UK Gas Market

Steve Brine Excerpts
Monday 20th September 2021

(2 years, 7 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Kwasi Kwarteng Portrait Kwasi Kwarteng
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The hon. Gentleman is right that I welcome local initiatives. Only a month ago, I spoke at a forum at which representatives of local government were enthusiastic about getting behind net zero. I welcome all initiatives where local leaders are driving the push to net zero.

Steve Brine Portrait Steve Brine (Winchester) (Con)
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We have heard a typically reliable and reassuring statement from my right hon. Friend. He mentioned the Ofgem guarantee for when a supplier fails. Will that guarantee protect customers’ credit balances, and how soon will they be able to access them? Will fixed-term deals that customers have negotiated with their current supplier always be respected through the transfer?

Kwasi Kwarteng Portrait Kwasi Kwarteng
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My hon. Friend did not mention it in particular, but we have a supplier of last resort process, which has been relied upon over the past few years and involves a transfer of customers in the way he describes. We may well have an updated version of that process in the light of the threats posed to a number of suppliers. I look forward to discussing the details with him when the statement is made.