Annual Energy Statement

Lindsay Hoyle Excerpts

Thursday 31st October 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Davey]

rose—

[Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Lindsay Hoyle)]

Order. We must have very short questions in order to try to get everyone in. I understand how important this is.

[Mr Davey]

We are helping the fuel-poor and people who have problems with their bills through, for example, the warm home discount, which takes £135 off bills. We are publishing a guide. I hope that the hon. Gentleman and every right hon. and hon. Member will use it to help their constituents.

The hon. Gentleman talks about the wholesale market. The previous Government did nothing on competition in the wholesale market; they made it worse. This Government, with Ofgem, which Labour Members want to abolish, are taking measures to ensure there is far more competition in the wholesale markets. That is how to prevent the big six and their vertical integration models from pushing up prices. The Liberal Democrats are the party of competition; Labour is the party of the big six.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Davey]

My hon. Friend makes a good point. I will not mention the number of power stations, but I can say that investment was far too low under the previous Labour Government. It is improving massively under this Government.

[Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Lindsay Hoyle)]

Last, but certainly not least, I call Andrew Percy.

[Andrew Percy (Brigg and Goole) (Con)]

I can only assume it is because I am from Yorkshire, Mr Deputy Speaker.

The Energy Secretary rightly pointed out how Labour’s non-freeze con would cost jobs and investment. I and my hon. Friend the Member for Cleethorpes (Martin Vickers) heard from a local business—a big employer. We were told, with specific reference to Labour’s price freeze con, that it has lost a major contract. This is costing jobs and investment. The uncertainty that has been created in our energy market will not do anything for bills, but it will cost jobs.