HC Deb 24 November 1986 vol 106 c4
4. Mr. Beith

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the provisions available for connecting homes without electricity to the public electricity supply.

Mr. Goodlad

Area electricity boards are required to make a supply available to premises situated within 50 yd of a distributing main. Beyond this distance, area boards can arrange connection for an appropriate payment. In some circumstances, it is possible to requisition a board to provide a distributing main to enable connection to be made.

Mr. Beith

Is it not a disgrace that in this day and age thousands of people are not on the public electricity supply and cannot be put on it unless they fork out thousands of pounds? My constituents are often quoted as much as £10,000. Will the Minister look at the system that operates in the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board area and the legislation which enables it to offer connection for much lower sums and see whether he can apply that in areas of England and the south of Scotland, where such facilities are not available?

Mr. Goodlad

Of the United Kingdom electricity boards, only the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board has a statutory provision to help with the economic development and social improvement of its district. Assistance with the costs of connection is given under that provision. I shall bear the hon. Gentleman's suggestion in mind, but my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no plans at present for such a measure. If the hon. Gentleman has any particular cases in mind, I hope that he will draw them to my attention.

Sir Kenneth Lewis

How many houses are still lit by gas mantles? Would it not be a good idea, before we consider privatising electricity supply, if we made arrangements to cover houses that do not have an electricity supply?

Mr. Goodlad

I have no figures for the number of gas mantles, but I shall try to find out and let my hon. Friend know.

Mr. Stern

Does my hon. Friend agree that the charges frequently quoted by electricity boards for reconnection, outside the small distance limit quoted by him, often smack of monopoly abuse? Will he consider ways in which competition may be introduced for the benefit of consumers?

Mr. Goodlad

I shall bear in mind my hon. Friend's suggestion. The level of charge is designed to recover cost.