Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that his decision must be welcomed throughout the House, particularly in view of the Present Energy Supply Crisis?

Such work, and the past record of reliability of supply, has contributed to the PIU's conclusion that there are no grounds on which to fear a Crisis in the Energy Supply in the UK once we become net importers of gas - which will probably happen by 2005.

My Lords, the noble Lord will recognise that not just gas storage created the Energy Supply Crisis.

Let us assume that, a short time ahead, we are faced with an Energy Supply Crisis.

Their argument was that a cap delivered through the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, the level of which is of course decided with the involvement of all EU members, would result in a credible and effective framework for the reduction of CO2 emissions, but that a cap on individual UK power stations, set entirely at the discretion of the Secretary of State, would lead to a Crisis in Our Energy Supply.

Two years ago, the International Energy Agency issued a report that said that, by 2013, the world would face an Energy Supply Crisis.

We face a potential Crisis in Energy Supply.

Unless we reverse the abandonment of the cleaner renewable energy incentives for the failing Hinkley C nuclear power programme, and the Government's rash dash for gas - fracking - this country will face an Energy Supply Crisis.