Public/Private Partnerships: Shares
Debate between Lord Wilson of Sedgefield and Lord Watts(2 days, 3 hours ago)
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Lord Wilson of Sedgefield (Lab)
We will look at all avenues to improve any potential public/private partnership. There are obviously lessons from the past that we can draw on. I do not know the specific case that the noble Lord mentioned, but Ministers will look at this in the round. They are advising potential organisations on public/private partnerships and looking at legacy PFIs and what more they can do to help those PFIs to be managed, so there is a lot going on. We all want this to succeed and we need to draw on lessons from problems we have had in the past.
Lord Watts (Lab)
My Lords, does the Minister agree that, where the Government have to bail out the private sector, they should seek to get a stake in shareholding so that they can be paid back at an appropriate time? Too many private sector companies have enjoyed lots of money from the public but have never paid it back.
Lord Wilson of Sedgefield (Lab)
My noble friend raises an interesting question. I am sure that is something the Treasury will look at in the next few weeks before the Budget and after.
Social Energy Tariff
Debate between Lord Wilson of Sedgefield and Lord Watts
Lord Watts (Lab)
On behalf of my noble friend Lord Foulkes and with the permission of the House, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in his name on the Order Paper.
Lord in Waiting/Government Whip (Lord Wilson of Sedgefield) (Lab)
My Lords, the Government know that more needs to be done to support vulnerable households that are struggling with bills while we transition to clean power. Earlier this year, we published a consultation on the expansion of the warm home discount, giving more eligible households £150 off their energy bills. These proposals will bring about 2.7 million households into the scheme, pushing the total number of households that will receive the discount next winter up to around 6 million. The department has considered all responses, and a government response will be published in due course.
Lord Watts (Lab)
My Lords, I am grateful for the Minister’s response; I think all Members, on both sides of the House, agree that this is needed. Given the situation the Government found themselves in financially, I congratulate them on finding the resources within that difficult period to do something positive about it. When will this be introduced and when will this matter be resolved?
Lord Wilson of Sedgefield (Lab)
The consultation has just ended, and we expect to make an announcement in due course. The question is about a social tariff, but if you look at organisations such as National Energy Action, you will see that there is no one definition of a social tariff. We are doing everything we can in the circumstances to extend the warm home discount to as many families as possible.