HC Deb 12 January 1976 vol 903 cc10-1
7. Mr. Cryer

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he is satisfied with current scales for electricity and gas charges.

Mr. Benn

The present general levels of charges for electricity and gas were approved by the Government.

Mr. Cryer

Does my right hon. Friend accept that the increased charges are causing great concern and great hardship? Does he agree that the subsidies to the nationalised boards should be retained over a much longer period? Secondly, will he be prepared to request all the area boards to provide prepayment facilities? Some boards—in particular, the Yorkshire Electricity Board—are reluctant to provide such facilities. Prepayment meters are a very important advantage to many people on low incomes. Will my right hon. Friend consider that point?

Mr. Benn

I agree with what my hon. Friend says about the serious impact on family budgets of the increase that has taken place in electricity and fuel charges generally, arising out of a change in the world situation with which he is well familiar. The choice before us in pricing for the fuel industries is to decide whether it is sensible to provide an across-the-board subsidy by uneconomic pricing or to move to economic pricing, thus giving the Government greater scope in other areas.

The policy that is adopted on prepayment procedures varies from board to board, but I am well aware of the advantage of prepayment facilities if they can cope with some of the practical problems involved. We are considering the token scheme and other schemes that have been put forward.

Mr. Lipton

Will my right hon. Friend consider the position that arises when a one-parent family with four schoolchildren is faced with an electricity bill of £700, when, despite the activities of the social security office and the local authority, the electricity supply has been cut off and there is no heating and no hot water? Is my right hon. Friend aware that the people concerned are living in the most miserable conditions?

Mr. Benn

If my hon. Friend's experience is the same as mine, he will know that every hon. Member will be coming across individual cases of that kind. Without seeking to do the work of the boards or of the social security departments, if my hon. Friend will inform me about these matters I shall be interested to consider in detail what lies behind a case of the kind that he has mentioned.