Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Simon Hughes and Charles Hendry
Simon Hughes (Bermondsey and Old Southwark) (LD)
6. What steps he is taking to promote competition in the energy market.
The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Charles Hendry)
We are working with Ofgem to deliver clearer bills and simpler tariffs, to help consumers engage effectively in the energy market. We have cut red tape for small suppliers to help them compete, and we are looking at Ofgem’s recently published proposals to increase liquidity in the wholesale market.
Simon Hughes
When Ministers and I were in opposition and Labour was in power, we spent much of our time trying to get the Labour Government to make sure energy companies understood the simple principle that when energy prices went up they were justified in increasing prices to our constituents, but when those prices went down they should also bring their prices down for our constituents. Will the Minister assure us that the Government will force Ofgem and the energy companies to understand the rule that consumers must benefit when prices go down, just as they are penalised when they go up?