Contributions
1,787 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Prepayment MetersI agree with my hon. Friend and it is important to make sure that people do not find themselves caught in a cul-de-sac. He asked about the Government laying out the rationale for…23 Jan 2023HANSARD Prepayment MetersI entirely reject the premise of the right hon. Lady’s question. We are not putting people behind the private energy company profits—quite the contrary; we are trying to ensure…23 Jan 2023HANSARD Prepayment MetersThe speediest way this winter to make an alteration to this is to call on the companies to do everything possible to avoid doing it. Some have already managed to do it. That, of…23 Jan 2023HANSARD Prepayment MetersOf course, the Government are providing an unprecedented three layers of support for consumers: the cost of living support for those on benefits, the £900 reduction in energy…23 Jan 2023HANSARD Prepayment MetersThe hon. Gentleman is right to highlight people in rural areas, including the remote highlands and islands, which I am sure the right hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr…23 Jan 2023HANSARD Prepayment MetersI have explained that the system that Ofgem enforces, and has long enforced, is strictly based on the cost of delivery. We will look at that again to make sure of that. We have to…23 Jan 2023HANSARD Prepayment MetersWe have called on suppliers to voluntarily stop the practice of switching to prepayment meters as the answer to households struggling to pay their bills, and they should also make…23 Jan 2023HANSARD Prepayment MetersOne of the issues raised by the right hon. Member for Doncaster North (Edward Miliband) was the fact that redemption of the energy support vouchers that provide help for people on…23 Jan 2023HANSARD Prepayment MetersAs I have said to the House, we are urging suppliers to desist from using prepayment meters and to do everything possible to make sure that they are avoided, but we recognise…23 Jan 2023HANSARD Prepayment MetersAs I have made clear to the House, the Government are absolutely calling for suppliers to do everything possible to avoid doing this, and I think that we are already seeing…23 Jan 2023HANSARD Prepayment MetersThe right hon. Gentleman has raised this with me. There are issues, and the Government have intervened to make sure that the distribution costs in the far north of Scotland and…23 Jan 2023HANSARD Prepayment MetersWe have today already seen a response from suppliers to the Government’s calls. We must look to be as effective as possible in effecting change now, and we believe that the…23 Jan 2023HANSARD Prepayment MetersMy hon. Friend is absolutely right, and that is one of the reasons we have published the list today. Transparency is the best form of disinfectant. We expect the suppliers’ chief…23 Jan 2023HANSARD Prepayment MetersMy hon. Friend is right, as ever, and that is an important part of the message we are sending out today. I think this urgent question helps to strengthen that message to suppliers…23 Jan 2023HANSARD Prepayment MetersMy hon. Friend is absolutely right. The system that we inherited and that exists today reflects the cost of supply, and Ofgem supervises that to ensure it is the case. Alongside…23 Jan 2023HANSARD Prepayment MetersThe Government recognise the importance of protecting customers, including those on a prepayment meter. That is why this weekend, the Secretary of State set out a five-point plan…23 Jan 2023HANSARD Prepayment MetersI thank the hon. Lady for her question. As I have said, we are looking at the treatment of vulnerable customers overall, including on the issue she raises through her Bill.23 Jan 2023HANSARD Prepayment MetersI thank the hon. Lady for her question. Of course, before the suppliers get to that stage, they are required by Ofgem to ensure that it is absolutely the last resort. That is…23 Jan 2023HANSARD Prepayment MetersI thank the hon. Gentleman for that question and will write to him with an answer.23 Jan 2023HANSARD Prepayment MetersMy hon. Friend is absolutely right. We have to make sure that all suppliers are fulfilling the requirements set by Ofgem. Ofgem’s inquiry into the treatment of vulnerable…23 Jan 2023