HC Deb 08 February 1982 vol 17 cc725-6
7. Mr. Canavan

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will meet the chairmen of the fuel boards to discuss disconnection policy and related matters, in view of the recent severe weather.

19. Mr. Meacher

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many disconnections have been made by fuel boards in the last three months.

Mr. Mellor

I meet the chairmen from time to time and I recently discussed these issues with the chairman of the Electricity Council. I will ask the chairmen of the Electricity Council and British Gas Corporation to write to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) about the figures requested.

Mr. Canavan

Since the House last debated the matter two weeks ago there have been, even according to the Government's conservative estimates, probably at least 3,000 more families who have had gas or electricity supplies disconnected. Is it not about time that legislation was introduced to stop or limit the statutory powers of boards to disconnect? The code of practice is hopelessly inadequate to deal with the present emergency, in which thousands of low income families are living in fear of the gas or electricity bill arriving and, after it has arrived, living in fear of the man coming to disconnect the supply.

Mr. Mellor

I very much doubt whether the 3,000 figure is correct for the limited period to which the hon. Gentleman referred. I made it clear in the recent debate—I do not think that we had the pleasure of the hon. Gentleman's company—that disconnections will take place only after fair and reasonable procedures have been followed. It would not be in the interests of any consumer if the power to disconnect were removed altogether.

Mr. Meacher

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the independent review sponsored by the fuel industries of the code of practice designed to limit disconnections in cases of hardship found that most of those disconnected could not afford to pay their fuel bills, that three out of five were living on State benefits and that nine out of 10 were estimated to be in hardship? Since it is known that the death rate from cold and hypothermia rises markedly when the temperature falls below a certain level, will the right hon. Gentleman give instructions that disconnections should be suspended during the winter for all those living on State benefits or in equal poverty?

Mr. Mellor

The question of changes in the code is being considered by the industry and the consumer councils. I expect a report shortly. The hon. Gentleman knows that the question of defining hardship is a difficult one, but he also knows that the Government are making available more funds than ever before—certainly more than when he was a Minister at the DHSS, when disconnections were at the highest level during the decade and much higher than they are today.