here - United Kingdom Parliament

801 1 DECEMBER 2010
802
House of Commons
Wednesday 1 December 2010
The House met at half-past Eleven o’clock
PRAYERS
[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]
Oral Answers to Questions
SCOTLAND
The Secretary of State was asked—
Energy
1. John Robertson (Glasgow North West) (Lab):
What (a) recent meetings he has had and (b) meetings
he plans to have with representatives of Scottish Power
to discuss the energy industry in Scotland. [26707]
The Secretary of State for Scotland (Michael Moore):
I have regular meetings with the energy industry, including
with Scottish Power, and will continue to do so, given
the sector’s importance to the Scottish economy.
John Robertson: I thank the Secretary of State for his
answer. He says that he has had these meetings, yet
British Gas, Scottish Power and Scottish and Southern
Energy have said that on no occasion has he ever
discussed the price hiking that these companies are
undertaking. When will he try to support the people of
Scotland by doing something about the price hikes?
Michael Moore: What I recognise is the importance
of ensuring that we get a fair deal for consumers, as well
as for the shareholders—the companies are concerned
about that. As the hon. Gentleman will know, Ofgem
has announced an inquiry into consumer protection
and competition in the sector. I expect that to be a very
thorough process.
Tom Greatrex (Rutherglen and Hamilton West) (Lab/
Co-op): I am glad to see that the Secretary of State was
able to get back from Scotland to be here today, despite
the cold weather and the travel difficulties. Given that
cold weather, and the increase in energy bills that many
people have experienced, is he aware of the concern
among many of my constituents and many others that
the most vulnerable people will struggle to pay their
bills, when they should be entitled to be on social
tariffs? Will he therefore undertake to convene a summit
of the six energy companies to discuss, in particular,
what they are doing to ensure that people who should
be on social tariffs are on them, and that people in
Scotland are not left cold at home this winter?
Michael Moore: I am glad of the hon. Gentleman’s
welcome, and I appreciate, as he will, that many people
in Scotland, and indeed in the whole of the United
Kingdom, have been struggling to get to work and go
about their business today. He rightly focuses on temperature
and the fact that this will cause extra difficulty for
people, so I am sure he will welcome the fact that we are
maintaining the cold weather payments and the winter
fuel allowance. I am certainly happy to discuss ideas of
getting together with the different energy companies to
make sure that they are properly focused on the needs
of their customers.
Asylum Seekers
2. Anas Sarwar (Glasgow Central) (Lab): What
discussions he has had with the UK Border Agency on
the cancellation of its contract with Glasgow city
council to provide services to asylum seekers. [26708]
5. Pete Wishart (Perth and North Perthshire) (SNP):
What recent discussions he has had with the UK
Border Agency on the welfare of asylum seekers in
Scotland. [26711]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland
(David Mundell): The Secretary of State and I are in
regular contact with the Home Office on matters relating
to asylum seekers. I understand that the UK Border
Agency is working closely with support organisations in
Glasgow to ensure that there is minimum disruption to
those affected by the termination of UKBA’s housing
contract with Glasgow city council.
Anas Sarwar: I thank the Minister for that answer.
Does he think it acceptable that no detailed discussions
were held between UKBA and either Ypeople or the
Angel Group ahead of the decision to scrap the contract
with Glasgow city council, even though they will be
made to take responsibility for more than 1,000 asylum
seekers in the city? Will he agree to meet representatives
of all those involved in the dispute, so that he can make
an informed contribution to the Immigration Minister?
David Mundell: I will certainly be happy to meet the
hon. Gentleman and other people who have an interest
in this matter. I know that he has already had the
opportunity to meet UKBA, and I think that he will
share with me the positive view that although the people
involved will no longer have a contract with Glasgow
city council and will instead have one with another
provider, many of them will stay in the same properties
and that will minimise disruption.
Pete Wishart: Does the Minister even start to understand
and appreciate the outrage that exists in Scotland about
the treatment of asylum seekers? This is not just about
the Glasgow situation, appalling though that is; it is
also about the detention of children and the operation
of the section 4 card. Will he get down to the UKBA to
explain that we look at these issues very differently in
Scotland and we expect the UKBA to act accordingly?
David Mundell: I do recognise that there are concerns
in Scotland about how the matter in Glasgow was
handled, and the Immigration Minister accepts that the
correspondence with those affected could have been
much better handled. I am sure that the hon. Gentleman
will welcome, as I do, the inquiry that the Scottish
Affairs Committee is conducting into relations in Scotland
with UKBA.