Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Ed Davey and Adrian Sanders

Thursday 14th March 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Davey]

The hon. Gentleman will know that I benefit from an infallible Minister of State who comes from Lincolnshire. He keeps me informed of all the issues to do with Lincolnshire and gives me his own particular line on them. I can reassure the hon. Gentleman that I am well versed in Lincolnshire issues. We take community concerns seriously, not just in Lincolnshire but across the country. That is why we published the call for evidence on community benefits in September. We will report to the House on that in the summer.

[Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay) (LD)]

13. What steps he is taking to reduce the number of households in fuel poverty.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Davey]

As we said in our response to the Committee, we are working with members of the Arctic Council, which are the key countries that develop policies of that kind. We do not have the power to infringe their sovereignty, and I would not wish that, but we are working closely with them, particularly with close colleagues such as Norway.

[Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay) (LD)]

T9. Many of my constituents are concerned about fracking, but I am not aware of any applications for fracking in the south Devon area. Can the Minister reassure my constituents that the Government are not aware of any such applications?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Ed Davey and Adrian Sanders

Thursday 3rd June 2010 Commons Chamber

[Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay) (LD)]

14. If he will take steps to increase the use of Royal Mail by public sector bodies.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (Mr Edward Davey)]

It is for individual Government Departments and public bodies to decide which mail carrier to use, having regard for the most efficient and cost-effective ways of sending their mail. Given the public sector deficit that the Government inherited, that must be the right way forward.

[Mr Sanders]

Several Departments do not use Royal Mail, but outsource to firms such as DX Group, which, of course, means that the public purse is not recompensed. Surely if we are to safeguard Royal Mail and the Post Office, we ought to do more to help them.

[Mr Davey]

I am sorry to disappoint my hon. Friend, but it is very important that we use the competitive mail market to get the best value for the taxpayer. It is crucial that we abide by public procurement rules, and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills will not tell other Departments and public bodies how to procure their mail services.