UK Gas Market

Steve Brine Excerpts
Monday 20th September 2021

(3 years ago)

Commons Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Watch Debate Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Kwasi Kwarteng Portrait Kwasi Kwarteng
- View Speech - Hansard - - - Excerpts

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)
- View Speech - Hansard - -

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
- View Speech - Hansard - - - Excerpts

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.