HC Deb 28 March 1963 vol 674 c1513
16. Mr. Barnett

asked the Minister of Power if he will take steps to control the price at which electricity supplied by area electricity boards is resold through privately operated meters.

37. Mr. Walker

asked the Minister of Power whether he will introduce legislation to prevent the sale of electricity by landlords to tenants at a price higher than that charged by the Area Boards.

Mr. Wood

The Electricity Act, 1957, gives the area electricity boards power to fix maximum resale prices. It is difficult to devise a fair and effective formula which could be applied generally, but I am discussing the matter with the Electricity Council.

Mr. Barnett

I thank the Minister for that reply, but I hope that he will go into this matter very seriously because there is considerable exploitation of lodgers in this respect.

Mr. Wood

I can give the hon. Gentleman the assurance that I shall certainly go into it carefully. This is a very complicated matter indeed, because such is the difference between individual tariffs that it would be difficult to fix a maximum price for the average unit sold. It varies with the quantity sold, and there are other difficulties such as appliances provided by landlords, but I shall certainly go into it and, if I may, I shall write Ito the hon. Gentleman when I have completed my inquiries.

Mr. Walker

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there are cases in my constituency where it would appear that landlords are making a profit of 200 per cent. to 300 per cent. on electricity supplied to tenants and thereby obtaining, in the last quarter, an increased rent of about £1 a week by this means? Will my right hon. Friend not only take action on this, but take it urgently?

Mr. Wood

Although area boards have not fixed maximum prices, they all tell me that they are ready to try to help in settling individual cases of alleged overcharging. Perhaps my hon. Friend would let me have the details of what he said.