scotland The Secretary of State for Scotland (Michael Moore): who are going to lose out because of the bedroom tax There is currently just over 2 GW of installed and have no realistic prospect of moving to a smaller house. operational nuclear capacity in Scotland, split between According to that impact assessment, claimants in Scotland Torness and Hunterston B. In 2011, 33% of electricity will be disproportionately hit because of the mismatch generated in Scotland came from these two nuclear between the available housing stock and the needs of power stations. tenants, so will the right hon. Gentleman take this Alun Cairns: Is the Secretary of State aware that opportunity to distance himself from the shameful attempt Wylfa and Anglesey are about to benefit from a massive of this Government to stigmatise and penalise people investment in a new nuclear power station? Does he who live in council houses and need help with their share my disappointment in the attitude shown by the rent? Scottish Government, who reject any new nuclear investment? David Mundell: What is shameful is the way that the Scottish National party plays party politics with vulnerable Michael Moore: Clearly, there is a significant contribution people, pretending that there can be no welfare changes, to our current energy mix from nuclear. My hon. Friend yet putting forward nothing in their place and not will be aware that planning on these matters is devolved indicating how welfare would be paid for in an independent to Scotland. It is a matter, rightly, for the Scottish Scotland. Parliament to determine. For my part, I am delighted that we are seeing an increase in the proportion of 12. [142171] Graeme Morrice (Livingston) (Lab): The renewables in our energy mix as part of a sustainable, bedroom tax and other changes to housing benefit affordable energy supply in the UK. mean that millions of pounds will be removed from the Scottish economy and hundreds of jobs will be lost Fiona O’Donnell (East Lothian) (Lab): EDF Group’s across the country, according to the Fraser of Allander nuclear power stations, including Torness in my Institute. Can the Minister tell the House what constituency, produced their highest output for seven discussions he has had with the Chancellor about how years in 2012. Does the Secretary of State agree that to mitigate these losses to the Scottish economy? there is a continuing long-term role for nuclear in keeping the lights on in Scotland? David Mundell: The hon. Gentleman and his colleagues fail ever to mention the discretionary housing payments Michael Moore: I do not think that anybody can fund, which will support people in difficult situations. ignore the significant contribution that nuclear makes. He and his colleagues should be urging councils in Like the hon. Lady, I have many constituents who are Scotland to make use of that money. Scotland will get a employed at Torness. Nuclear power stations play an very good share of the £155 million being provided. important role in our local economies, but I want to see a sustainable mix across the energy supplies and generation Mr Brian H. Donohoe (Central Ayrshire) (Lab): Does sector, and with renewables and others in the mix, that the Minister not recognise the fact that there are people is a good thing too. crying as a result of being given notices right now that 841 Oral Answers13 FEBRUARY 2013 Oral Answers 842 tell them that they will have to get out of their house, or David Mundell: What this Government are doing is lose housing benefit as a result, come 1 April? That is engaging with the Scottish Government in a discussion, the reality of the situation. Can the Minister not waken and at the moment we are waiting to hear from them. up to that fact? Sir Alan Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed) (LD): Does my David Mundell: I am surprised that the hon. Gentleman right hon. Friend recognise the importance to transport and others are not working with their local councils and links of dualling the A1, and will he continue to press housing associations to draw attention to the availability the case with Scottish Ministers and colleagues in the of the discretionary payments funds and the fact that UK Government? there will be an opportunity to support the most vulnerable. Mr William Bain (Glasgow North East) (Lab): As David Mundell: I welcome the Chancellor’s well as the bedroom tax, the Government are preparing announcement that the A1 will become a motorway to to tighten further the worst squeeze on ordinary people’s Newcastle. He made it clear, I think in response to my living standards in decades by cutting most benefits and right hon. Friend, that the Department for Transport tax credits by 4% in real terms over the next three years would look at the case for dualling the A1 to the in plans that hurt the poorest 40% in Scotland three and Scottish border. a half times harder than the wealthiest. Does the Minister not accept that, with 800,000 working-age couples and Mr Russell Brown (Dumfries and Galloway) (Lab): single people in Scotland losing up to £5 a week, those As chair of the all-party west coast main line group, I cuts are not just socially brutal, but disastrous for the wrote to a Scottish Government Minister to ask what Scottish economy? they were prepared to do with regard to investment for the HS2 route starting from the north. Is it not irresponsible David Mundell: What I accept is that the Labour that the Scottish Government will not answer that party put this country into the financial circumstances question on HS2, even though two city councils— we found after the 2010 election. It says it wanted to Edinburgh and Glasgow—will discuss it? reform welfare. It is quite happy to criticise individual measures, but it comes up with no proposals at all on David Mundell: I am disappointed that the hon. how to fund them and puts forward no alternative Gentleman, particularly in his capacity as chair of the proposals. all-party west coast main line group, has not had a response from the Scottish Government. As I indicated Transport Links in my earlier answer, the UK Government are waiting for a response from the Scottish Government. We have 3. Fiona Bruce (Congleton) (Con): What steps he is made it absolutely clear that we want to work with them taking to improve transport links between Scotland to ensure that the people of Scotland and the United and England. [142162] Kingdom benefit from HS2. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham) (Con): (David Mundell): I welcome the recent announcement I agree with earlier questioners and the Minister that by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for HS2, if it is to go ahead, will be exceedingly important Transport on the planned extension of HS2 to Manchester to both the north of England and transport links between and Leeds. Journey times between Scotland and London Scotland and England. Can I therefore have his assurance will be significantly reduced as a result. that he and his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will argue formidably for that in Cabinet and encourage Fiona Bruce: Does the Minister agree that there is a the Government to start HS2, if it goes ahead, in the strange irony in the fact that HS2 will bring our two north? nations closer together yet the Scottish Government are intent on driving a wedge between them and pushing David Mundell: I appreciate my right hon. Friend’s them further apart? question. As always, she has taken a keen interest in Scotland, but she knows as well as I do that the David Mundell: My hon.