Speeches by Hobhouse.

“A 91% increase is doubling.”

“There is a balance, but can Ofgem even secure an optimal outcome for all customers? Is that ever possible? Is there a long-term solution?”

“I know, but it takes some time before they come forward and, in the meantime, they have sat for weeks being cold. That is my concern. A more proactive approach is probably also necessary, so that people know exactly where they can go to. If something is being installed, there should be a telephone number, a helpline or…”

“Eating disorders are the mental health disorder with the highest mortality rate, and we have at least 1.2 million sufferers. Some are being told that they are now too ill to be treated, yet eating disorders are entirely treatable. Today the all-party parliamentary group on eating disorders is publishing its report on h…”

“Moving on to the ban on acquisition-only tariffs, is there a risk that continuing this ban into 2026 will prevent consumers from significantly benefiting from competition in the market, which may otherwise look quite different from how it does now? It is basically the other side, where we have quite savvy customers who…”

“We need a separate session on smart metering, because we are getting into the nitty‑gritty of this. Coming back to vulnerable customers, all of this is assuming that all people are digitally included and digitally literate. While we are possibly more engaged and digitally literate, there are lots of people out there wh…”

“Thank you. Do you want my piece of paper with the additional names?”

“The additional names are Alex Sobel and Tim Roca.”

“Thank you very much, Chair. You have seen my debate application, but I can summarise. One of the most important topics we have discussed in not only the previous Parliament but this one is, of course, the cost of energy, because it impacts households and the cost of living, and also because we need to get to net zero, …”

“I am happy with that.”

“I have acquired a few more.”

“I was warned. In fact, I should have known that the Government usually want to have a bigger number of Government MPs signing an application, and I am sorry that I had not conveyed that to my member of staff.”

“We Liberal Democrats welcome this initiative from the Government, although in our manifesto we went further and committed ourselves to introducing a deposit return scheme for food and drink bottles and containers. We agree with the Government that a scheme of this kind will foster a nature-positive economy, tackle plas…”

“I am the chair of the eating disorders all-party parliamentary group. To make any progress, we have to understand that eating disorders are highly stigmatised. Many people with obesity also have an eating disorder. To make real progress, is not the first thing to take the stigma away from obesity and get to the people …”

“Bathford village shop and café has become a lifeline for local people in my Bath community, but it is at risk of losing its premises. The £150 million community ownership fund was crucial to sustaining these local assets. Will the Minister comment on the future of the community ownership fund?”

“My hon. Friend and I are members of the Energy Security and Net Zero Committee, and yesterday we heard evidence from the Secretary of State. He said that the transition to net zero is the biggest opportunity for all of us, including those in the south-west, to create prosperity and the jobs we need for the future. Does…”

“I know that the National Energy System Operator has just put forward proposals to Government on how to address the grid queue and how it should be renewed and reviewed. Does the right hon. Lady agree that we need to hear from Government as soon as possible what the reorganisation of the grid queue would mean and which …”

“T2. The last Conservative Government left music education in a dire state. In Bath, the Orchestra of Everything Foundation is working against that tide with great success as 70% of the children it reaches take up a second instrument. What will the Government do to improve music education?”

“T2. The last Conservative Government left music education in a dire state. In Bath, the Orchestra of Everything Foundation is working against that tide with great success as 70% of the children it reaches take up a second instrument. What will the Government do to improve music education?”

“You are very generous, Secretary of State.”