HC Deb 08 July 1975 vol 895 cc93-4W
26. Mr. Tierney

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she is satisfied with the liaison arrangements which exist between her Department and the electricity boards to avoid power disconnections in genuine cases of hardship.

Mr. Meacher

The liaison arrangements were designed to identify cases of particular hardship and to assist the Department's local offices, and the local authority, to consider what special action, if any, is required. They appear to be serving this function satisfactorily, since we have no evidence of any significant volume of complaints about the liaison of arrangements themselves. If, however, my hon. Friend has a particular case of difficulty in mind, I shall be glad to look into it. The question of consultation is of course quite different from that of help to pay fuel debts.