§ 19. Mrs. GilroyTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made in achieving a fair system of regulation in the energy market. [55072]
§ Dr. HowellsWe have made good progress. Following the publication of the Green Paper on Utility Regulation in March, we published a response to consultation in July which set out a series of commitments to improve regulation of all the privatised utilities, including gas and electricity. The Government intend to place the regulators under a new primary duty to protect the interests of consumers and to create new independent statutory Consumer Councils. We also intend a number of specific reforms in relation to energy regulation. These include the separate licensing of electricity supply and distribution, which will lead to greater competition in the electricity market, and the merger of Offer and Ofgas. Indeed on the last point, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has recently announced the appointment of Callum McCarthy as the new combined gas and electricity regulator. We have recently published consultation papers on the detail of these and other changes, and will bring forward our proposals taking account of responses received.