John Whitby
Main Page: John Whitby (Labour - Derbyshire Dales)Department Debates - View all John Whitby's debates with the HM Treasury
(1 day, 7 hours ago)
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Rachel Reeves
We were pleased to be able to announce tens of millions of pounds to help people with the cost of heating oil, in the same way that we brought down gas and electricity bills for families and pensioners across the UK because of my Budget decisions last year. It is important that local authorities now make sure that that money is available to people. We heard from my hon. Friend the Member for South Norfolk (Ben Goldsborough), for example, that 60% of applications in Norfolk have not been processed. We need to make sure that that money gets to the people who need it. As I have said, we will keep additional support under review. The best way to bring down bills for families, businesses and pensioners—the hon. Gentleman’s party agrees with this—is to de-escalate this conflict and reopen the strait of Hormuz. That is why our diplomatic policy is so important.
John Whitby (Derbyshire Dales) (Lab)
According to modelling from the National Energy System Operator, gas will still set the price of electricity 30% of the time by 2030, despite most of the energy being produced from renewables. Solar and wind are far cheaper than other forms of energy, and it is right that households across the UK, and in Derbyshire Dales in particular, can benefit from the lower prices. Will the Chancellor therefore outline what steps she is taking to decouple the price of renewables from the price of gas and to drive down energy prices for homes in Derbyshire Dales?
Rachel Reeves
This is the second energy price shock caused by a lack of availability of oil and gas in just four years. It shows that we need to invest more in home-grown energy to ensure security of supply and price to help people in Derbyshire Dales and right across the country. That is why we are increasing the electricity generator levy. We are using that money to help people now, but crucially as an incentive to get electricity providers on to contracts for difference, so that we do not have to pay more for electricity just because the price of gas is high.