HL Deb 04 April 1978 vol 390 cc5-6

2.42 p.m.

Viscount ST. DAVIDS

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will emphasise to the nationalised industries the need to examine demands for payment carefully before sending them to old people to avoid alarming or injuring them with very high and irrational demands.

Lord STRABOLGI

My Lords, the nationalised industries are mindful of the need for care in preparing and submitting bills to all their consumers. Her Majesty's Government do not believe it necessary to raise the matter with the chairmen at this time.

Viscount ST. DAVIDS

My Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for that Answer, may I ask whether he really believes that the situation is adequate? Is he aware that at the moment I have in my hand a bill for electricity for £506 in respect of a house whose quarterly bill ought to have been between £30 and £40, with a demand that it be paid within 10 days? Is he aware that, luckily, this was sent to me, whereupon I was able to laugh at it very heartily, but that I stopped laughing rather suddenly when I realised what would have happened had this been sent to an elderly person?

Lord STRABOLGI

My Lords, I am not aware of what the noble Viscount carries in his hand, but if he has any specific cases perhaps he would let me know. With regard to the general point, I do admit there are occasional errors, mainly due to a computer; but we must remember that there are 17 million electricity and 12 million credit gas consumers.