27th March 2023: A Week in Parliament

Prepayment Meters

Back in January, with my colleagues at the APPG on Fuel Poverty, we wrote to the UK Government expressing concerns about the treatment of the four million prepayment meter customers across the UK. The bulk of customers are part of the most vulnerable in our society and we called for a ban on forced installations as well as action to address pricing disparities. We made a number of recommendations, including providing financial support to prepayment customers and removing price differentials between payment types. Last week, we eventually received a response from Grant Shapps MP, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, who has asked Ofgem to explore further ways to ensure suppliers protect vulnerable customers. He has also called on suppliers to voluntarily end forced installations and give more support to those struggling to pay bills. It is good to see that MPs’ perseverance has paid off in bringing about change.

My “Energy Week”

In the past week at Westminster, I led the SNP on the final budget day, concentrating on Energy matters. That morning I participated in the BEIS Select Committee hearing on the decarbonisation of the energy grid. On Wednesday I had a PMQ and I pointed out where the UK Government is failing Scotland on a lack of support for the Acorn CCS project, pumped storage hydro and tidal stream technology. On Thursday I then summed up in a debate on the “energy trilemma” (the combination of energy security, cost and net zero).

Gatehead Street Surgery

Great to tick off another Street Surgery this year as my staff and I chapped doors in Gatehead on Friday. I always enjoy doing these types of surgeries as it is important to get out and talk to constituents on their doorstep about local and national issues that are important to them. The weather was somewhat challenging with rain and hailstones battering down throughout! However, it was another successful Street Surgery and it was great that the two new-starts in my office, Hayley and Gillian, got to experience that side of the job. Plenty of cases picked up and some good conversations with constituents. I look forward to being out and about more during the imminent Easter Recess, with more Street Surgeries on the agenda.

Scotland National Team

By the time you are reading this, we will know our fate against Spain on Tuesday night. Going into the game there is plenty to be positive about Steve Clarke’s Scotland. On Friday, it was announced Sir Steve had signed an extended deal to 2026 ahead of the campaign kicking off against Cyprus at the weekend. Being at Hampden on Saturday, I would say that it was a convincing victory and there is certainly a feel-good factor around the national team. I am confident that with the Tartan Army behind us on Tuesday we can do something special while understanding how big a challenge Spain represents. Safe travels to all constituents heading up to the game, I’m gutted I can’t be there.