Cost of Living: Energy and Housing

Debate between Baroness Stuart of Edgbaston and Ed Davey

Thursday 5th June 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Davey]

SSE has committed itself to a price freeze. The hon. Lady is right that the recent falls in wholesale gas prices suggest that consumers should benefit too. Unlike the previous Government, we have supported the regulator Ofgem in its proposal for the first ever referral of the energy markets to the independent competition authorities. The Leader of the Opposition talks about energy markets, but when he had the power to act, when he could have taken on the big six, and when he was doing my job, he did nothing. He refused three times to back an independent investigation of the energy markets, even though energy bills were rising faster than they are now. He let the energy companies off the hook and the party knows it.

[Ms Gisela Stuart (Birmingham, Edgbaston) (Lab)]

rose—

[Barry Gardiner (Brent North) (Lab)]

rose—

[Mr Davey]

I will give way to the hon. Lady and then the hon. Gentleman, because I am having some fun.

[Ms Stuart]

I am deeply grateful to the right hon. Gentleman. I am listening with great interest to the coalition’s achievement. I just wonder whether part of that achievement is the fact that the Liberal Democrat Benches are empty.

[Mr Davey]

My hon. Friends may well be in Newark, but I have the Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, my hon. Friend the Member for Bristol West (Stephen Williams), here with me. It is interesting that that is the only point that the Opposition can make. I give way to the hon. Member for Brent North (Barry Gardiner). He may well have a point of substance.

Citizens Advice Bureaux (Birmingham)

Debate between Baroness Stuart of Edgbaston and Ed Davey

Wednesday 9th February 2011 Westminster Hall

[Mr Davey]

I will take interventions, but if I make some progress, I can talk about other issues germane to the wider debate on Citizens Advice.

[Ms Gisela Stuart]

I am grateful to the Minister for giving way. Given that six out of the 10 Birmingham MPs are here, and they have considerable experience of working with the council, will he say whether in his view Birmingham is compact-compliant? It is a very important point.

[Mr Davey]

I am afraid that I am not going to give the hon. Lady an answer to that question. It is important that, as this is being settled and as the meetings we have heard about—the one that has happened, the meeting on Friday, and the meeting on Monday—try to resolve the matter, they will ensure that any regulatory demands from central Government are met.