The energy needs of Midlands businesses will be met - despite continuing fears that the network is not up to scratch, Energy Minister, Lord Hunt of Kings Heath, told Business Voice WM.

But he was urged to clamp down on rogue suppliers arbitrarily raising prices.

In a wide ranging speech at an event held jointly with Birmingham Business School and Forrest Research, Lord Hunt said: The Government has taken several key steps to secure our energy supply and reduce carbon emissions.

"The green light has been given to new nuclear power. EDF is preparing to build four new nuclear power stations. At the moment, nuclear comprises 12 per cent of all electricity generation. By the early 2020s, expect this to be a higher percentage.

"We are prepared to support four scaled up coal power stations with carbon capture included. The UK has the North Sea - likely to be ideal to store carbon. And the percentage of electricity generation sourced from renewables has gone from 1.8 per cent in 2002 to 5.8 per cent in 2008."

Lord Hunt said the Department for Transport was keen to support electric vehicles and high speed rail in the next decade in order to get greenhouse emissions down.

He went on: "More liquefied natural gas coming into this country, and developing a gas pipeline from the Caspian Sea, is another source of supply.

"We are the sixth largest country in the world in terms of the size of our low carbon economy. By 2015, we can help ensure there are 1.3 million jobs in the sector. Companies are getting involved and there are big opportunities for all of us to take advantage of these commercial opportunities."

Business Voice WM Executive Director, James Watkins, called on the Minister and the independent energy regulator, OFGEM, to tackle examples of alleged sharp practices against manufacturers.

He charged: "There have been reports of arbitrary rises in the cost of energy bills in the region of 65 per cent.

"We are hearing of sharp practices with manufacturing businesses having to pay in advance of using any energy. This, coming at this difficult time, is the last thing manufacturing needs if it is get through this recession. It is time the Government and OFGEM took action."