Sustainability Committee

Minutes (SC(3)-21-08)

Date: 23 October 2008
Time: 9:00 - 11:15
Venue: Committee Room 1, Senedd

Assembly Members in Attendance

Mick Bates (Chair), Montgomeryshire

Lorraine Barrett, Cardiff South and Penarth

Alun Davies, Mid and West Wales

Lesley Griffiths, Wrexham

Darren Millar, Clwyd West

Rhodri Glyn Thomas, Carmarthen East and Dinefwr

Leanne Wood, South Wales Central

Committee Service

Virginia Hawkins, Clerk

Meriel Singleton, Deputy Clerk

Others in attendance
William Baker, Consumer Focus Wales

Lindsey Kearton, Consumer Focus Wales

Zoe Keeton, RWE NPower

Richard Westoby, Scottish and Southern

Philip Arend, British Gas

Graham Kirby, E.ON

Ann Loughrey, Scottish Power

Valentine Mulholland, EDF

Item 1: Introduction, Apologies and Substitutions

1.1 The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.  Apologies were received from Brynle Williams and Karen Sinclair.

Item 2 : Consideration of Sustainability Committee’s Draft Report on Budgetary Proposals
SC(3)-21-08 (p1)

2.1 The Chair introduced the Sustainability Committee’s draft budget report.

2.2 The Committee agreed the report.

Item 3: Consideration of Rural Development Sub-Committee’s Draft Report on Budgetary Proposals
SC(3)-21-08 (p2)

3.1 The Rural Development Sub-chair introduced the Rural Development Sub-Committee’s draft budget report.

3.2 The Committee agreed to amend the report to include concerns about the impact of restructuring funding for the Organic Farming scheme on Tir Gofal and Tir Cynnal.  Subject to this amendment the Committee agreed the report.

Item 4: Fuel Poverty Evidence Session
SC(3)-21-08 (p3)

4.1 The Chair welcomed William Baker and Lindsey Kearton from Consumer Focus Wales to the meeting and invited them to make some opening remarks on fuel poverty. Members questioned the witnesses.

Item 5: Fuel Poverty Evidence Session
SC(3)-21-08 (p4) (p5) (p6) (p7) (p8) (p9)

5.1 The Chair welcomed Zoe Keeton, RWE NPower; Richard Westoby, Scottish and Southern; Philip Arend, British Gas; Graham Kirby, E.ON; Ann Loughrey, Scottish Power; and Valentine Mulholland, EDF to the meeting and invited them to make some opening remarks on fuel poverty. Members questioned the witnesses.

5.2 Ann Loughrey agreed to provide further written evidence on the method used by Scottish Power to set their pricing and a list of the not-for-profit organisations that Scottish Power works with via the Energy People Trust.

5.3 Philip Arend agreed to provide clarification on why the British Gas fuel poverty measures in Wales listed in their paper included a grant for Bristol Debt Advice Centre.

5.4 All the companies agreed to provide information on how much they spend on fuel poverty in Wales, and further details on their pricing structures.