HL Deb 25 July 1984 vol 455 cc283-4

2.50 p.m.

Baroness Burton of Coventry

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

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress has been made as a result of discussions between the Department of Trade and Industry and the Gas and Electricity Consumers' Councils; and when they expect to make a statement to the House.

The Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Lord Belstead)

My Lords, the department had a useful initial discussion with the councils' secretariats of 28th June. It expects further comments shortly from the National Gas Consumers' Council which considered the guidelines on 17th July; and from the Electricity Consumers' Council which is doing so today. It will be necessary to resolve any points they raise, and to await the outcome of their discussions with the industries concerned. I will certainly keep the noble Baroness informed of developments.

Baroness Burton of Coventry

My Lords, is the Minister aware that I am delighted that we are at last making progress? Does he also realise that it has taken us nine months to reach this actual state, having started on 27th October last? Does he not agree that we would have been saved much time, much expenditure and the time of the House if departments would only give answers at the beginning that they have to give at the end?

Lord Belstead

My Lords, we now have drafts which are under discussion with the consumer councils, as the noble Baroness knows. Certainly the progress since the beginning of the year has been slower than my right honourable friends have wished; but my right honourable friend and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary dealing with corporate consumer affairs are determined to bring these matters to a satisfactory conclusion. But at the moment the ball is firmly in the court of the nationalised industries' consumer council.

Baroness Burton of Coventry

My Lords, may I ask the Minister something else? Being aware of the actual process which is envisaged in the near future, as is the noble Lord, might I ask him if I am being unreasonable in assuming that the information should be back to the Government departments at least by the end of September, and that we might then give him the pleasure of answering some more questions in the spill-over period in October?

Lord Belstead

My Lords, the timetable must depend in part upon the councils and the industries concerned. But, as I say, we intend to maintain the momentum and bring the initiative to a satisfactory conclusion. The noble Baroness is not being unreasonable to ask the question which she has just asked. Of course, it will be a very great pleasure, when the time comes, as the noble Baroness suspects it will be right, for more questions to be answered on this subject.

Baroness Burton of Coventry

My Lords, may I ask the Minister something else, if nobody else is going to ask a question? This is not the immediate concern of the Minister, but he has been most helpful. Does he think that eventually we might be able to ensure a debate in this House on the consumer councils in the nationalised industries, which I have had down for more than 12 months and which the Government studiously avoid? That is, if there are any nationalised industries left in the near future. Does he think that we might possibly have a debate?

Lord Belstead

My Lords, that is a matter of course for the usual channels.