Written evidence to be reported to the House
Energy Bill
12:00 pm
Malcolm Wicks (Minister of State (Energy), Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform; Croydon North, Labour)
Having asked questions in the past and more recently answered them, I am well aware which is the easier role and am pleased to be undertaking it, unusually, at the moment. When I discuss the energy market with parliamentary colleagues, as I did this morning in a Westminster Hall debate, I find that there seems to be a sharp divide of opinion between those who feel that we have an energy market that is not only competitive, but probably the best in Europe, to the benefit of consumers, and those who are doubtful about that and who feel that there is a lack of competition and that it is more like an oligopoly than a competitive market. I would be grateful if the witnesses could give their opinion on that issue.