Oral Answers to Questions

Mike Kane Excerpts

Thursday 5th February 2015 Commons Chamber

The Secretary of State was asked—

[Mike Kane (Wythenshawe and Sale East) (Lab)]

1. What steps he is taking to help households with their energy bills.

[Mr David Hanson (Delyn) (Lab)]

3. What steps he is taking to help households with their energy bills.

--- Later in debate ---

[The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (Mr Edward Davey)]

Energy bills remain a worry for many, so we have three main ways of helping households: giving direct financial help, promoting competition and enabling energy efficiency. Our financial help includes the £2.15 billion winter fuel allowance for pensioners, and more than £31 million will be spent this winter on providing assistance to more than 2 million low-income and vulnerable households. Although there remains room for improvement, energy markets are more competitive than they were in 2010, enabling many people to save around £300 a year by switching supplier. Our energy efficiency policies, which provide permanent cuts to bills, have improved the energy efficiency of more than 1 million homes, enabling us to meet our target earlier than expected.

[Mike Kane]

There is indeed room for improvement. The Children’s Society tells me that there are 2,200 children in families that are trapped in energy debt in my constituency of Wythenshawe and Sale East, yet Which? says that given the global changes in commodity prices, energy companies could be driving down household bills by £164; does the Minister agree with it?