Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Oral Answers to Questions

Meg Hillier Excerpts
Thursday 13th December 2012

(12 years ago)

Commons Chamber
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Bill Esterson Portrait Bill Esterson (Sefton Central) (Lab)
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10. What steps he is taking to help households with their energy bills.

Meg Hillier Portrait Meg Hillier (Hackney South and Shoreditch) (Lab/Co-op)
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19. What steps he is taking to help households with their energy bills.

Jim McGovern Portrait Jim McGovern (Dundee West) (Lab)
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20. What steps he is taking to help households with their energy bills.

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Meg Hillier Portrait Meg Hillier
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With respect, the Energy Secretary has not answered my hon. Friend’s question. How are the Government going to ensure that the energy companies do not simply raise the price of their lowest tariff so that it is no longer as low as it was in the past?

Ed Davey Portrait Mr Davey
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With respect, I did answer the question. It involves something called competition. On this side of the House, we understand competition and how it supports consumers. I have to say to Opposition Members that an awful lot of people were asking the last Labour Government why they did not sort out the multitude of tariffs that were creating complexity and confusion and getting in the way of competition. Through our simplification, we are helping the most vulnerable people and those who have been on dead tariffs and paying far too much for their energy, but we are also ensuring that competition can deliver for our economy.