§ 5. Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Minister of Power if he will give an estimate of the probable fiancial savings, where appropriate, from the use of one meter reader for both gas and electricity; and if he will make a statement.
§ 7. Mr. Danceasked the Minister of Power whether he will give a general direction to the Gas and Electricity Boards to co-operate in the reading of meters for the convenience of consumers and in the interests of economy.
§ Mr. FreesonNo useful estimate of savings can be made until the results of the current feasibility studies have been assessed. If these show that worth-while savings are possible, field trials will be 192 necessary to determine economies and other benefits to the industries and consumers. A general direction would not therefore be appropriate.
§ Mr. Carter-JonesSuch feasibility studies should have been conducted a long time ago. Should not the convenience of the consumer, apart from the question of finance, be taken into account? Could my hon. Friend give some of the savings to the meter readers as a result of increased productivity? Is it not about time that the gas and electricity undertakings got together on this matter?
§ Mr. FreesonThe answer to the number of points put by my hon. Friend lies in the last point. In fact, the industries have got together in establishing these joint studies. It may well be that they should have been started a long time ago, but my hon. Friend will recall that under the previous Administration there was a special committee of inquiry which went into precisely this matter about 10 years ago which came down against such techniques. It is in the last year or so that the feasibility studies have been arranged jointly between two boards in different parts of the country.
§ Mr. FreesonThe hon. Gentleman was not listening. The decision was made some time ago. I do not recall offhand his Question in 1966 because I was not in this post at that time. But I know that a decision was taken in the last 12 months for such feasibility studies to be undertaken. They have proceeded. They are now being assessed, and on the basis of that assessment we shall be able to see whether field trials can be undertaken in the areas concerned.