Energy Crisis

In a national newspaper today Trade and Industry Secretary John Hutton M.P states that energy companies do not rip off customers; and Britain’s ability to generate its own energy needs to be above climate change in the Government’s priorities. Mr Hutton says, “The era of cheap energy is over.”

Why are energy costs in Europe lower?

Peter Davis, Director-General of the British Plastics Federation commented, “the era of cheap energy finished in 2005 when the UK became a net importer of energy.”

“Our companies are enduring huge cost increases right now of up to 100% on gas and electricity.”

“I wrote to Mr Hutton in late July pointing out that UK gas prices are 16% higher than those in Continental Europe and UK electricity prices are about 38% higher than Germany on a year ahead basis. Why is there such a difference with Europe? Why doesn’t Mr Hutton address this?”

Appoint an Energy Minister to the Cabinet in the re-shuffle

Mr Davis said, “Since 2006 we’ve had promises from Government of action to address high prices and our looming security of supply problem, yet very little has happened.”

“It is rumoured there will be a Cabinet re-shuffle next week. We urge the Prime Minister to appoint an Energy Minister to the Cabinet to lead dynamic action.”

Meeting energy needs more important than climate change

Peter Davis said, “We agree with John Hutton and in my letter to him in late July I urged him to speed up planning permission and investment for modernised nuclear capacity and for a big increase in Energy from Waste capacity which creates local home grown energy from unrecyclable waste.”

End

For further information on this press release, please contact Philip Batten, British Plastics Federation, 6 Bath Place, Rivington Street, London, EC2A 3JE, tel 020 7457 5007, fax 020 7457 5045, email: [email protected]
Notes for editors
1)    British Plastics Federation (BPF) is the UK trade association for the plastics industry – representing the whole supply chain including polymer producers, distributors, additives suppliers, machinery manufacturers, processors and recyclers.
2)    The current Energy Minister, Malcolm Wicks, is a non-Cabinet Minister in Berr.