Energy: Winter Supplies

Lord King of Bridgwater Excerpts

Monday 20th October 2014 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Verma]

I agree with the noble Baroness that we need to have a sensible energy debate; maybe she could take that message back to her leader.

[Lord King of Bridgwater (Con)]

Can my noble friend tell the House that since the Leader of the Opposition announced a proposal to freeze electricity prices, what announcement has been made by any energy company of further investment in energy generation in this country?

[Baroness Verma]

My noble friend follows on from what I said in response to the noble Baroness opposite. We need a sensible energy policy and we are working towards a sensible debate. We have ensured that we are hard on energy companies where we see that they are not being fair to the consumer. We have brought in the CMA and have tightened Ofgem’s rules—so the Government have done a lot. Energy companies need to play their part, but we as political parties need to play ours.