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People & Opinion Utility Week community UTILITY WEEK | 21ST - 27TH JULY 2017 | 7 "Maintaining consumer confidence is crucial if we are to keep our economy growing, yet the voice of consumers is worryingly absent from the Brexit process" Peter Vicary-Smith, Which? chief executive, on the government's Repeal Bill The new chairs of the parlia- mentary select committees have been confirmed. Labour MP Mary Creagh has been reappointed chair of the Environmental Audit Committee. On her re-election, she said: "The environment was conspicuously absent from the Queen's speech. I am deter- mined it will not be ignored in the Brexit negotiations." Her party colleague Rachel Reeves was elected chair of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strat- egy Committee. Conservative MP Neil Parish was also re-elected as the new chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee. After his re-election, he said: "The coming months are crucial for Defra in preparing for the Brexit negotiations. My committee has a vital role to play." The trio of MPs will formally take up their positions as chairs when the remaining mem- bers of the committees have been named. SELECT COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS "I am sure this is an issue on which we can work across the House together." Damian Green, first secretary of state, on tackling 'unfair practices in the energy market' Dozens of staff from Tideway took to the streets of London last week as part of the Pride in London Parade. Chief executive Andy Mitchell was among those who enjoyed the festivities supporting the capital's LGBT community on the Tideway float. PAN-UTILITY Utilities pledge support for Grenfell Tower fire victims Utilities and the government have offered a comprehensive package of support to victims of the Grenfell tower fire. Energy suppliers have agreed that they will: l write off any outstanding debts for energy bills for people who lived in Grenfell Tower, while preserving pre- payment and credit balances; l not charge people for energy for the period aer the fire; l not put former residents who have been resettled on a more expensive tariff; and l put direct debit payments for residents on hold. Thames Water has confirmed that all accounts held by resi- dents of Grenfell Tower have been frozen. For people who lived in Gren- fell Tower, Thames Water: l has already written off any outstanding debts; and l will refund accounts where charges have been paid in advance, once details of account holders are known. For residents who have been evacuated from neighbour- ing properties, Thames Water has said it will will waive charges so those people will not be charged for a service they have not received. Business and energy sec- retary Greg Clark said: "Busi- nesses should play an active role in society and I am pleased that all the energy companies supplying Grenfell Tower have come together and agreed to a set of principles in support of families who have already lost so much." The energy suppliers who have committed themselves to the package are: British Gas, Ecotricity, EDF Energy, Eon, Flow Energy, Npower, Ovo, SSE, Robin Hood, Utilita and Utility Warehouse.