Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Caroline Flint and Damian Green

Wednesday 12th July 2017 Commons Chamber

[Caroline Flint (Don Valley) (Lab)]

Q1. If she will list her official engagements for Wednesday 12 July 2017.

[The First Secretary of State and Minister for the Cabinet Office (Damian Green)]

I have been asked to reply. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister is in attendance on Her Majesty the Queen, welcoming their Majesties King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain on their state visit to the United Kingdom. I am sure the whole House wishes them well.

[Caroline Flint]

Is today’s report that in 2015-16 National Grid made £3 billion of profit at the expense of households not further evidence that the Government are not delivering fair energy prices? Will the Government agree to an immediate rebate for overcharging, and will they now commit to an energy price cap for the 17 million households on the most expensive tariffs?

[Damian Green]

The right hon. Lady is right to identify the issue of energy prices, and I am sure she will welcome the announcement in the Queen’s Speech that the Government will

“ensure fairer markets for consumers”

and that

“this will include bringing forward measures to help tackle unfair practices in the energy market to help reduce energy bills.”

I am sure this is an issue on which we can work across the House together.