Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing legislation in order to prevent price gouging and strengthen consumer protection in case of rare and unexpected events.

The Government is committed to tackling consumer rip-offs and bad business practices, including profiteering.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) monitors firms suspected of profiteering to challenge unjustifiable price increases and takes enforcement action where there is evidence that competition or consumer protection law has been broken.

Through the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Bill, government has committed to give the CMA administrative enforcement powers to tackle businesses not treating customers fairly, bolstering protections for consumers across the economy.

The Government continues to monitor the operation of consumer markets and keeps all options under review to ensure good value and service for consumers.