With the World Cup kicking off this week, energy demand is at its greatest. Yet the ‘Yes-Ministers’ in the UK Department of Energy are quietly keeping their fingers crossed that the lights – as well as the TV sets – will remain on.
Sir Humphrey, Chief Yes-Minister in Whitehall has issued a statement aimed at re-assuring millions of armchair fans this week. He said: “Since the 1970s we have grown used to uninterrupted supplies of power and we haven’t had a supply shortage for decades.
“The UK is rated among the most energy secure countries in the world and according to the US Chambers of Commerce, Britain is more energy secure than any other EU country – and more secure than the US, China, Japan, Australia, Canada, Russia.”
So far so good. . .
But then – in what might be seen as a ‘brave’ admission of responsibility for a ‘fluctuating’ British energy policy, Sir Humphrey added:
“Over the next decade the context for energy security is likely to deteriorate with global demand going up, and the UK’s North Sea reserves declining.
“At the same time historic under-investment in the UK’s electricity market means that, without intervention, the risk of disruption will grow…”
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