Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Andy McDonald and Ed Davey

Thursday 17th October 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Davey]

That is an important report. I cannot give my hon. Friend an exact time, but it will be published relatively shortly.

[Andy McDonald (Middlesbrough) (Lab)]

Given the announcement from British Gas, would the Secretary of State not be best advised, rather than just expressing disappointment and urging transparency, to send out the message that there will come a point when he will intervene on these companies that are jacking up prices? At what point will he intervene?

[Mr Davey]

I have done more than that from the Dispatch Box. I have said to British Gas customers that if they are worried about the prices, they should change supplier. A range of competitors and alternative suppliers are offering much better deals. By the way, those suppliers are there because of the actions of this Government. In 2011, no other independent supplier could compete with British Gas and SSE, and none had more than 50,000 customers. We now have strong, independent suppliers that customers can turn to and I urge them to do so.