Off-Peak Electricity

HC Deb 11 November 1974 vol 881 cc22-4

27. Mr. Bryant Godman

Irvine asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the price and conditions of use of off-peak electricity.

The Under-Secretary of State for Energy (Mr. Alex Eadie)

As my right hon. Friend indicated in his statement on 29th July, at his request the area boards in England and Wales have adjusted off-peak electricity prices to restore the previous percentage relationship with standard prices. The conditions of use are a matter for the boards.

Mr. Godman Irvine

Attention has been drawn to the fact that notices are being issued indicating that the number of hours in which night storage is available is being reduced by one per day. Can the Minister suggest any possible explanation, except that there is a reduction in the facility and an increase in price?

Mr. Eadie

I am not sure what the hon. Gentleman is driving at. If he is referring to the situation in the Eastern and East Midlands Electricity Board's areas, I should like to tell him that there is no formal approval needed so far as I am concerned. The decision is voluntary. In our view, it is a proposal to save energy, but I stress that it is voluntary as far as the consumers are concerned. I understand that the majority of consumers should be able to save on their electricity bills.

Mr. Emery

Will the hon. Gentleman consider the use of night storage heaters by elderly people, who during the winter months often wish to have a boost of the heaters during the afternoon when the storage level is running out? They are quite willing to pay the prevailing cost of electricity for heating at that time. Certain electricity boards refuse to allow the necessary sort of meter to be added and, because of the board's monopoly position, that means that elderly people have to remain cold. Will the hon. Gentleman look into that and see whether the situation can be corrected?

Mr. Eadie

I think the hon. Gentleman is aware that that does not lie within the responsibility of the Department of Energy. His experience will tell him that it is a matter that rests in the hands of the area electricity boards concerned. I am concerned about the hon. Gentleman's emotive claim about pensioners being cold. If there is any credibility in the hon. Gentleman's suggestion, I am sure that the respective area boards will take note.

Mr. Tomlinson

Does not my hon. Friend agree that the best way to help old-age pensioners in this matter is for Opposition Members to support the Government's pension proposals in order that pensioners receive a decent pension and so are able to afford to pay their way in society as others do? Let us give them a proper basis of pension rather than make them live on concessions.

Mr. Eadie

I appreciate what my hon. Friend has said. The difficulty last week was that when it came to funding the increase of the £10 and £16 pensions that the minority Labour Government proposed, Opposition Members and others refused to have the courage of their convictions and opposed the necessary increases in the Division Lobby.

Mr. Tom King

Would not the biggest contribution towards helping with the cost of electricity be to ensure an ample available supply of coal? Can the Minister say why there has been such a deafening silence of advice from his Depart- ment to the mining industry on the importance of the productivity schemes?

Mr. Eadie

I think that the hon. Gentleman has not been paying attention to what has been happening. He should hear the statements my right hon. Friend and I have made at various meetings about coal production. But if the hon. Gentleman has a specific question to put on this matter, I hope that he will put it on the Order Paper. I assure him that we shall try to answer it to the best of our ability.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

When the Minister gets back to his Department, will he make a thorough investigation to see to what extent during the three years when the hon. Member's party was in Government and held the reins it implemented the hon. Member's admirable suggestion?

Mr. Eadie

I take note of what my hon. Friend has said, but the whole House is well aware that when one finds oneself in opposition there is sometimes a tendency to reminisce a little about what one should have done when one was in office. The present Government are going to act. That is the distinction.