§ 23. Mr. Leadbitterasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give general directions to the appropriate nationalised industries not to cut off domestic energy supplies on Fridays in the winter months, in view of the hardship this can cause to families in the ensuing weekends.
§ Mr. EmeryA general direction would be inappropriate. The normal reason for reductions in gas pressure or electricity voltage, or actual disconnections, is that demand temporarily outruns capacity or a fault occurs in the distribution system. In such circumstances it is impossible to choose the exact day or time of reduction or to guarantee that domestic consumers will not be affected.