Department of Energy and Climate Change

This article is part of the Climate project of Spinwatch.

Background

The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) says it aims to create a “thriving, globally competitive, low carbon energy economy” in the UK. It is responsible for nuclear energy policy and describes nuclear as “low-carbon, affordable, dependable [and] safe”.

This article is part of the Nuclear Spin project of Spinwatch.

It runs the Office for Nuclear Development which “focuses on removing potential barriers to investment, and signals clearly to the industry the serious intent of the Government to push forward nuclear new build.”

History

DECC was created in 2008 and brought together much of the Climate Change Group, previously housed within the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), with the Energy Group from the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR).

Controversies

Spinning Fukushima nuclear meltdown

On 7 April 2011, the DECC's Office for Nuclear Development invited companies to attend a meeting at the lobby group Nuclear Industry Association (NIA)'s London headquarters as part of a public relations strategy to play down the Fukushima nuclear accident. The aim was 'to discuss a joint communications and engagement strategy aimed at ensuring we maintain confidence among the British public on the safety of nuclear power stations and nuclear new-build policy in light of recent events at the Fukushima nuclear power plant'.

People

Ministers in 2012-13

• Ed Davey is the Secretary of State. He replaced Chris Huhne in February 2012. Under the previous government the now Labour Ed Miliband held this position.
• Michael Fallon replaced John Hayes as Minister of State for Energy in March 2013, with responsibility for nuclear
• Greg Barker is Minister of State for Climate Change
• Baroness Verma is Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change

Previous ministers

• Jonathan Marland, was Parliamentary Under Secretary of State from 2010 to 2012. He was replaced by Baroness Verma
• Charles Hendry was Minister of State from 2010 to 2012

Special advisers

• Chris Nicholson - From March 2012
• Katie Waring -
• Paul Hodgson

Former special advisers

• Duncan Brack
• Joel Kenrick

Civil servants working on nuclear issues in 2012-13

• Mark Higson, Chief Executive, Office for Nuclear Development
• Hergen Haye, New Nuclear and Strategy
• Peter MacDonald, GDF and International
• Stephen De Souza, Waste & Safety Policy

Civil servants previously working on nuclear issues

• Nicola Baggley, Head Nuclear Strategy
• Derek Lacey, Head Nuclear Policy and Head Radioactive Waste & Preparedness
• Adam Dawson, Head New Nuclear
• Mel Draper, Head Non-Proliferation

Nuclear Development Forum

The following people from DECC attended the Nuclear Development Forum in May 2012:

• Ed Davey | Mark Higson | Tim Stone |Stephen De Souza | Peter McDonald | Giles Scott | Jeremy Allen | Hugo Robson | Kris Bradshaw

In November 2011 the attendees were:

• Chris Huhne | Charles Hendry | Mark Higson | Tim Stone | Hergen Haye |Stephen De Souza | Peter McDonald | Giles Scott | Jeremy Allen

Personnel under Labour until May 2010

• Minister of State - Mike O'Brien MP
• Minister of State - Lord Hunt of Kings Heath OBE (jointly with Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs); and Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State - Joan Ruddock MP

See also Civil Servants and their roles under Energy & Climate Change International in 2009

Affiliations

Subsidiaries

The DECC is also responsible for the Committee on Climate Change.

Contact details, Resources, Notes

Contact

Head Office

• Address: 3 Whitehall Place, London SW1A 2HH
• Phone: General enquiries: 0300 060 4000
• Email: enquiries@decc.gsi.gov.uk
• Fax:
• Website: http://www.decc.gov.uk