§ Baroness Burton of CoventryMy 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 steps they have taken to bring to the attention of electricity boards their stated wish that all the electricity boards would take note of the suggestion of the Director General of Fair Trading that greater publicity be given by those boards to the resale of electricity and the conditions that apply to users of electricity (20th June, col. 362).
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Lucas of Chilworth)My Lords, the Government have had wide-ranging discussions with the electricity supply industry about the report of the Director General of Fair Trading, including his recommendation for wider publicity. I understand that many electricity boards are already discussing with their area consultative councils what steps should be taken to improve publicity.
§ Baroness Burton of CoventryMy Lords, is the Minister aware that, though that Answer is a little better than the one I had expected, it has taken four months to reach this stage? As no question of legislation is entailed and as the Government themselves have expressed a desire that this should be done, can the Minister say what is holding matters up?
§ Lord Lucas of ChilworthMy Lords, I am glad that the noble Baroness feels that that Answer is a better one. However, she will recall that on the 20th June and the 30th July I answered a Question similar to her last supplementary. The matter is complex and the Director General of Fair Trading has raised a number of points which have cross-departmental frontiers. In fact it is the necessarily detailed consultations and conversations which are to some extent delaying the Government's full response to all the recommendations.
§ Baroness Burton of CoventryMy Lords, while I remember that the Minister said that the last time, does he realise that the House found no credence at all in the fact that giving a little greater publicity cut across all the other departments involved, and if the department itself wished to go ahead it would do so? Why does the department not take steps to help those tenants who are most in need and who are overcharged by a minority of fraudulent landlords?
§ Lord Lucas of ChilworthMy Lords, as I explained we are disinclined to take in isolation one recommendation out of a series. Perhaps I could remind the noble Baroness that the Department of Energy has produced a leaflet called Reselling Electricity—A Guide for Tenants and Landlords, which offers advice on the more common problems.
§ Baroness Burton of CoventryMy Lords, does the Minister realise the near despair that is felt by people who are trying to do a job who continually get that type of answer from him? It is nothing but stonewalling and it gets us nowhere. It takes months to get a proper answer.
§ Lord Lucas of ChilworthMy Lords, I am disappointed that the noble Baroness finds no satisfaction in this series of answers. I can add nothing further to that which I have already said.
§ Baroness Fisher of RednalMy Lords, can the noble Lord tell the House where the copy of the leaflet is placed, so that we can give advice to other people? Where is it available and from where can we get it?
§ Lord Lucas of ChilworthMy Lords, I understand that the leaflet to which I referred is available in Citizens Advice Bureaux and from supply showrooms. The noble Baroness will know that pricing structures are shown on the back of bills and accounts. She will also recall that the accounts are sent to landlords, that is, the first buyer of the supply, rather than to the tenants.
§ Baroness Fisher of RednalMy Lords, may I ask the noble Lord if he will make quite sure that it is placed in post offices, where many of the people who are compelled to accept social security payments are also those who are paying high costs for their electricity? It would be advantageous if the leaflet were placed in post offices.
§ Lord Lucas of ChilworthMy Lords, I note what the noble Baroness says, but of course I cannot dictate to the Post Office what should be disseminated through their offices. I shall certainly see that both the Department of Energy and the Post Office are made aware of the request of the noble Baroness.
Lord Bruce of DoningtonMy Lords, in view of the seriousness of the matter raised by the noble Baroness, would the noble Lord consider advising that press publicity in the shape of some ordinary advertisements be given to these matters, in order that the public at large may be far more widely aware of their rights than at present appears to be the case?
§ Lord Lucas of ChilworthMy Lords, there have been advertisements in journals and newspapers, as well as on the radio and television.