Energy Price Freeze

Debate between Khalid Mahmood and Ed Davey

Wednesday 6th November 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Davey]

I am coming to the rigged market, but the market was rigged by the Labour Government. It is Labour’s big six and Labour’s market. We are changing and reforming it while Labour does nothing.

One thing that worries me about switching is that we need to ensure that it operates for the poorest in our country. The right hon. Lady and another hon. Member made the point that, sometimes, the fuel poor and many elderly people do not get the benefits of the market and are not helped by competition switching—the figures bear that out. We cannot just rely on switching; we need to ensure that it works for those people. That is why the Government have put so much money behind the Cheaper Energy Together scheme and collective switching, and why we are putting money behind the big energy saving network. We want to ensure that Age UK and the Citizens Advice Bureau go out into communities to offer advice to those people. That is how to ensure that the poorest in the land can get the best deals in our land.

[Mr Khalid Mahmood]

Is the Secretary of State aware that the poorest people cannot switch if they are in debt to the company they are with?

[Mr Davey]

Yes, I am aware of that. That is why we have raised the amount. Under Labour, it was about £100 or £150. With Ofgem, we have raised it to £500 to enable people to switch. I am afraid the hon. Gentleman is behind the times.