§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what proposals she has to eliminate fuel poverty; and if she will make a statement. [4395]
§ Mr. BattleWe have made a commitment in our Manifesto to reduce poverty and welfare dependency: this commitment cuts across a number of policy areas, including energy. We are considering how to achieve that overall Manifesto commitment. In the energy field, competition is already bringing lower prices to many consumers; and we aim to ensure that these benefits are shared by all consumers, including those on low incomes. To inform our future policies, I have asked the gas and electricity regulators for a report on how competition will impact on people taking their supply via a prepayment meter.