§ 5. Mr. Dempseyasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give a general direction to the electricity boards to stop the practice of using warrant sales as a means of recovering debt, in view of the current investigation into complaints about the practice; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Gregor MacKenzieNo, Sir. The action taken by the boards to recover debt is a matter for their commercial judgment. I understand that it is only on extremely rare occasions that the boards have warrant sales carried out.
§ Mr. DempseyIf my right hon. Friend studied some of the provincial newspapers, he would find that this practice is very extensive. In view of the inhumanity of the whole affair, the public humiliation that it causes to debtors, and the fact that other Energy Departments have virtually abandoned it, will not he give the electricity boards some advice in order that this practice should cease?
§ Mr. MacKenzieIn view of what my hon. Friend has just said, I am bound to put this into perspective. The boards follow the procedures for securing payment of debt set out in the code of practice, of which, I am sure, my hon. Friend is aware. Despite the debts due to the electricity boards, there was only one warrant sale in the past year.
§ Mr. CorrieWill the Minister encourage the boards to fit slot meters 449 into houses where people are having trouble paying their bills? They seem extremely reluctant to do this, yet it would be one way of making people budget so that they could have their heat and food.
§ Mr. MacKenzieThe boards have introduced the code of practice on disconnections, which is designed to help people in trouble with their electricity bills. They have introduced a wide range of other measures, including stamps, and so on. I can assure the hon. Gentleman that the boards do look at the question of prepayment meters.