here - United Kingdom Parliament

1645 Oral Answers
6 JUNE 2013
Oral Answers
1646
came to office there were 14 major participants in the
energy sector; when they left office, the number had
shrunk to six. We believe our radical energy market
reforms that are going through the House are the way to
bring in real competition.
Andrew Bridgen (North West Leicestershire) (Con):
Does the Minister agree that making bills simpler and
easier to understand is a big step towards empowering
consumers to allow them to make the best choices and
get the best deals?
Gregory Barker: Absolutely. My hon. Friend is, as
ever, spot on. We have been working very closely with
Ofgem to ensure that consumers are not baffled by the
information on their bills and that they can make
informed choices. Our market reforms will make it even
easier for them to get the best deal.
12. [158087] Mr Iain McKenzie (Inverclyde) (Lab): This
House was told that the green deal would be the biggest
home improvement scheme since the second world war,
creating thousands of jobs and hundreds of new
businesses. If that were true, why does Enact Energy,
which has been in the insulation business for 20 years,
cite late payments from the green deal as having put it
into administration, resulting in the laying off of all its
staff?
Gregory Barker: Obviously, we are very sorry when
any business goes into administration, but I think the
hon. Gentleman is being a little hasty. It is very early
days for the green deal and for one business that, sadly,
has gone into receivership there are dozens, if not
hundreds, of new small and medium-sized enterprises
that are starting up to come into the new competitive
marketplace that we are creating.
John Pugh (Southport) (LD): What steps are being
taken to stop profiteering by the National Grid, which
can charge a fortune to move or change a domestic
meter?
Gregory Barker: If my hon. Friend has real evidence
of profiteering, we would love to see it. If he shares it
with us, we will take steps to crack down on it.
Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) (Lab/Co-op): Does
the Minister agree that smart metering gives the
consumer—the householder—real information on how
much energy they are using? How quickly can we get
smart metering into every home in Britain, hopefully
along with a carbon monoxide detector that will save
people’s lives?
Gregory Barker: First, on carbon monoxide detectors,
the hon. Gentleman is the champion in this House of
that very important technology and I thank him for his
engagement with my Department. We are working closely
to ensure that the green deal will push through the
roll-out of carbon monoxide detectors.
On smart meters, we now have what we believe to be
the most ambitious programme in Europe, beginning in
earnest in 2014 and completing by 2019. It is very
exciting and very radical.
Caroline Flint (Don Valley) (Lab): On 12 occasions
the Prime Minister has promised to force the energy
companies by law to put everyone on to the cheapest
tariff, but clause 121 of the Energy Bill clearly states
that the power to require an energy company to change
a customer’s tariff applies only to people on closed
tariffs. There are 25.5 million households in Britain.
How many are on closed tariffs?
Gregory Barker: I cannot give the right hon. Lady the
exact figure off the top of my head, so I will write to her
on that. The Labour party is in complete denial. The
Prime Minister pledged radical action to put everyone
on to the cheapest tariffs for them. We have come
forward with a solution and we have put it into law; the
Opposition had 13 years to do that and did nothing for
consumers. We are taking radical action to cut through
the swathe of tariffs that they left consumers when they
left office.
Caroline Flint: I have tabled written questions, I have
asked Ofgem and now I have asked the Minister, and
nobody can tell me how many people will find themselves
on a better deal, let alone save money.
Let us look at another promise. On Tuesday, the
Secretary of State told the House that the Energy Bill
would give Ofgem the power to force energy companies
to compensate consumers, something I called for in
October 2011. Ofgem is undertaking 15 formal
investigations with another 12 cases at informal review
stage. Will the Minister confirm that even after the
Energy Bill has received Royal Assent and even if there
is evidence of wrongdoing in any of those cases, Ofgem
will have no powers to force the companies to pay a
single penny in compensation to their customers?
Gregory Barker: It is a big pity that the right hon.
Lady first started taking an interest in these matters in
2011 and not during the 13 years for which Labour was
in government when it did nothing to address those
issues for the consumer. I am happy to say that our
Energy Bill takes those issues into account and Ofgem
will be able to take them into account as the investigations
go through. This Government are putting the consumer
first after 13 years of inaction from Labour.
Mr Speaker: Mr Edward Leigh, not here.
Decarbonisation Target
4. Chi Onwurah (Newcastle upon Tyne Central) (Lab):
What his assessment is of the potential effect on the UK
wind industry of not setting a target to decarbonise the
power sector by 2030. [158077]
7. Paul Blomfield (Sheffield Central) (Lab): What
representations he has received on setting a target to
decarbonise the power sector by 2030. [158081]
13. Alison Seabeck (Plymouth, Moor View) (Lab):
What representations he has received on setting a target
to decarbonise the power sector by 2030. [158089]
15. Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Hull North) (Lab):
What representations he has received on setting a target
to decarbonise the power sector by 2030. [158091]