Winchester and Chandler’s Ford MP, Steve Brine, was in the House of Commons this afternoon (Monday 20 September) as the Secretary of State for Business gave a key statement on the UK gas market and how the Government plan to manage the impact of high global gas prices.
Kwasi Kwarteng MP gave what Mr Brine said was a “typically reassuring statement” that confirmed the protection of consumers as the priority of the Government and dismissed as “fear-mongering” the lights going out and the return of a 3 day working week.
Steve raised the Ofgem guarantee – known as the supplier of last resort (known as SOLR) - and asked the Secretary of State; “Will that guarantee protect any credit balances that customers have, how soon will they be able to access that and will fixed term deals that customers negotiated with their current suppliers always be respected if they have to move to a new supplier.”
The Secretary of State did not confirm that was the position but invited the Winchester MP to be involved in a pending review of the SOLR scheme.
After the debate, Mr Brine said; “Whilst I was disappointed that Kwasi couldn’t give the undertaking I asked for on behalf of constituents, I look forward to working with him as the revised SOLR is drawn together”
More information
Read the full debate via Hansard