§ 2. Mr. Thomas Coxasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects the conversion to natural gas to be completed in England and Wales.
§ The Minister for Industry (Mr. Tom Boardman)I am informed that more than 90 per cent, of all conversions in England and Wales will be completed by 1975. The whole programme will take a further two years.
§ Mr. CoxI note that reply. Can the hon. Gentleman say whether the gas boards have been able to overcome many of the problems which conversion has caused to consumers, such as bad workmanship, long delays in the supply of parts, and additional costs for new appliances? Such matters have been a source of great criticism by consumers and they have received scant attention from the gas boards. Has the position improved?
§ Mr. BoardmanI am well aware of the hon. Gentleman's interest in the matter, and he has put forward a number of complaints. He will be glad to know that the majority of conversions have been completed without giving rise to complaint and that the rate of call-back has fallen to less than 15 per cent. The aim is to keep the rate of call-back to the minimum and to achieve even better results in the future.