Policy news

Recent work from the IET’s policy staff and volunteers includes the launch of a new report on industrial strategy, media coverage on the issue of apprenticeships, and involvement in Scottish energy policy planning.

Industrial strategy

The IET launched a report on Engineering an Industrial Strategy at a Parliamentary breakfast event chaired by Adrian Bailey MP, Chair of the Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee.

The event was attended by key MPs, many of whom fed the IET’s key messages into a House of Commons debate on industrial policy the following day.

Media coverage

The Sunday Times recently published a letter from IET head of policy Paul Davies regarding engineering apprenticeships and the need to raise standards in this area.

The related press release was reported in various local papers and on trade websites.

Scottish energy policy

Duncan Botting from the IET Energy Policy Panel recently represented the Institution at a Scottish Government energy policy planning meeting.

The IET has established 12 Policy Panels to assist in policy development. You can find out more about their work at www.theiet.org/policy/panels.

Providing expertise

The chairman of the IET Energy Policy Panel, Dr Simon Harrison, has recently approved IET submissions to two Select Committee inquiries and one regulator consultation.

In a submission to the EU Energy: decarbonisation and competiveness inquiry by the House of Lords EU Committee, IET evidence noted that the lowest cost form of decarbonisation is to use less energy and to use energy more efficiently.

A joint Engineering the Future submission to the Severn Barrage inquiry by the Energy and Climate Change (ECC) Committee answered ECC questions, where possible, with respect to the Hafren Power Barrage scheme.

And an IET submission to Ofgem's Electricity Capacity Assessment 2013: consultation on methodology agreed that the general methodology, based on existing modelling assumptions and data sets, appeared to be fit for purpose for the short term. However, it noted that it will become less valid as new types of electricity generation are added.