§ 8. Mr. Greenwayasked the Secretary of State for Energy what further evidence he has received concerning the practice of some landlords in charging more for electricity than the relevant area board; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Giles ShawI have received no recent evidence about overcharging by landlords for electricity supplied. However, the Office of Fair Trading has recently issued a consultative document on the resale of electricity, which I am considering.
§ Mr. GreenwayIs not a report to my hon. Friend on this very matter long overdue? Does he not agree that it 13 is wrong for landlords to charge a price for electricity that is above the official price and beyond what is reasonable for administrative purposes?
§ Mr. ShawI understand my hon. Friend's question, but he will be aware that when the matter was last re-examined in 1977 it was recommended that there should be no legislative change. There is now an investigation sponsored by the Electricity Consumers Council, and comments on the consultative document have been invited until the end of June. Until we have received those comments, we cannot consider that the matter is final.