§ 4.2 p.m.
§ Mr. Eddie Loyden (Liverpool, Garston)I beg to move,
That leave be given to bring in a Bill to limit the powers of Electricity Boards to disconnect supply from certain categories of households; and for purposes connected therewith.The House is fully aware of the problem that is raised in this proposed Bill, and I hope that during this debate we may be able to see the extent to which that problem has increased and the tremendous difficulties that are being experienced by large sections of our society in the supply of heating for their homes. The present powers for disconnection are based on Section 21 of the Act of 1882. The House will agree that many profound changes have taken place during the 94 years since that Act went on to the statute book.At that time electricity was largely unknown in many homes throughout the country, and it was not until the post-war period that many working-class homes were supplied with electricity. Therefore-fore, in the context of my Bill we are looking today at a situation dramatically changed from that which existed when the earlier legislation was introduced. Even in the 1920s and 1930s, when most people were dependent on the open fire as a means of heating, working-class families by their ingenuity could always find ways and means of heating the home. Today, however, because most homes are dependent on gas, electricity, oil and solid fuel, that particular activity has greatly diminished and now we are speaking in particular of the effects of electricity disconnections. But while my Bill would deal specifically with electricity supply, it is obvious that the same problem arises with gas and I would hope that at some future date a similar Bill will be brought before the House to deal with that problem.
We are all aware that charges for electricity have dramatically increased during the last few years. Since January 1973 those charges have more than doubled, and over this period a massive increase has taken place in the number of disconnections. The House will be fully aware of the causes and effects of increased electricity charges, because the subject has been raised constantly in the 1322 House. Numerous Questions have been asked, and it was, I believe, the general feeling of the House which brought the Secretary of State for Energy to the point of making a statement on electricity disconnections as they affected old-age pensioners.
While that statement was most welcome, I suggest to the House that it was quite inadequate to deal with the breadth and depth of the problem which exists today, because the figures disclose that up to 31st March this year there were over 138,000 disconnections of electricity supply. Although that increase was below the anticipated increase projected last year, I feel that we have only the mild winter to thank for the present situation. I feel sure everyone will agree that had we had a severe winter the number of disconnections would certainly have doubled. In saying that, we have to take into account the consequences in hardship, misery and even death that would follow in the wake of disconnections of that magnitude.
From time to time the House has brought forward legislation to protect the interests of the people, and much progressive legislation has been invoked which 100 years ago would have seemed inconceivable. Today we have protection for a person buying goods through hire purchase whereby in certain circumstances those goods cannot be recovered without recourse to the courts. Similarly, after many years of struggle we have established the right of a person in many circumstances not to be ejected from his property without an order of the court.
Yet today, in 1976, we still allow disconnection of the electricity supplies, which in some cases may be considered as a means of life, and not only for older people. A recent television programme illustrated the concern expressed by mothers with newly-born babies, not only by those in low-paid or low-income groups but by families who appeared to be in a reasonably comfortable position, showing the difficulties they were experiencing and the concern they were expressing over the possibility of grave illness resulting from their inability adequately to heat their rooms. Many of them pointed out that their rooms were below the temperature that had been advised by the hospital. It is time for us to 1323 examine whether it is right, when electricity is fast becoming a luxury for many people, to allow disconnections to take place in the way they do.
I believe that society generally rejects the idea that householders should be disconnected in this way. Even the steps taken by local and central Government agencies appear to be inadequate to meet people's need. All hon. Members will have had experience of the cases I have in mind. I could quote numerous examples which have been sent to me by various organisations. I am aware that hon. Members understand the position. I do not need to impress upon them the importance of this problem. The cases coming to the fore at the moment show that the problem is not confined to the elderly and chronically sick. There is a whole group of people affected whom the Government must help. I do not only have in mind those on low, fixed incomes. The unemployed are suffering too. There are single-parent families and other groups of socially-pressed people who are finding it difficult, if not impossible, to meet their electricity bills.
I hope that the House will give me leave to introduce the Bill. It will not resolve all the problems I have cited. That is a matter for the Government. Until we have a properly integrated fuel policy directing the resources of the nation to areas where they are most needed, we shall never overcome all our problems. I seek leave to introduce the Bill so that we may give the agencies to which I have referred the chance to come into operation and take up cases before disconnection occurs. I want the heavy hand of the electricity boards to be stayed until such time as there is an examination of the cases. This will give many people an opportunity to avoid disconnection.
Question put and agreed to.
Bill ordered to be brought in by Mr. Eddie Loyden, Mr. Ron Thomas, Mr. George Rodgers, Mr. Eric S. Heffer, Mr. J. W. Rocker, Mr. Robert Parry, Mr. Stan Thorne, Mr. Mike Thomas, Mr. Mark Flannery, Mrs. Audrey Wise, Mr. John Ovenden and Mr. Bob Cryer.