§ Mr. Dudley Smithasked the Minister 0of Technology if he will list each of the individual Gas Boards which have completed their natural gas conversion programmes, or are still undertaking them, together with the number of complaints they have each received from individual consumers about inadequate conversion work.
Mr. Alan WilliamsAll Area Boards have begun their programmes except the Scottish and South Western Boards316W which are due to begin this year. Information in the form asked in the second part of the question is not readily available, but at present, on average about 1 in 5 of all conversions require some further attention.
§ Mr. Dudley Smithasked the Minister of Technology if he will list those major cities of England and Wales which have already been converted to natural gas; and if he will state the latest approximate date when the nationwide conversion programme will have been completed.
Mr. Alan WilliamsCambridge is the largest city which has so far been completely converted to natural gas. For most consumers the conversion should be completed by 1975, but the completion of the whole programme may take a further 3 to 5 years.
§ Mr. Dudley Smithasked the Minister of Technology whether, in view of the number of complaints being made about unsatisfactory natural gas conversions, he will appoint a senior member of his permanent staff to co-ordinate and review the nationwide operation.
Mr. Alan WilliamsNo. We are in close touch with the industry on the programme, but responsibility for its coordination and for keeping it under review lies with the Gas Council.
§ Mr. Dudley Smithasked the Minister of Technology if he will give a general direction to the gas boards to ensure that where workmen are required to call back to individual natural gas conversions on a number of occasions because of unsatisfactory working, the customer should not be charged for this service, irrespective of the time which has elapsed since the conversion took place.
Mr. Alan WilliamsNo. I am informed that area boards do not set a time limit to the period during which follow-up service, clearly attributable to conversion, is carried out free of charge.
§ Mr. Dudley Smithasked the Minister of Technology whether he will give a general direction to the gas boards to arrange for a special leaflet to be compiled and distributed to all households converted to natural gas usage, explaining how supplies of the new gas can 317W be adjusted, so that individual consumption is not increased as compared with town gas formerly used for the same household functions.
Mr. Alan WilliamsNo. I am informed that a Gas Council booklet on the use of appliances converted to natural gas is being prepared and will be available to area boards for distribution to their consumers.