MP for North East Hertfordshire, Sir Oliver Heald, has called on the Government to give help to vulnerable customers in switching energy tariff to find the best deal.

In a question to the Energy secretary, Amber Rudd MP, Sir Oliver asked “Does my right hon. Friend agree that it is particularly important for vulnerable customers to be able to find the best-value tariffs? Will she say a little more about what the Government are doing to spread that message and to ensure that such consumers get the best deals available? Does she agree that carers’ organisations and children’s centres, which support vulnerable younger families, may have a role to play?”

Amber Rudd MP replied, “It is absolutely essential that we improve access for vulnerable people to the switching that can provide such great benefits. It is no good people being able to benefit from a saving of about £200 on their energy bills unless they can actually access it. We launched the big energy saving network and put in £2 million to make sure that vulnerable people, who particularly need the improvement that this can deliver to their energy bills, can access it. One of the ways in which that can be done is through citizens advice bureaux, but in addition we will look at his other suggestions.”

Commenting afterwards, Sir Oliver said, “It is important for people to be able to find better energy deals and switch supplier easily. The Government has already implemented a national switching campaign and cut the time it takes to switch to 17 days, and it is good news that an energy-switching guarantee is being worked on. I am glad that the Minister will also look at my other suggestions.”

Watch the exchange here.

Follow Sir Oliver on Twitter at www.twitter.com/OliverHealdMP