Thank you for writing to me in support of Alan Simpson MP’s new clause to the Energy Bill, which sought to introduce an Emissions Performance Standard (EPS) on coal power stations.

You were one of many constituents to contact me in support of this new clause. I agreed with you, and voted against the Government, in favour of an EPS. Sadly, it was defeated by a very slim margin.

Nonetheless, it is important to be clear that the Government is taking action to tackle emissions from coal power stations. Our disagreement is over the best way to achieve this, and I enclose a copy of the letter I have received from the Department of Energy and Climate Change setting out their arguments.

The Energy Bill sets out Britain’s programme for using carbon capture and storage to reduce emissions from power stations in the future. Under the measures in the Bill, energy companies will be levied to fund four demonstration projects for carbon capture. This is relatively young technology, and the Government is keen to attract investment into this sector through these demonstration projects. Mr Simpson’s new clause sought to impose a regulatory regime immediately, which the Government, along with other organisations such as the TUC, argued would put investment in this field in jeopardy.

As we go forward, it worth noting that the Government already have powers to impose an Emissions Performance Standard, should this be required. The pressure brought to bear by your campaigning has also meant that progress towards decarbonising the energy sector will now be regularly reviewed by Parliament.

I am disappointed we were not able to impose this standard now, but far from despairing about this country’s future low-carbon energy supply. We have a Government committed to achieving decarbonised power, a Secretary of State determined to pursue this as a priority, and in the Energy Bill, a strong set of measures to achieve this. I am particularly proud that the Government has not shied away from taking these important steps, despite difficult overall economic conditions.

I appreciate that you may well have further questions of issues you would like to raise, arising from the Department’s letter. I will, of course, be happy to take these up on your behalf.