HC Deb 14 June 1976 vol 913 cc3-5
3. Mr. Mike Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he is satisfied that the electricity boards are now pursuing his policy of removing obstacles to the installation of pre-payment meters other than for the largest customers.

The Under-Secretary of State for Energy (Mr. Gordon Oakes)

Electricity boards install pre-payment meters on request in appropriate cases.

Mr. Thomas

Is my hon. Friend aware that that answer is not strictly true, al- though I am sure it is not the Department's fault? Is he aware that one of my constituents, who has a sick husband and children at home, recently asked the North-Eastern Electricity Board to install a pre-payment meter and was told that she would have to wait a minimum of two years before it would be prepared to do so? Will he now see that the boards carry out the spirit of the policy laid down by the Secretary of State and recently readvocated by my hon. Friend in his report to his right hon. Friend?

Mr. Oakes

I shall certainly draw the attention of the board concerned to the case mentioned by my hon. Friend. The information that the boards have given to me and my colleagues on the committee is that they will install such meters on request in appropriate cases. My report on this matter is clear—that wherever a consumer requests a pre-payment meter, unless there are dangers it should be supplied.

Mr. Biffen

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that we should be very grateful if he would consider sympathetically the installation of pre-payment meters, particularly if action on that front would enable the Government to disregard the recommendations of the review body in respect of the powers of disconnection held by the electricity and gas boards? Is he aware that there is a hard core minority of feckless people for whom debt is a way of life, and that the vast, silent majority of those who pay on time would bitterly resent their tariff having to be increased to cross-subsidise that small clement?

Mr. Oakes

My view is that there has been a great deal of exaggeration in the figures put forward by both sets of boards as to the effect of ceasing the practice of disconnection. However, as my right hon. Friend said in his statement, my report is going to him and the boards are at liberty to put their views on the report to the Government before the Government contemplate action.

Mr. Ashley

Is my hon. Friend aware that the installation of pre-payment meters is an essential element in any new policy of ending disconnections? Should not the Secretary of State first meet the electricity and gas boards to press them to end the practice of disconnecting anyone who cannot pay and, secondly, initiate legislation to deprive the boards of the power to disconnect?

Mr. Oakes

I pay tribute to my hon. Friend the Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Ashley) for all the work he did on the review body. My right hon. Friend is meeting both kinds of boards in the very near future and has said that we shall hear the boards' views before any legislative action is taken.

Mr. James Lamond

Is my hon. Friend aware that even when a pre-payment meter has been installed the consumer's problems are not at an end? If a request is made for a meter to be emptied at other than the regular time, either because it is full or because the consumer is going on holiday and does not wish to leave a considerable sum of money in the meter, a charge of £2 is made by many boards for this service. Will my hon. Friend look into this matter?

Mr. Oakes

I have already considered the matter. My report strongly recommends that the making of charges for emptying full meters should cease.

Mr. Marten

Is not the question of disconnection the prime responsibility of the social security services rather than of the people who pay their bills?

Mr. Oakes

The Department of Health and Social Security has a responsibility for those consumers who come under its aegis, but many poor people who find difficulty in paying their bills are not in receipt of any form of social security benefit.