On 18th January 2016 Nigel Adams was in the House of Commons. I know this because it's all written down in Hansard (HERE Column 1164). He was debating the 2nd reading of the Energy Bill which became law on 25th May last year. It was about the new Oil & Gas Authority and various things including ending renewables obligations. I won't bore you with the details - even if I understood them, but there were a couple of interesting points made:
First of all an exchange between Adams and another MP, Sammy Wilson:
Sammy Wilson: "Our competitors, for example Germany, are building new coal stations. When it comes to retaining jobs in the United Kingdom, we have to be cognisant of that".
Nigel Adams: "I agree with the hon. Gentleman. It is tragic that we have sped up the demise of coal in this country".
And later in the same debate:
Peter Lilley (Col 1172): "Because we are committed to doing so much more than the average in Europe—indeed, than anybody else in Europe—all that does is to reduce the amount by which the other countries in Europe will have to reduce their emissions"
A month later on 21st February to encourage people to vote leave, Mr Adams released a statement on his website which was reprinted in The Selby Times: "EU rules have sped up the closure of Kellingley Colliery and several power stations across the country and EU directives continue to threaten jobs right here in the Selby and Ainsty constituency".
To note. He was told Germany was building coal fired power stations and agreed. He said WE have sped up the demise of coal. Peter Lilley told him WE have done more that any other European country to reduce emissions and yet he then tells his constituents it was EU rules that sped up the closure of Kellingley. What a fibber! And finally, as far as I can see not a single MP and certainly not our Nigel, raised the question of those EU rules.
