Additional funds have already been provided to ensure that medicines are available throughout the country, whatever the Brexit scenario.

Additional funds have already been provided to ensure that medicines are available throughout the country, whatever the Brexit scenario.

We will not have to wait longer; we will ensure that we get the best medicines to the people of Britain long after we are members of the European Union, as we did before we were members of the European Union.

We will not have to wait longer; we will ensure that we get the best medicines to the people of Britain long after we are members of the European Union, as we did before we were members of the European Union.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has undertaken any research on the effect of the UK leaving the EU on consumer phone bills and mobile roaming charges.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has undertaken any research on the effect of the UK leaving the EU on consumer phone bills and mobile roaming charges.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much (a) fair price milk and (b) non-fair price milk was purchased for use in 10 Downing Street in August 2015; and what plans he has to ensure that only fair price milk is used at 10 Downing Street in future.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much (a) fair price milk and (b) non-fair price milk was purchased for use in 10 Downing Street in August 2015; and what plans he has to ensure that only fair price milk is used at 10 Downing Street in future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what the average industrial electricity price is in the (a) UK and (b) US.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what the average industrial electricity price is in the (a) UK and (b) US.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what the current average industrial gas price is in the (a) UK and (b) US.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what the current average industrial gas price is in the (a) UK and (b) US.

What recent steps he has taken to increase competition in the energy supply market.

What recent steps he has taken to increase competition in the energy supply market.

Absolutely. It is not the policy of the Government to freeze energy bills, not least at the level they were 18 months ago when we first received representations to do that. We have not chosen that path because we would end up with millions of consumers paying an average of £100 more for their electricity, and we would undermine investment, which is so critically needed, in the future of our energy system. It is a bad mistake and we will not do it.

Absolutely. It is not the policy of the Government to freeze energy bills, not least at the level they were 18 months ago when we first received representations to do that. We have not chosen that path because we would end up with millions of consumers paying an average of £100 more for their electricity, and we would undermine investment, which is so critically needed, in the future of our energy system. It is a bad mistake and we will not do it.

That is exactly what is happening. At that time, in 2009, when the Leader of the Opposition was the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, nothing happened: bills did not come down and the Secretary of State did not lift a finger. Instead, this time I called in the big six and as a result they cut prices: they cut prices to pass on in full the wholesale reductions, and consumers benefit in a way that they could not if the energy price had been frozen at the high level suggested by Labour.

That is exactly what is happening. At that time, in 2009, when the Leader of the Opposition was the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, nothing happened: bills did not come down and the Secretary of State did not lift a finger. Instead, this time I called in the big six and as a result they cut prices: they cut prices to pass on in full the wholesale reductions, and consumers benefit in a way that they could not if the energy price had been frozen at the high level suggested by Labour.

We have made it quicker and easier for consumers to switch supplier. Now 10% of dual-fuel customers use one of the 21 independent suppliers in the domestic retail market, which provides more competition and more choice for consumers.

We have made it quicker and easier for consumers to switch supplier. Now 10% of dual-fuel customers use one of the 21 independent suppliers in the domestic retail market, which provides more competition and more choice for consumers.

My hon. Friend is completely right. We have halved the time it takes to switch. Our Power to Switch campaign is now up and running. I myself am going to switch energy supplier today as part of that campaign, and I look forward to saving serious amounts of money as a result. I urge all Members, and indeed all consumers, to consider switching, because the power of competition is one of the best ways to get energy bills down. Instead of the big six that Labour created, we now have 21 new independent suppliers.

My hon. Friend is completely right. We have halved the time it takes to switch. Our Power to Switch campaign is now up and running. I myself am going to switch energy supplier today as part of that campaign, and I look forward to saving serious amounts of money as a result. I urge all Members, and indeed all consumers, to consider switching, because the power of competition is one of the best ways to get energy bills down. Instead of the big six that Labour created, we now have 21 new independent suppliers.

First, we got the Competition and Markets Authority to look into that matter, because it had not been investigated under the previous Government. The CMA’s initial conclusion was that we have a competitive market at that level, so the precise detail that the hon. Gentleman sets out is not the problem. The remaining problem in the UK’s energy market is that it needs to be more competitive in order to get a better deal for customers. The last thing anybody needs is for prices to be frozen at the high levels at which Labour proposed to freeze them.

First, we got the Competition and Markets Authority to look into that matter, because it had not been investigated under the previous Government. The CMA’s initial conclusion was that we have a competitive market at that level, so the precise detail that the hon. Gentleman sets out is not the problem. The remaining problem in the UK’s energy market is that it needs to be more competitive in order to get a better deal for customers. The last thing anybody needs is for prices to be frozen at the high levels at which Labour proposed to freeze them.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, with reference to his Department's publication Estimated impacts of energy and climate change policy on energy prices and bills, published in November 2014, what provision has been made in that document for likely costs of (a) additional generating capacity...

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, with reference to his Department's publication Estimated impacts of energy and climate change policy on energy prices and bills, published in November 2014, what provision has been made in that document for likely costs of (a) additional generating capacity...

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what comparative assessment he has made of trends in pump petrol prices and oil prices.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what comparative assessment he has made of trends in pump petrol prices and oil prices.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the effect of the recent fall in the price of oil on (a) projects, (b) employment prospects and (c) long-term competitiveness and capacity in the offshore sector supply chain in the North East...

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the effect of the recent fall in the price of oil on (a) projects, (b) employment prospects and (c) long-term competitiveness and capacity in the offshore sector supply chain in the North East...

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what discussions he has had with (a) trade unions representing the offshore workforce and (b) industry representatives on the effect of recent reductions in oil prices on the steps required to achieve revising the oil and gas Industrial Strategy...

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what discussions he has had with (a) trade unions representing the offshore workforce and (b) industry representatives on the effect of recent reductions in oil prices on the steps required to achieve revising the oil and gas Industrial Strategy...

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to the oral contribution by the hon. Member for Hastings and Rye of 14 January 2015, Official Report, column 931, what the evidential basis is for the statement that the number of independent suppliers has trebled to 19...

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to the oral contribution by the hon. Member for Hastings and Rye of 14 January 2015, Official Report, column 931, what the evidential basis is for the statement that the number of independent suppliers has trebled to 19...

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate his Department has made of the wholesale cost of (a) electricity and (b) gas in each year since 2001.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate his Department has made of the wholesale cost of (a) electricity and (b) gas in each year since 2001.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to the oral contribution by the hon. Member for Hastings and Rye of 14 January 2015, Official Report, column 931, on energy prices, what the evidential basis is for the statement that the market share of independent suppliers...

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to the oral contribution by the hon. Member for Hastings and Rye of 14 January 2015, Official Report, column 931, on energy prices, what the evidential basis is for the statement that the market share of independent suppliers...

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps his Department has taken with Ofgem to achieve a Price Average Reference (PAR) of 1MWh in future Capacity Market auctions; and when he expects that PAR to be implemented.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps his Department has taken with Ofgem to achieve a Price Average Reference (PAR) of 1MWh in future Capacity Market auctions; and when he expects that PAR to be implemented.