Second Special Report
1. The Business and Enterprise Committee published
its First Report of Session 2008-09 on 12 December 2008. The Government's
response was received on 17 February 2009 and is appended to this
Report.
2. Following the establishment of the new Energy
and Climate Change Committee, it would not be appropriate for
the Business and Enterprise Committee to comment in detail on
the Government's response to its final report on energy policy.
However, in publishing the response we wish to say how much the
Committee welcomes the tone and, largely, the content of the Government's
observations. While we may disagree about the adequacy of plans
to enable increased gas storage, or the transparency of the new
consumer complaint and representation arrangements, for example,
there are other commitments and observations with which we entirely
agree:
- We emphasise the importance
of ensuring that the energy-related National Policy Statements
are in place in the timeframe promised by the Government in this
Response.
- We are particularly heartened by the Government's
strong words on the future of direct selling. The industry can
now have no doubts about the need to maintain the highest standards
of probity in this area.
- The triple policy challenge of providing secure,
affordable and sustainable energy supplies in the UK remains one
of the most important and complex facing Government. There are
no easy answers to this challenge but we are generally encouraged
by the spirit of this statement of Government intent.
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