DECC

One of the most important changes made to the structure of Government in Gordon Brown's recent reshuffle was the establishment of the Department of Energy and Climate Change. It was created out of BERR (Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform) - which had its Energy Group and DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) - where the Climate Change Group was established.

The new Secretary of State is Ed Miliband (brother of the Foreign Secretary) - http://www.decc.gov.uk/about-decc/who-are-we/ministers/miliband/biography.htm. He is supported by two Ministers of State - Mike O'Brien MP http://www.decc.gov.uk/about-decc/who-are-we/ministers/obrien/biography.htm and Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (who also has responsibilities within the remaining parts of DEFRA) http://www.decc.gov.uk/about-decc/who-are-we/ministers/hunt/biography.htm. Joan Ruddock is the fourth Minister in the new department, being the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State. http://www.decc.gov.uk/about-decc/who-are-we/ministers/ruddock/biography.htm

The Department's new website is still in the early stages of development, but can be accessed at

http://www.decc.gov.uk/

Pressing Matters of Concern

Energy and the Environment are topics which will receive much attention in the House of Lords this week. Today there will be two related questions -

Lord Harrison will ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that United Kingdom investment in science is sufficient to meet the key economic and environmental challenges facing the United Kingdom.

Lord Renton of Mount Harry will ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to Electricite de France’s proposed takeover of British Energy to become the principal provider of nuclear energy in the United Kingdom.

On Wednesday Lord Ezra will ask Her Majesty’s Government what are their forecasts for the security and prices of energy supplies during the coming winter.

The main legislative business of the day will be the Report Stage of the Energy Bill. Further details of this bill can be found at http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2007-08/energy.html. On Thursday the Committee Stage of the Planning Bill is expected to conclude. The concerns of Friends of the Earth about this bill can be read at http://community.foe.co.uk/campaigns/rights/planningbill.html whilst the detail can be viewed at http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2007-08/planning.html. The House of Commons Library Research Papers can be accessed under "Related Information".