Energy Minister Andrea Leadsom has fuelled speculation the department for energy and climate change (Decc) could be scrapped in Theresa May’s Cabinet reshuffle.
Labour’s David Hanson put the question to her in the Commons this morning.
He asked: “Will you confirm whether your department is to be abolished and if so who is going to take forward the work in progress on smart meters?”
Mrs Leadsom did not deny there were plans to get rid of her department.
She replied: “You will have to wait and see.
“But what I can tell you is the commitment to our energy trilemma, to smart meters, to all of our policies will remain as strong as ever.”
She took the lead in Decc questions after former energy secretary Amber Rudd was promoted to home secretary last night.
The post of energy secretary is currently vacant.
Over the past year, the Tory Government has repeatedly faced accusations of being anti-green following cuts to renewables subsidies and the last minute axing of the carbon capture and storage project.
A move to get rid of Decc altogether – and possibly merge it with business – would likely prompt further criticism.
