Electricity: Resale by Landlords (Hansard, 20 June 1985)

§ Baroness Burton of Coventry
My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Lucas of Chilworth
My Lords, the Government welcome the director general's analysis of the problems and will study the report's recommendations.

§ Baroness Burton of Coventry
My Lords, while I am glad that the Government welcome the analysis, can the noble Lord answer the Question on the Order Paper, which asks what action the Government propose to take? That seems to me the relevant part of the Question. May I ask the Minister whether he has himself read the report, or whether he is relying on his brief? If he has read it, would he not agree that those most susceptible to overcharging are the poorer sections of the community who are afraid to take action because of disputes with their landlords? Concerning the action, may I ask the Government whether they will consider making overcharging a criminal offence so that the resale of electricity may be brought into line with other fuels?

§ Lord Lucas of Chilworth
My Lords, had I been able to add to my earlier Answer, I most certainly would have done so. But until we have studied the report in full it is difficult to describe to the noble Baroness the action we propose to take. As to her second supplementary question, indeed, I have read the report from the beginning to the end; I am not relying entirely upon my brief. I accept that those who might be hardest hit are certainly the poorer sections of the community in rented accommodation who, although having a civil remedy, are often not willing to exercise that option for fear of retribution from a landlord.
We shall consider the recommendation, one of eight that the report includes, with regard to making the overcharging for electricity a criminal offence. But the noble Baroness and your Lordships will know that this requires primary legislation. There are other issues involved in making this a criminal offence which would need close study by a number of Her Majesty's Government's departments of state.

§ Lord Harmar-Nicholls
My Lords, is my noble friend aware that, while the House has great respect for the noble Baroness, Lady Burton, there would be reluctance in the country, I believe, to have any more criminal offences added to the statute book? Nowadays it is almost criminal to wake up in the morning. There is no need to add to that; otherwise, the free society that we talk about will soon be non-existent. Will the Minister put the "criminal offence" answer to the problem very much at the bottom of the list and not at the top?

§ Lord Lucas of Chilworth
My Lords, I understand what my noble friend means by his question. Certainly the recommendations of the Director General of Fair Trading, who does suggest that this should be a criminal offence, will be studied most carefully. I do not think that my noble friend would expect me this afternoon to say exactly in which order of listing of priorities that recommendation should fall.

§ Lord Harmar-Nicholls
My Lords, at the bottom.

§ Baroness Gardner of Parkes
My Lords, is my noble friend aware that information on this matter is of great importance to the tenants concerned and that many electricity authorities, and certainly the London Electricity Board, issue leaflets explaining to tenants the maximum amount that should be chargeable?

§ Lord Lucas of Chilworth
My Lords, different electricity boards do indeed, as my noble friend suggests, adopt different tactics. But one would hope that all the electricity boards would take note of the suggestion of the Director General of Fair Trading that greater publicity be given to the resale of electricity and the conditions that apply to users of electricity by those boards.