Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Liz Saville Roberts and Amanda Solloway

Tuesday 21st May 2024 Commons Chamber

[Amanda Solloway]

The hon. Gentleman will know that we have had many conversations about this subject. One of the things that the Secretary of State and I have been doing is talking to Ofgem to make sure that it is looking at the standing charges. That has led to a call for input, which has recently had over 30,000 responses.

[Liz Saville Roberts (Dwyfor Meirionnydd) (PC)]

My constituent Beverley Scott, who has cancer, suffered from poor work carried out under the Government’s ECO4 scheme. This included leaving her without heating and damaging her internet. She eventually had to go to the small claims court to get redress for shoddy work, and I know of other people who have had to follow the same route. Given that provider companies, enabled by Government strategy, leave vulnerable householders with no option but to go to court, does the Minister not agree that there should be better oversight and a simpler remedy for people like Beverley Scott?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Liz Saville Roberts and Amanda Solloway

Tuesday 18th April 2023 Commons Chamber

[Liz Saville Roberts (Dwyfor Meirionnydd) (PC)]

T9. The Minister must surely recognise that fuel poverty cannot be solved by threatening to send vulnerable people to court or imposing the installation of smart meters. When will he stop passing the blame to Ofgem? When will he really start to support vulnerable people who are facing fuel poverty?

[Amanda Solloway]

It is incredibly important to this Government that we support vulnerable people. We are looking at all of the issues around prepayment meters, but we have provided £400 of support through vouchers and I encourage all Members to ask their constituents to come forward to get those if they have not already collected them.