Heating our homes and securing the domestic supply chain

The Energy Security and Net Zero Committee held two sessions on the 28th of February 2024, as it continues its look at how to boost the energy efficiency of homes and kicks off the oral evidence stage of its securing the domestic supply chain inquiry.

The heating our homes session, in the morning, focussed on workforce issues and international experiences. MPs questioned training providers about the challenge of preparing workers for retrofitting homes before hearing about the situation in other European countries.

The Committee then returned in the afternoon to examine the potential for UK manufacturing to play a greater role in the supply chain for low-carbon energy projects and the Government support available.

The first panel considered the current situation in the UK and the risks faced by the sector. MPs then had an opportunity with the second panel to explore comparisons with other countries, whether the Government could do more to engage internationally and the support needed for the UK to compete for resources.

Increased flooding in the UK will reveal weaknesses in our housing

On the 20th of February 2024 Barry sat on a session of the EFRA Committee investigating the issue of flooding.

The Committee questioned Julie Foley, Director of the Environment Agency, Tracey Garrett, Chief Executive of the National Flood Forum, Martin Lines, Chief Executive of Nature Friendly Farming Network and Councillor Emily O’Brien, Deputy Chair of the People & Places Board, Local Government Association.

The role of energy storage and emerging technologies in acheiving net zero

On Wednesday the 24th of January, 2024, Barry say on an Energy Security and Net Zero Committee session for the inquiry into how the UK’s energy mix needs to change to deliver enough capacity while delivering against Net Zero targets continues with a session focused on energy storage and the role of emerging technologies.

The first half of the session explored the potential benefits of investment in energy storage and whether the Government needs to change its approach. MPs also examined the specific issues around hydrogen storage and the potential of tidal range.

The second part of the hearing examined the issues around tidal stream, wave energy, space-based solar power and geothermal energy. It looked at how the Government might support emerging energy technologies and the potential costs to the public.

The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill hosts in second day of interviews

Thursday the 18th of January 2024 marked the second day of evidence sessions for the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill.

Barry sits on this Committee and will be questioning a range of experts, stakehodlers and victims throughout the day.

The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill enters into committee stage

The 16th of January 2023 sees the first session of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill in its committee stage. Barry being on this committee questioned several panels. The first with Sebastian O'Kelly, CEO, Leasehold Knowledge Partnership and Liam Spender, Senior Associate, Velitor Law. The aim of these panels is to gather evidence for the impact of leasehold on verious different stakeholders.

The second featuring the three co-founders of the National Leasehold Campaign, namely Katie Kendrick, Jo Derbyshire and Cath Williams.

The next panel only consisted of Professor Nicholas Hopkins, Law Commissioner for property, family and trust law, Law Commission.

"The game's up" - Barry grills Thames Water bosses

Is it right that at a time when Thames Water is failing to provide “key environmental and performance targets” that it still pay out dividends to it’s shareholders, such as Kemble Water Holdings?

This is the question that Barry posed to Thames Water bosses on the 12th of December 2023. This panel featured Alastair Cochran, Interim Chief Executive Officer, Cathryn Ross, Interim Chief Executive Officer and Sir Adrian Montague, Chair.

If Kembell Water faces some financial difficulty, “it would be Thames Water and the bill payers that ended up paying for whatever trouble the holding company go itself into”, in exactly the same way that Macquarie (a former shareholder) did and exactly in the way that Sir Montague claimed was “ancient history” earlier this year.

This was then followed up by a session with two senior officials from water regulator Ofwat, these being David Black, Chief Executive and Iain Coucher, Chair.

Launching the EAC report into the Financial Sector and Net Zero

On the 5th of December 2023, Barry, alongside his EAC colleagues, launched the Enviornmental Audit Committee report into the Financial Sector and Net Zero.

This launch was held live from Dubai at COP28 and was done alongside MPs Philip Dunne and Claudia Webb.

You can watch the full launch below:

Building the future of UK trade policy

On the 21st of November 2023 Barry sat on an Environment Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee session for the UK trade policy: food and agriculture inquiry.

In this session Barry asked the panel of experts if, as other countries do, developing a “trade mandate” with Parliament for international trade negotiations would be valuable. Robert Sheasby, the Chief Executive at Agricultural Industries Confederation, described this suggestion as “a very sensible way to progress” in UK trade negotiation policy.

Alongside Mr Sheasby, this panel also featured Katie Doherty, CEO at International Meat Trade Association and Sean Ramsden, Director at Food and Drink Exporters Association.

Barry quizzes the Electricity System Operator, Ofgem and power operators

In its second evidence session examining how to make the electricity grid ready for Net Zero Britain, on the 15th of November 2023, the Environmental Audit Committee will be questioning industry leads about what challenges they may face.

This panel featured Akshay Kaul, Director General of Infrastructure, Ofgem, Eleanor Warburton, Director of Energy Systems Management and Security, Ofgem, Claire Dykta, Director of Markets, National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO) and Craig Dyke, Director of National Control, National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO).

What can the UK learn from other countries on how to best introduce Nuclear Power?

Keeping the power on: our future energy technology mix - this was the subject of this weeks Energy Security and Net Zero Select Committee session.

In it Barry questioned a panel of nuclear experts: Tom Greatrex (CEO, Nuclear Industry Association), Paul Spence (Director of Strategy and Corporate Affairs, EDF Energy), Ciara Fox (Senior Metallurgist, MoltexFlex) and Alastair Evans (Director of Corporate and Government Affairs, RollsRoyce SMR).

In this session Barry focussed on how the UK could efficiently introduce nuclear power and what role it would play in achieving Net Zero.

The public increasingly don't trust supermarkets - here is why

On the 14th of November 2023 Barry attended an Environment, Food and Rural Affair Select Committee session looking into how resilient is the UK’s food supply chain is.

This panel consisted of 3 experts Ms Sue Davies, Head of Consumer Rights and Food Policy at Which?, Professor Charlotte Hardman, Professor of Psychology of Eating Behaviour at the University of Liverpool and Dr Francesca Pontin, Research Data Scientist, Consumer Data Research Centre at the University of Leeds.

Barry asked this panel of experts why an avocado travelling from London is more expensive then one from Peru and questioned them on why the public’s trust in supermarkets is falling.

The government has no "credible plan" to acheive 38% of our climate targets

On the 8th of November 2023 Barry questioned Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Claire Coutinho in a Energy Security and Net Zero Committee session.

Barry raised the Cliamte Change Committee’s evidence that this government currently has no “credible” plan to acheive 38% of the country’s targets to acheive net zero.

How can we develop a flexible energy grid fit for the future?

On the 8th of November 2023 Barry sat on an Energy Security and Net Zero committee session looking into how best to develop a flexible energy grid fit for the future.

The panel featured Sarah Honan (Policy Manager for Demand Side Flexibility, Association for Decentralised Energy (ADE)), Jenny Russon (Research and Campaigns Officer, MCS Foundation) and James Johnston (CEO and Co-founder, Piclo).

This was followed by a different panel on the same topic, this time featuring Dr Mary Gillie (Founder and Director, Energy Local), Mark Apsey (Managing Director, Ameresco) and Dan Stone (Senior Planner for Net Zero, Centre for Sustainable Energy).

Has Ofgem done enough to enforce good customer practice?

On the 13th of September 2023 Barry questioned the chair of the Fuel Poverty Comittee, Caroline Flint. Barry questioned Flint on the best practice of energy companies and where they are falling short in their support for customers.

How many excess deaths were caused by this year's heatwaves?

What is the future of heatwaves in the UK, and how can we reduce emissions from cooling technologies such as air conditioners? This was the subject of the Enviornment Audit Committee’s session on the 18th of September 2023 which Barry was a part of.

This panel featured Professor Jason Lowe OBE, Head of Climate Services, Met Office Hadley Centre, Professor Lea Berrang Ford, Deputy Director and Head, Centre for Climate and Health Security, UK Health Security Agency and Dr Laurence Wainwright, Departmental Lecturer, The Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, University of Oxford.

How can we stop animal smuggling?

On the 17th of October 2023 Barry was a part of the Envirornment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) select committee’s third session of the Pet Welfare Inquiry. Topics include animal importation, border checks and identification of biosecurity risks.

The UK has a lowest tax take and the highest subsidy of oil and gas extraction in the world

On the 6th of September 2023 Barry attended a session of the Energy Secuirty and Net Zero Committee, in which two panels were questioned.

The first was a collection of citizens advice bodies on energy bills: Adam Scorer (Chief Executive, National Energy Action), Gillian Cooper (Head of Energy, Citizens Advice), Simon Francis (Coordinator, End Fuel Poverty Coalition, Roni Marsh (Money and Cost of Living Team Manager, South West London Law Centres).

After thanking them for their work, Barry questioned them on energy support for individuals in non-traditional living situations including such as boats or nomadic lifestyles.

The panel after this was comprised of leaders of energy companies, Chris O'Shea (Chief Executive, Centrica (British Gas)), Philippe Commaret (Managing Director, Customers, EDF), Simon Oscroft (Co-founder, So Energy) and Chris Norbury (Chief Executive E.ON).

Barry questioned them on waiting times for customer support and how they have (or have not) implemneted OfGem’s recommendations to improve service.

After Mr O’Shea warned about the risks of increasing taxes on north sea oil and gas, Barry corrected the record, pointing out that "the UK has a lowest tax take and the highest subsidy of oil and gas extraction in the world.

The Government "could do more" on arctic research, Minister admits

On the 4th of September 2023 Barry attended an Enviornmental Audit Committee (EAC)’s polar research sub-committee.

In this session Barry questioned Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation, George Freeman MP, on discrepency in facility costs between research centres in the Arctic and Antarctica and how much arctic research the USS David Attenborough (the ship that was nearly named Boaty McBoatface) is carrying out.

Freeman was “all ears” during Barry’s questioning, eagerly awaiting the recommendations of the Committee.

The Climate Change Committee is "dissapointed" in Government action on energy efficiency

On the 19th of July 2023 Barry questioned two members of the Climate Change Committee, Chris Stark, the Chief Executive and Baroness Brown of Cambridge DBE, Chair, Adaptation Sub-Committee.

On this panel Barry was faced with much agreement on his concerns over Government progress in achieving Net Zero. Barry raised issues of energy efficiency, retrofitting houses to be more energy efficient, heat pump installation and more.

Mr Stark of the Climate Change Committee agreed that Government Ministers had missed a “crucial window of opportunity” to improve energy effiiciency.

Soil health is costing us £1.2 Billion a year - why does the government have no plan?

On the 18th of July 2023 Barry grilled a Government Ministeron his plan (or lack thereof) to tackle the issue of soil health degredation, which is costing the UK economy £1.2bn a year.

The panel featured Mark Spencer MP, Minister for Food, Farming and Fisheries, Fiona James, Deputy Director for Policy Design, Farming and Countryside Programme, Defra and Sion McGeever, Deputy Director for Access, Landscapes, Peatland and Soil, Defra.