§ Lord Granville of Eyeasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether it is the policy of the Midlands Electricity Board (MEB) to cut off the supply to old-age pensioners during the period of "freeze up" and to threaten court proceedings where they owe only small amounts; if so, what steps the Government propose to get this policy changed; and whether an independent body exists to which users may appeal against harassment and other action by MEB officials and their agents.
§ Lord SkelmersdaleThe issues raised in the noble Lord's question are primarily the responsibility of the MEB. However, that board in common with the rest of the electricity and gas industries operates a Code of Practice on the payment of bills. This gives guidance on pay-as-you-go facilities and other possible sources of help available to those who may have difficulty in meeting their bills. The code also lays down safeguards against disconnection for potential cases of hardship; in particular it provides that pensioner households will not be disconnected during the winter months (1st October to 31st March). Following an independent review of the code last year by the Policy Studies Institute the industries have recently agreed to introduce changes to improve contact with those consumers the code is designed to help. Details were given by my honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department of Energy in answer to a Written Question on 29th March (Official Report, Vol 21, col. 25). A copy of 375WA the industries' proposals was placed in the Library of the House.
If the noble Lord's Question is prompted by any particular case, then I suggest this be taken up in the first instance with the chairman of the MEB. Any consumer who is dissatisfied with the board's response to a complaint may pursue the matter with the Midlands Area Electricity Consultative Council (MECC), the body statutorily appointed to represent consumers' interests. I am sending the noble Lord a copy of the industries' Code of Practice and details of the MECC.