HC Deb 08 December 1980 vol 995 cc609-11
6. Mr. Dubs

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what representations he has received about the number of electricity disconnections that have taken place in the current year.

Mr. Norman Lamont

I have received letters from three hon. Members, plus representations from the Child Poverty Action Group, the Electricity Consumers' Council, the London Boroughs Association and the National Council for One-Parent Families.

Mr. Dubs

Is the Minister aware that disconnections by the London Electricity Board are increasing rapidly, and that in June to September of this year there were more than double last year's total? What action can now be taken to protect pensioners, people with young families and others from the harsh winter?

Mr. Lamont

I entirely share the hon. Gentleman's concern. I met the chairman of the LEB last week to discuss this matter and impressed upon him the need to ensure that the code of practice on disconnections was observed. I have also discussed the matter with the Gas Corporation and the Electricity Council. As a result of those discussions the industries have agreed to two amendments to the code of practice, the details of which I shall give in an answer later today. The effect of the changes is that, first, the hardship criteria for the availability of pre-payment meters will be removed, so that meters will be more widely available; and, secondly, that the plight of the sick and the disabled, who were revealed as a particular problem in the PSI study on disconnections, will also be referred to in the code. I hope that those two steps will result in some improvement in what I agree is a worrying situation.

Dr. Glyn

My hon. Friend is aware of the pre-payment argument, but one of my constituents who is on supplementary benefit was allowed to run up an account of no less than £800 because of incompetence on the part of the DHSS and the electricity board. Will he please review his decision that no one should be held responsible, that there should be no disciplinary action and no surcharge? Does he further agree that it was only when I insisted that a pre-payment meter should be installed, in the interests not only of the board but of the consumer, that that was done?

Mr. Lamont

I agree that in that case it would have been better if a pre-payment meter had been available for my right hon. Friend's constituent, but in these circumstances the boards are in a difficulty. If they allow large debts to run up they are criticised; on the other hand, if they disconnect people before those debts are run up, they are still criticised. However, I understand my hon. Friend's concern in this case.

Mr. Freud

I think the whole House will welcome what the Minister has said about the provision of prepayment meters. What arrangements are being made for their provision, and will they be manufactured in this country?

Mr. Lamont

I have no information on the second point, but I shall look into it and write to the hon. Member. I have no reason to think that such meters cannot be available to meet the demand, and I have stressed to the industries that I think that these arrangements should be publicised as much as possible.