Bishop Hill Yeo tells Davey that DECC misled Parliament
Jun 7, 2013 Climate: Parliament Tim Yeo has finally written to Ed Davey about Lord Deben's conflicts of interest.
We appreciate your words of reassurance about the measures put in place to guard against conflicts of interest or perceptions of them, by Lord Deben and all the members of the Committee on Climate Change. These are welcome. However, the lack of clarity on this specific point has caused ongoing media criticism and speculation. We can only conclude therefore, that the measures put in place, and the reassurances you have given, are not sufficient to effectively address the perception of conflict of interest in the public domain.
This bit is completely damning:
Your most recent letter implies that the role of Veolia in energy infrastructure work was clearly known by DECC and Cabinet Office officials at the time of Lord Deben ' s appointment and "it was felt that the potential for any real conflict was remote as the company was mainly involved in infrastructure connection projects.
The fact remains however, that it was not made clear to the Committee at the time of its pre-appointment hearing, despite there being ample opportunity (extracts of evidence again attached) , the extent of Veolia's energy infrastructure role, and the potential for the company to make considerable profits in respect of that work.
Unfortunately, there is little indication that they intend to do anything about it. I guess we have to wait to see whether Davey is going to try to kick the issue into the long grass or whether he will try to do the right thing.
Reader Comments (39)
Well, Tim would know what of he speaks.
The pdf is even better than the Bish's extract from it
First, Yeo can barely be bothered to lift a pen to sign it...just a dismissive squiggle.
And secondly the dry, but damning, ccs:
'Lord Deben, Chair, Committee on Climate Change
Sue Gray, Head of Propriety and Ethics, Cabinet Office'
Ouch! That'll get them where it hurts....
And this is from Yeo?....
Calling Rose and Dellingpole.
I think this is an encouraging example of what the Marxist theoretician Antonio Gramsci termed 'a fracture in the ruling bloc' - a precondition for revolution. Or possibly not.
Mr. Tim Yeo just protects himself. Some tough questions have been asked probably. So now he points toward Lord Deben. Poor CCC has no idea whatsoever what goes on in renewables' business in UK.
Someone said elsewhere that Yeo is playing both ends against the middle.
He hopes (against hope) that the gravy train can continue, but is putting a few cards on the table that he can point to should it all fall apart. ‘Look’, he can say, ‘I did my bit against big Green.’
In the cess pit, the big lumps float to the top.
With Lord Deben already in place I won't hold my breath on him being given the heave-ho. I can only wonder how much or little research into Lord Deben's interests the committee did themselves rather than simply swallow everything they were told, though I expect they approach the procedure as letting someone drop themselves in it rather than be pro-active about checking the suitability of an appointment..
Pot, kettle, black?
What a piece of work
apply as necessary
" I guess we have to wait to see whether Davey is going to try to kick the issue into the long grass or whether he will try to do the right thing."
Is there any official in the UK who will not do the left thing?
I see a Panorama documentary in the making or perhaps they will wait for the cover up. Bye Tim.
I vaguely remember that when asked, Deben arm waved (a lot) and offered up the fact that all Veolia might - possibly, maybe, if at all - be involved in was the supply of one or two smart meters.
Nothing, really, it's all pretty much based a lockup round the back of the Fulham Road.
Hang on though.
Can this be the same Veolia that - according to Wikepedia - is a transnational French company (TNC) with activities in four main service and utility areas traditionally managed by public authorities - water supply and water management, waste management, energy and transport services. In 2011, Veolia employed 331,226 employees in 77 countries. Its revenue in that year was recorded at €29.6 billion.
Its activities in the UK alone are described here:
http://www.veolia.co.uk/
Nah, can't be, shome confusion, shurely.
Move along, nothing to see here, just one or two smart meters, a mere bagatelle ...
You've got to give Yeo top marks for bare faced nerve
Looks like the Ignoble Lord has been selected to be first out of the Troika. Yeo is now a shoo-in for thw Most Blatant Hypocrisy award, 2013
The investigation of possible conflict of interest of Lord Deben having renewables industry connections is coming from Tim Yeo. Surely, he also has proven industry connections? Does Ed Davey know this?
"Tory MP Tim Yeo named president of Renewable Energy Association"
http://www.clickgreen.org.uk/green-career/green-appointments/123383-tory-mp-tim-yeo-named-president-of-renewable-energy-association.html
I see a Panorama documentary in the making or perhaps they will wait for the cover up. Bye Tim.
Jun 7, 2013 at 5:16 PM | Martyn
Do you honestly think the BBC would do that ?
Doesn't "Trougher" Tim know that people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones?
Priceless, bloody priceless, amazing how trougher Tim can see the flaws in everyone else's arguments and position but never looks in the mirror at himself. One might indeed claim, that Tim has deemed that the battlefield strategy is going ill and against him and in hedging his options - he's 'protecting the rear' while beating a steady retreat.
I really am looking forwards to Gummer's reply, I hope he has had his guns primed and targeted and is ready to unleash a massive barrage of 'shells'.
Is it popcorn time?
I'd quote 'motes and beams' but it would be lost on Yeo. Gummer would know, but since it applies equally to him, he'll probably just click his rosary with one hand while counting ill-gotten gains with the other.
I don't imagine Gummer will take this lying down, so there is every possibility that they will scupper each other. Which would be nice.
"Is it popcorn time?"
I do hope so. It's time we had some schadenfreude to go with it.
Turf war - "MY * conflict of interests is bigger than YOUR * conflict of interests!"
* Replace with family member where appropriate - e.g. Deben, Cameron, etc. trans nauseam.
How you treat people on the way up is how you can be expected to be treated on the way down.
The empire crumbles, expect more.
'I see a Panorama documentary in the making'
I see a Josh cartoon in the making.
Talking about misleading Parliament I note with interest the complete lack of comments on the Met office web site in respect of their response to Doug Keenan. I posted 2 comments myself which have been in moderation for over a week. Is this censorship? looks like it. Bish if you happen to read this can you bend the ear of Richard Betts who we all know likes to play by the rules. Ta
and speaking of stuff that never happened - Climategate 3 - and does anyone remember Powerline which was supposed to be some sort of concerted response from British industry to the nonsense of AGW.
Sorry this is OT so feel free to strike
I see a Panorama documentary in the making or perhaps they will wait for the cover up. Bye Tim.
Jun 7, 2013 at 5:16 PM | Martyn
Do you honestly think the BBC would do that ?
Jun 7, 2013 at 7:20 PM | Unregistered Commenter Neil
Surely the BBC would be in the pay of sleazy Big Gov if they didn't.
Gummer should read the company's UK brochure.
A quick scan of the link posted by JerryM picked up: Biogas production; district heating with Biomass; CHP projects; 90 renewable energy projects; yadda; yadda.
Much of that stuff is heavily influenced by government policy - subsidies, feed-in tariffs, renewable obligations, etc - surely he has a major conflict of interest?
cut and paste of an e-mail I sent to my MP, back in Feb. Mr Brady is Chairman of the 1922 Committee.
**************************************************************************************************
Dear Mr Brady,
I am constituent of yours in Altrincham.
I have been following the issue of the proposed Energy Bill, which will likely set into permanent decline the economic future of the UK, following years of neglect of our energy infrastructure.
We are now being warned of impending electricity shortages due to EU rules forcing the closure of coal-fired power stations, which currently form the backbone of the electricity supply system. As of today (Thursday, 28 Feb, 10:10am) coal fired stations deliver 20.8GW out of a total UK demand of 48.4GW. (http://www.gridwatch.templar.co.uk/)
Nothing is being done to replace these base-load generators and other ageing plant that will close in the next few years. Wind and solar power will only make the situation worse - increasing total UK energy costs.
On top of all that, Tim Yeo MP has proposed amendments to the Energy Bill that will exacerbate the problem and add even further to electricity costs.
Mr Yeo proposes, with no scientific basis to back his proposition that the “Climate Change Committee” (chair Lord Deben – John Gummer as was) should, in future, solely, determine the carbon cost allowed for future UK electricity generation.
Mr Yeo’s proposed amendments (especially no 14, here: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/2012-2013/0100/amend/pbc1000702a.pdf) are an attempt, with no basis of fact or analysis by him, to bounce the UK into a ‘de-industrialisation’ policy regarding future electricity generation policy. The Climate Change Committee is unelected, and exists, by definition to follow its own agenda.
These proposed amendments will result in further economic damage and increased fuel poverty. See http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2283558/How-MPs-pay-subsidised-eco-firms-set-insane-new-carbon-targets-send-heating-bills-sky-rocketing.html. The UK will be poorer, forever, if these amendments make it into law.
I urge you, as my MP, to oppose Mr Yeo’s amendments and do all you can to ensure that we have a sensible energy policy.
Mr Yeo and Lord Deben are, demonstrably, profiting personally from ‘Green’ legislation. It has to be remembered that it is the copious supply of affordable energy that is the bedrock of a modern competitive economy.
Our country deserves better than the unscientific nonsense put forward by Mr Yeo.
Yours etc.,
Adrian XXXXXXXX
[ADDRESS}
**********************************************************************************************************
Cut and paste of his reply to me:
GRAHAM BRADY MP
Member for Altrincham & Sale West Constituency
Tel. 0207 219 1260
Our ref: 2064/3
Dear Mr XXXXXXXX
Thank you for your email. I have written to Ed Davey, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, asking him for his view on the proposed amendment. Obviously cleaner electricity production is desirable but must be balanced against the increasing danger of energy shortages in the United Kingdom within a few years and the very serious problem of increasing costs for domestic consumers and for businesses. Before supporting a statutory target I would want to be reassured on both these counts.
Many thanks for taking the trouble to write.
Best wishes,
Graham Brady MP
Just for fun I looked at the Register of Interests for Lord Donahue.
4: Shareholdings (b)
National Grid plc
Scottish & Southern Energy plc
Nichols plc (soft drinks)
Canadian Western Bank NPV
British American Tobacco plc
Premier Oil plc
http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/lords/lord-donoughue/2709
Would his shareholding in two electricity companies and an oil company constitute a conflict of interest in the context of his recent questions attacking the Met Office's climate change science?
@Entropic Man 12:48AM
You need to go and look up the meaning of "conflict of interest" and then think about the two parties respective positions.
Entropic Man,
We both know that oil companies and electricity companies will continue to thrive whatever the Met-Office models say. Or whatever any MP thinks, says, or does. We need their products.
Right now, I cannot say the same for the Met-Office.
<I>Would his shareholding in two electricity companies and an oil company constitute a conflict of interest in the context of his recent questions attacking the Met Office's climate change science?</I>
The National Grid is not "an electricity company".
SSE (Scottish and Southern) is big on renewables. According to its report, UK's biggest:
http://www.sse.com/uploadedFiles/Content/14_Investors/Reports_and_results/2009AnnualReportAndAccounts.pdf
Premier Oil have residual interests in the UK, albeit profitable ones, but their future is outside.
In terms of conflict of interest for Donahue, on balance challenging the Green agenda will be against it, given that SSE is a big renewables player and nothing he does really aids Premier. So the answer to your question is "no".
It's possible that getting rid of wind will aid the National Grid a bit, but the Greens deny this.
EM I put you down as one of the more intelligent trolls, which I'll admit isn't saying much, but which influential committee does Lord Donoughue chair that gives rise to this conflict of interest?
Trougher Yeo is, of course, right, Deben has a conflict of interest which everyone and his/her dog knew about when he, Deben, was made chairman of the CCC, seemingly with the exception of the entire Climate Change and Science Committee.
I presume that Yeo wants Deben's job and the only way he can see to get it is by sticking a spike up Deben's arse. A renewable and sustainable carbon free spike of course.
Ivor Ward
Seems like the beginnings of another Mr and ex-Mrs Huhne take-no-prisoners war! What part would be played by the egregious Caroline Lucas, I wonder?
I do hope this is the start of some very messy infighting as the troughers try to shove each other away from the trough. Never could stand that weasel Gummer.
Haven't checked yet - but hope Dellers is all over this.....
Apparantly Yeo hitting front page of Times tommorrow.
https://twitter.com/search?q=%23tomorrowspaperstoday&src=hash
This is a take down. Global warming is being edged out.
MP Tim Yeo facing committee coaching claim
Conservative MP Tim Yeo, who chairs the Commons Energy and Climate Change Committee, is alleged to have used his position to help a private company influence Parliament.
Sunday Times investigators secretly filmed the former environment minister.
The paper alleges he coached the boss of a firm, owned by a company that was paying Mr Yeo, before the businessman gave evidence to his committee.
Mr Yeo denies this, and says he intends to contest all the allegations.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-22830707