Oral Answers to Questions

Andy Sawford Excerpts

Thursday 18th December 2014 Commons Chamber

[Nia Griffith (Llanelli) (Lab)]

6. What steps he is taking to help households with energy bills.

[Andy Sawford (Corby) (Lab/Co-op)]

9. What steps he is taking to help households with energy bills.

[Kate Green (Stretford and Urmston) (Lab)]

14. What steps he is taking to help households with energy bills.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Davey]

Actually, it was the last Labour Government who got rid of price regulation from the regulatory tool book. This Government have supported the referral of the energy market to the independent competition authorities. That is a policy that the last Government—and the present Leader of the Opposition when he was doing my job—failed to pursue.

[Andy Sawford]

Does the Secretary of State share my concern about the annual fuel poverty statistics report, which shows that the fuel poverty gap—the difference between people’s bills and what they can afford—has grown to £480 in 2014? That is a shockingly worrying statistic, and the real story behind it is being told in the homes in our communities. Does he agree that it is now time to back Labour’s energy market reforms?

[Mr Davey]

Fuel poverty needs to be tackled thoroughly, which is why we are bringing forward ambitious fuel poverty targets and a new fuel poverty strategy. Opposition Members should note that fuel poverty has actually fallen under this Government, whereas it rose under the last Government. That suggests that we should not be taking advice on energy policy from the Labour party.