Department of Energy and Climate Change
55 Whitehall, London | |
Department overview | |
---|---|
Formed | 2008 |
Jurisdiction | United Kingdom |
Headquarters | 55 Whitehall, London |
Annual budget | £1.5 billion (current) & £1.5 billion (capital) in 2011–12 [1] |
Department executive | |
Child Department | |
Website | www |
The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) is a British government department created on 3 October 2008 by then-Prime Minister Gordon Brown to take over some of the functions related to energy of the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and those relating to climate change of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. It is led by the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, a position held by Amber Rudd MP since 11 May 2015.[2]
The Department released a major White Paper in July 2009 setting out its purpose and plans.[3] The majority of DECC's spending is on managing the UK's historic nuclear sites, in 2012/13 this being 69% of its budget spent through the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, and this is expected to increase when the last of the UK's Magnox reactors are shut down and no longer produce an income.[4]
Ministers
The DECC Ministers are as follows:[5]
Minister | Rank | Portfolio |
---|---|---|
Amber Rudd MP | Secretary of State | The Secretary of State has overall responsibility for the business of the Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) and its policies, this includes: Overall strategy on energy, consumer and climate change policy, International Climate Change negotiations, Energy bills and the Competition and Markets Authority investigation, Key decisions on major programmes and new policy in DECC |
The Rt Hon. Andrea Leadsom MP | Minister of State for Energy | Electricity and gas markets, New energy infrastructure, Energy security, Oil and Gas policy, including shale gas, The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and Geological Disposal Facility, New nuclear, Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and renewables, Nuclear safety and regulation, International energy |
Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth | Parliamentary Under Secretary of State | Heat, including Renewable Heat Incentive, Smart meters, Energy efficiency and fuel poverty, Climate science and innovation, Planning, Transparency, Support to the Secretary of State on international climate change |
Management
- Permanent Secretary (7 January 2013 -) Stephen Lovegrove.[6]
- Acting Permanent Secretary (1 November 2012 – January 2013) Phil Wynn Owen.[7]
- Chief Scientific Advisor (October 2014 -) John Loughhead; (October 2009 – 31 July 2014) David J. C. MacKay.[8]
Department of Energy and Climate Change (Abolition) Bill 2014–15
This private member's bill was proposed in Parliament, sponsored by Conservative MP Peter Bone, to abolish the Department of Energy and Climate Change and absorb its portfolio into the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. In the House of Commons, it was scheduled for a second reading on 6 March 2015. However, as a private members bill, it was unlikely to be passed without government support, which in the event it failed to get. Bone had attempted to propose the bill earlier in 2014, but had withdrawn it.[9]
Department of Energy and Climate Change (Abolition) Bill 2015–16
Mr Bone reintroduced his Bill on the 29th June 2015, and it is due to have its second reading on 30th October 2015.[10]
Devolution
The devolution of energy policy varies around the UK; most aspects in Great Britain are decided at Westminster. Key reserved and excepted energy matters (i.e. not devolved) are as follows:
Scotland [11]
Northern Ireland
Nuclear energy is excepted.[12]
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment is responsible for general energy policy.[13]
Wales
Under the Welsh devolution settlement, specific policy areas are transferred to the National Assembly for Wales rather than reserved to Westminster.
See also
- Climate change in the United Kingdom
- Energy policy of the United Kingdom
- Energy use and conservation in the United Kingdom
References
- ^ Budget 2011 (PDF). London: HM Treasury. 2011. p. 48. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
- ^ "Green groups praise UK's new Energy and Climate Change Secretary". 247 Home Rescue Limited. 11 May 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
- ^ See "The UK Low Carbon Transition Plan", The Stationery Office, 2009-07-15. Retrieved on 4 August 2009.
- ^ "DECC Annual Report and Accounts". Energy and Climate Change Committee. House of Commons. 23 January 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
- ^ "Our ministers". GOV.UK. Department of Energy and Climate Change. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
- ^ Department of Energy & Climate Change Press Notice, 7 January 2013
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2] Archived 2014-12-07 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Abolition bill at Parliament.uk
- ^ [3]
- ^ Scotland Act 1998, Schedule 5, Part II
- ^ Northern Ireland Act 1998, Schedule 3
- ^ DETI Energy website
External links
- -Department of Energy and Climate Change
- UK Government – low carbon news