14:30 The Minister for Energy, Clean Growth and Climate Change (Greg Hands)

The LCCC administers the contracts for difference scheme on behalf of the Government, under the Energy Act 2013. Under the same Act, it is anticipated that the LCCC will also administer the dispatchable power agreement and support the development of a new scheme for bioenergy with carbon capture and storage within the next three years. The ESC, the other company covered by the draft SI, administers the capacity market scheme. The schemes will incentivise the significant investment required in our electricity infrastructure, keep costs affordable for consumers and help to deliver our net zero strategy, while keeping our energy supply secure.

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14:52 Greg Hands

The budget increase reflects the increase in the number of CfDs. Over this budget period, there has been a 400% increase as a result of the success of the Government’s renewables policy and of more renewable energy providers wanting to take part. That will mean a necessary increase in the number of people needed to go through all the bids in the CfD process. There are also more capacity market providers and the development of new technologies such as power CCUS. I also remind the hon. Gentleman that during the consultation, no one was against this proposal. I do not think that we received a response from him—

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