Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Oral Answers to Questions

John Baron Excerpts
Thursday 10th February 2011

(13 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord Barker of Battle Portrait Gregory Barker
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I tell you what—it will not take us 13 years to come up with a plan for a green investment bank. It was this Chancellor of the Exchequer who announced plans for a green investment bank, this coalition that is working on plans for it and this coalition that will bring it forward. The hon. Lady will just have to contain her excitement. She would do better to dwell on the Opposition’s abysmal record on green investment, instead of asking fatuous questions from the Dispatch Box.

John Baron Portrait Mr John Baron (Basildon and Billericay) (Con)
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6. What plans he has for the inclusion of provisions on cheapest tariff information in the forthcoming Energy Bill.

Lord Barker of Battle Portrait The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Gregory Barker)
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We are taking powers in the Energy Bill to require energy suppliers to provide their domestic customers with clear information about their lowest tariff. Initially, we are seeking the suppliers’ agreement to provide that information voluntarily. However, if there is no satisfactory agreement to do so by the end of the summer, we will use this power.

John Baron Portrait Mr Baron
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The Minister will recognise the importance of this issue, given the recent price increases and the confusion caused by the hundreds of different tariffs. He will be aware that I submitted detailed proposals about how cheapest tariff information could be displayed on domestic bills, in consultation with the consumer magazine Which?. Will he meet me to discuss this issue further?

Lord Barker of Battle Portrait Gregory Barker
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My hon. Friend is one of the House’s leading experts on this issue. It is complex and the answers are not easy. He has submitted information to my Department, which has been extremely valuable. We are determined to get this right and I would be delighted to meet him in the Department.