HYNDBURN MP Graham Jones has welcomed an investigation into the energy market.

Last week, the government announced the Competition and Markets Authority would look into the market.

And the Labour whip said: “This review is needed and overdue and I believe that the market investigations should also look at the role played by the energy regulator, Ofgem, who has clearly failed to protect consumers.

“I also believe that while this review is happening – which could take up to 18 months – the government should take action to ensure that consumers are protected from unfair price rises by introducing a temporary price freeze until 2017.”

Mr Jones continued: “On Wednesday, one of the big-six energy companies – SSE – announced they will freeze their energy price for 20 months.

“This shows that a price freeze is possible, as the Leader of the Opposition Ed Miliband has been saying since last year.

“The decision to refer the energy market to a competition inquiry, however, shows that a price freeze is needed now for all customers.”