The Growth Plan
Debate between Margaret Ferrier and Kwasi Kwarteng(1 year, 7 months ago)
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Kwasi Kwarteng
The growth plan will mean that, as we grow our economy, we can get more tax revenue to pay for vital public services. That is a key part and a key rationale of the plan.
Margaret Ferrier (Rutherglen and Hamilton West) (Ind)
I congratulate the Chancellor on his appointment. Family-owned Equi’s Ice Cream in my constituency has been struggling with soaring energy bills. That century-old company will miss out on Government support, because its energy contract was renewed one day before the arbitrary cut-off following the collapse of its supplier. Will the Chancellor and his colleagues review the cut-off date to support small businesses?
Kwasi Kwarteng
Obviously, I will have to look at the specifics of the case, because I have just heard about it today. If the hon. Lady corresponds with my Department, I am sure that we can get back with a timely answer to her question.
Russian Oil Import Ban
Debate between Margaret Ferrier and Kwasi Kwarteng(2 years, 1 month ago)
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Kwasi Kwarteng
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. The issues of critical minerals and of security of supply could not be more important, and that is why I have commissioned a critical minerals strategy. On the help his constituents have offered and their full support, there are lots of ways in which we can contribute financially and materially. I helped organise such an effort in my constituency only last week, led by my excellent party chairman, Mike Brennan, but there are lots of ways we can help. On security of supply, that is absolutely, as the Prime Minister has said, our most important consideration right now.
Margaret Ferrier (Rutherglen and Hamilton West) (Ind)
Banning Russian oil will come at a cost every day for people across the UK, and it is a price I am sure they accept the necessity of due to this war by Putin on Ukraine. However, with an already growing cost of living crisis and soaring energy bills, what discussions has the Secretary of State had with the Chancellor about financially supporting green, clean and low-cost energy provision, so that it can be accessed faster and more broadly?
Kwasi Kwarteng
My right hon. Friend the Chancellor and I, and our Departments, speak all the time about these issues. The hon. Member will appreciate that there is a spring statement, but at the beginning of February my right hon. Friend announced an extensive £9 billion of projects. We will be looking across the year at how this market develops, but fiscal interventions, as she will appreciate, are a matter for my right hon. Friend.
Gas Prices and Energy Suppliers
Debate between Margaret Ferrier and Kwasi Kwarteng(2 years, 7 months ago)
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Kwasi Kwarteng
I will tell the hon. Lady why people should have confidence in this Government: we have a vaccine roll-out that is the envy of the world; we have got the economy back up and running; we have 4.7% unemployment, which is among the lowest in the G7; and we have navigated the storms of covid-19 pretty effectively.
Margaret Ferrier (Rutherglen and Hamilton West) (Ind)
A number of my constituents were victims of the green deal mis-selling scandal and have been left saddled with tens of thousands of pounds of debt for a scheme they thought was publicly funded and Government backed. The scheme was supposed to lower their energy bills, but now, on top of having to repay that debt, their bills are set to skyrocket.
In supporting my constituent who discovered that she is a victim only when she recently tried to sell her home, I was informed that the Secretary of State has no obligation to investigate cases more than six years old. Many victims of this scam will not have been aware immediately, so will he explain what recourse exists for victims who come forward later?
Kwasi Kwarteng
We have been dealing with green deal cases on a case-by-case basis. I have not been informed of the specific details that the hon. Lady describes but, with my officials, I would be happy to meet her to discuss the particulars of this individual case.
Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Margaret Ferrier and Kwasi Kwarteng(2 years, 7 months ago)
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Margaret Ferrier (Rutherglen and Hamilton West) (Ind)
UK steel producers face dramatically higher electricity costs than our European competitors. How can the sector attract the investment needed to decarbonise when it faces a £50 million a year barrier to investment?
Kwasi Kwarteng
I have discussed with the sector the ongoing issue of electricity prices or energy prices for the steel industry. That is why one of the first things I did as Secretary of State was to resuscitate the Steel Council. We are coming up with ideas to try to create a sustainable steel sector on a decarbonised basis.