Wicks welcomed back as energy minister
July 10th 2007

The MEUC has welcomed Malcolm Wicks back to the position of energy minister but questions are still being raised over the Government's commitment to energy issues.

As part of Brown's Government reshuffle, Wicks replaces Lord Truscott in the position just eight months after leaving it to become minister for science and innovation

"We sincerely welcome Wicks back to the position of energy minister," comments Eddie Profitt chairman of the gas group for the Major Energy Users Council (MEUC), "he has already proved he can get to grips with the job quickly and from his past performance he really stands out as a shining light among energy ministers."

Others however have raised concern over the rapid succession of energy ministers in this Government: "We applaud Malcolm Wicks appointment, but having ten energy ministers in ten years does not place energy as a priority and we need a sustained peiord of Government personnel and policy stability" comments executive director of the Energy Services and Technology Association (ESTA) Alan Aldridge.

Wicks will head up the position as part of DBERR - the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform - the Government's renamed DTI. Wicks is also reported to be responsible for the environment, security of energy supply, fuel poverty and nuclear security.

This lays to rest fears that energy may be moved over to DEFRA as part of Brown's shake up. "If this had happened there was a real risk that the environment would swamp other issues surrounding energy such as security of supply. While the environment is an important issue, it must not dominate energy policy," adds the MEUC's Proffitt.

ESTA's Alan Aldridge expresses hope that DBERR may bring energy supply and demand issue together in a way the DTI never did. "It's time for a new rationale," comments Alan, "in an ideal world there would be a department for energy and climate change bringing together supply and demand side in equal measures - if we are to move forward with energy, Government can no longer treat these issues in isolation."

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