Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Harrington of Watford and Nigel Huddleston

Tuesday 1st May 2018 Commons Chamber

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Richard Harrington)]

I can reassure the hon. Lady that there have been full negotiations between us, the Americans and the European Union from the day that this started, and I have briefed her regularly. I have a call on Thursday morning with the chief executive officers of all the steel companies, which she is very welcome to join. I assure her and everyone else in this House that every effort is being made to help the steel industry.

[Nigel Huddleston (Mid Worcestershire) (Con)]

T2. What plans does his Department have to keep Britain a global leader in artificial intelligence?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Harrington of Watford and Nigel Huddleston

Tuesday 7th November 2017 Commons Chamber

[Nigel Huddleston (Mid Worcestershire) (Con)]

9. What assessment he has made of the effect on consumers’ awareness of energy consumption of installing a smart meter.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Richard Harrington)]

Recent research has been conducted by Smart Energy GB, the independent not-for-profit organisation responsible for national consumer engagement on smart meters. It found that 86% of people with a smart meter said that they had made energy-saving changes to their behaviour and that this positive action was maintained over time after installation.

[Nigel Huddleston]

The Minister is obviously aware that, by encouraging better energy consumption, the average consumer saves about £75 a year through a smart meter. Does he agree that smart meters will enable more switching of suppliers, saving the average customer £200 a year, and that this is therefore good for the environment and for consumers?

[Richard Harrington]

I totally agree with my hon. Friend’s analysis. Smart meters enable consumers to make more confident and informed decisions about which supplier and tariff is right for them. Interestingly, Ofgem’s survey for 2017 showed that consumers who say they have a smart meter are more likely to have switched supplier in the past 12 months.