Sir Robert Smith replaces Yeo as interim chair of climate committee

The Guardian , Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Correspondent : James Murray
Sir Robert Smith has been appointed as temporary chair of the Energy and Climate Change Select Committee, after Tim Yeo stepped down pending an investigation into allegations he breached parliamentary rules by advising a subsidiary of one of the companies that employs him.

The Lib Dem deputy chair of the committee was unanimously selected to act as interim chair of the committee as Yeo fights to clear his name.

Rumours circulating on Twitter had suggested climate sceptic committee member Peter Lilley could take up the role, but Smith will now lead the committee's ongoing inquiries, including investigations into the government's smart meter rollout, the role of shale gas, progress with the Green Deal, the effectiveness of the Renewable Heat Incentive, and the UK oil refinery sector.

Yeo announced last night that he would temporarily step down from his role as chair of the committee to focus on clearing his name, following this weekend's sting by the Sunday Times.

The Conservative MP has vigorously denied allegations he breached parliamentary rules by "coaching" an executive of GB Railfreight on what to say when giving evidence to the Committee. GB Railfreight is a subsidiary of Eurotunnel, where Yeo is a director.

Two undercover reporters posing as representatives of a solar company also recorded Yeo stating that while he appropriately declares his commercial interests when talking about energy and environmental issues in public he is able to act for them behind the scenes.

"What I say to people in private is another matter altogether", he said, adding that "if you want to meet the right people, I can facilitate all those introductions and I can use the knowledge I get from what is quite an active network of connections".

Yeo has rejected the allegations and in a lengthy statement released on Sunday he dismissed the suggestion that he had "coached" an executive from GB Railfreight and insisted the recording had been selectively edited.

"The whole recording would show the context of the conversation and demonstrate clearly that at no stage did I agree or offer to work for the fictitious company these undercover reporters claimed to be representing, still less did I commit to doing so for a day a month as the article claims," he said.

Yeo has reported himself to the parliamentary standards watchdog, but Labour made it clear yesterday that the opposition wanted to also see him step down from his chairing of the committee until the investigation is resolved.

"Tim Yeo has the right to defend himself but it is difficult to see how he can continue as chair of the select committee pending investigation by the parliamentary standards commissioner," said shadow cabinet office minister Gareth Thomas. "If David Cameron won't act then Tim Yeo should take it upon himself to stand down from his post."

However, the appointment of Sir Robert Smith is unlikely to fully defuse the ongoing debate over perceived conflicts of interest within Westminster, which critics claim can arise even when parliamentary rules are complied with.

Critics on social media were quick to point out that Smith holds registrable shareholdings in Shell and Rio Tinto, which he publicly declares. Meanwhile, speculation that as the senior Tory on the Committee Lilley could have been in a position to serve as interim chair prompted green campaigners to again highlight his publicly declared role as a director of Tethys Petroleum.

 
SOURCE : http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/jun/11/robert-smith-yeo-energy-climate-committee
 


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