Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Gas and Electricity Prices

Tuesday 13 October 2026 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Liz Jarvis raised concerns about the impact of rising gas prices on electricity price caps.
  • The Secretary of State emphasized investing in renewables and clean power to control energy costs.
  • Mike Reader noted that households and businesses are suffering due to high gas prices and the need for electrification.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Liz Jarvis
Taxation Climate Foreign Affairs Energy
Context

Jarvis raised concerns about rising gas prices and their impact on electricity bills, noting that 25% of households in Eastleigh are in fuel poverty and many businesses are struggling with increasing energy costs.

Question

I raised the decoupling of gas and electricity prices with the former Energy Secretary in March. Eight months into the illegal war in Iran, rising gas prices have pushed the price cap up by 4% this month, wiping out VAT savings on energy bills. Trump's lifting of sanctions on Russian diesel leaves fuel prices at the mercy of Putin. In Eastleigh, more than a quarter of households are in fuel poverty, and businesses are struggling with spiralling bills. Will the Secretary of State go further and faster on decoupling gas and electricity prices, including by investing more in home-grown renewable energy?

Answer from Miatta Fahnbulleh

Yes, absolutely. The route out of rising energy bills is by investing in renewables and clean power. The Conservatives are reneging on the cross-party consensus to control our energy system and its impact on consumers. We are taking action by bringing on more clean power and expanding contracts for difference that fix the price of renewables.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific commitments on going further and faster on decoupling gas and electricity prices

How: Criticising The Conservatives For Reneging On Consensus

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Q2 Liz Jarvis
Climate
Context

Reader highlighted the need to build and invest in green power to weaken the link between gas and electricity prices.

Question

The Secretary of State is right that gas sets the price for power most of the time. Every wind farm and solar array built in our country weakens that link. Reform and the Conservatives object to developments in Northamptonshire. Does the Secretary of State agree that the route to cheaper bills is to build and invest, not to retreat from green power?

Answer from Miatta Fahnbulleh

My hon. Friend is completely right. The route to getting bills down is through clean power. Over the past two years, we have unlocked £100 billion of investment in clean power.

Answered

Not addressed: null

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Q3 Mike Reader
Climate Energy
Context

Heylings argued that the UK needs a national electrification strategy to bring down bills, decouple gas from electricity, and maximise the use of increasing renewables.

Question

Households and businesses have been left at the mercy of a broken energy system, and they are paying the price. Gas is setting the price of electricity. Gas is at a three-year high and is due to go up again in January. Other European countries are accelerating electrification. Does the Secretary of State agree that we need a national electrification strategy to decouple gas from electricity and make the most of our increasing renewables?

Answer from Miatta Fahnbulleh

The hon. Member is right. Our route out of this is through clean power. We have a strategy through our warm homes plan, ensuring access to solar and clean heat. Countries across Europe are watching the UK and seeing our progress.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific commitments on a national electrification strategy

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