§ 7. Sir Albert Costainasked the Secretary of State for Energy if his Department will negotiate with the gas boards with a view to their including a leaflet when sending out gas bills advising consumers how to obtain Government grants for insulating homes.
§ Mr. John MooreI am pleased to inform my hon. Friend that the gas regions have already done so.
§ Sir Albert CostainI thank my hon. Friend for that reply. Is he satisfied that this document shows the extra help given to old-age pensioners? The heating of their homes means so much to their continued good health.
§ Mr. MooreI shall draw the point that my hon. Friend makes to the attention of the gas boards. There are specific additional forms of help, including up to 90 per cent. on insulation, for those who are elderly and in special need.
§ Mr. Donald StewartWould there not be more advantages for the consumer if the Government adhered to their declared policy of non-intervention, instead of forcing an industry that is making substantial profits to make astronomical rises in prices?
§ Mr. MooreI think that my hon. Friend was trying to ask me to encourage the British Gas Corporation, like other nationalised corporations, to help the consumer to understand the benefits of insulation to industry, to the nation and to individuals. That is to be commended.
§ Mr. FormanI welcome the progress already made by the gas boards, but is there not a case for changing the statutory terms of reference so that both gas and electricity boards can go into conservation properly, as on the West Coast of the United States?
§ Mr. MooreAny suggestions of that kind merit attention, but I am obviously not at liberty to discuss statutory changes at this time.
§ Mr. RowlandsIs the Minister not aware that gas consumers understand all too well that they will face a 25 per cent. increase in gas prices in the coming year? That is a gas bill of £450 million for average domestic gas consumers. Would it not be better at least to withdraw the 10 per cent. surcharge imposed by the Government and allow the British Gas Corporation to set its own prices?
§ Mr. MooreApart from the fact that the domestic gas sector only just about breaks even, I believe that Opposition Members should be more aware of the ways in which rational pricing is producing an expenditure of £400 million this year on domestic insulation in the United Kingdom.