Oral Answers to Questions

Chris White Excerpts

Thursday 1st November 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Davey]

Left-wing bourgeois academics are obviously welcome to contribute to any discussions in this House, because we want to hear from all sides. I must say that climate change scientists are not noted for their political beliefs; they do their work as scientists. They are providing the evidence that the Government, the country and, I hope, the rest of the world will act on. Their scientific results are extremely disturbing. Most recently we have seen what is happening in the Arctic, where the polar ice cap is melting faster than people had previously thought. That is what the scientists are telling us, and we should take it very seriously.

[Chris White (Warwick and Leamington) (Con)]

12. What steps his Department is taking to encourage new entrants to the energy market.

[The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Mr John Hayes)]

Wider participation is key to a competitive market and to securing the investment we need. The forthcoming energy Bill will reform the electricity market to incentivise new investment in a diverse, low-carbon energy mix.

[Chris White]

In a few weeks’ time I will have the pleasure of opening the new offices of First Utility in my constituency. It is one of the fastest growing energy companies in the country and a major local employer. It is pioneering new ways to help make household bills cheaper through a range of technologies and is an excellent example of the innovation that new entrants to the energy market can bring. Will the Minister meet me and First Utility to discuss how we can support new entrants into the energy market and boost competition to make household bills cheaper?

[Mr Hayes]

Just this morning I had a meeting with my diary secretary in which I prioritised just such a visit. It is vital that we allow new entrants into the market, because that will create the competitive pressure to drive down prices. The right hon. Member for Don Valley (Caroline Flint) told the House only last week that that had not happened over the past 15 years, and who was in charge of energy policy then?