Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 27 Apr 2022
Energy Security Strategy
"My Lords, there are things to welcome in this Statement but unfortunately, there are also many missed opportunities. Energy security is obviously critical at this time, but we must understand that it is about not just security of supply to the United Kingdom but the fact that millions of households …..."Lord Oates - View Speech
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Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 26 Apr 2022
International Energy Agency Report
"My Lords, has the Minister had a chance to read the excellent blog on this subject by the former clerk to the Lords Science and Technology Committee, Dr Simon Cran-McGreehin, which reminds us that, in 2012, 2.3 million insulation measures were installed in the UK before policy changes reduced that …..."Lord Oates - View Speech
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Written Question
Tuesday 12th April 2022
Asked by:
Lord Oates (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question
to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with energy suppliers about the practice of automatically imposing rises in direct debits without prior discussion with consumers.
Answered by Lord Callanan
- Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Ministers continue to engage extensively with Ofgem and senior representatives in the energy sector to understand the ongoing situation around rising energy prices. If customers do not receive prior notice of changes to their direct debit payments, they can make a complaint to their energy supplier.
Written Question
Tuesday 12th April 2022
Asked by:
Lord Oates (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question
to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to require energy suppliers to consult with vulnerable customers before increasing their direct debit payments.
Answered by Lord Callanan
- Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
All suppliers must take all reasonable steps to ensure that customers’ direct debit payments are based on the best available information. Energy suppliers typically review their customers’ direct debit arrangements twice a year based on an actual meter reading to ensure payments are set at a level to avoid large credit or debit balances. A supplier should explain the reasons for changes made to a customer’s direct debit arrangement with 10 days advance notice before the next payment is taken. The customer may challenge a proposed increase and renegotiate the direct debit payment level.
Written Question
Tuesday 12th April 2022
Asked by:
Lord Oates (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question
to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take, if any, to protect disabled customers from the impact of rising energy costs.
Answered by Lord Callanan
- Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Consumers in vulnerable situations due to health issues are protected by the energy price cap if they are on a supplier’s default or standard variable tariff. They will also receive £200 discount on their electricity bill this autumn, as part of the Government’s package worth £9.1 billion to help domestic households with rising energy bills.
The Government will continue to support eligible vulnerable and low-income households through the Warm Home Discount, Winter Fuel Payments and Cold Weather Payments. From April, local authorities will receive another £500 million for the Household Support Fund to provide help to the most in need.
Speech in Lords Chamber - Thu 07 Apr 2022
Energy Security Strategy
"My Lords, the immediate crisis of energy security relates to the energy security of millions of British people who are facing ruinous bills. In that context, why have the Government chosen a strategy that passes over the cheapest form of energy production —onshore wind—and have instead adopted the most expensive—nuclear—which …..."Lord Oates - View Speech
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Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 05 Apr 2022
Energy Storage Capacity
"To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have, if any, to increase energy storage capacity in the United Kingdom...."Lord Oates - View Speech
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Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 05 Apr 2022
Energy Storage Capacity
"I thank the Minister for his response. He will be aware that due to the UK’s lack of long-term energy storage, we waste enough wind energy every year to power over 1 million homes. Does he recognise that long-term energy storage, alongside renewables, could end this waste and provide the …..."Lord Oates - View Speech
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Speech in Grand Committee - Mon 04 Apr 2022
Boiler Upgrade Scheme (England and Wales) Regulations 2022
"My Lords, I too thank the Minister for his comprehensive explanation and for having spared the time last week, with his officials, to explain some of this stuff to me. It is welcome that we have a simpler scheme and that the Government are trying to understand that big schemes …..."Lord Oates - View Speech
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Speech in Lords Chamber - Thu 31 Mar 2022
Exports: Support for Businesses
"My Lords, has the Minister had a chance to read paragraph 1.16 of the OBR’s Economic and Fiscal Outlook? It states:
“With little evidence to suggest that we revise our assumption about the negative effect of Brexit on UK trade flows, we continue to forecast little growth in export …..."Lord Oates - View Speech
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