Opposition Day — Feed-in Tariff — Subsidies for Renewable or Low Carbon Electricity Generation — 23 Nov 2011 at 18:59

The majority of MPs voted in favour of proposed cuts to subsidies (feed-in-tariffs) for electricity produced from renewable or low-carbon techniques.

The text of the approved motion stated:

• notes that the previous administration only introduced a feed-in tariffs scheme following pressure from Liberal Democrat and Conservative hon. Members;
• further notes that during the period up to October 2011 over 120,000 UK solar installations had been completed;
• further notes that this is three times the deployment expected by the previous administration;
• recognises that no commercial-scale solar PV schemes were expected by the previous administration;
• further notes that the cost of PV panels has fallen by at least 30 per cent. since the current tariff was introduced and that the previous administration set the tariff levels for solar PV to deliver a five per cent. index-linked return;
• regrets that the previous administration did not draw on the experiences of Germany in setting a sustainable and predictable digression of tariffs;
• further notes that failing to act could add £26 to the domestic electricity bill of all consumers in 2020 including the 5.5 million people left in fuel poverty by the previous administration;
• further regrets that the previous administration did not introduce a community tariff;
• believes that the Government is right to bring the tariff levels back in line with the rates of return envisaged;
• acknowledges that it is right to link support under feed-in tariffs to energy efficiency and the Green Deal ensuring the most cost-effective carbon abatement measures are introduced first;
• supports a consultation on the introduction of a community tariff; and
• further believes that the Government is putting feed-in tariffs on a long-term, fair and sustainable footing

Debate in Parliament | Source |