§ Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Energy what figures are available for the number of fires, accidents and deaths arising from the use of alternative heating and lighting arrangements following the cutting off of electricity supplies; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Energy what are the latest figures available for the number of people whose electricity supply was cut off due to non-payment of bills.
§ Mr. BennThere were 120,000 disconnections of domestic, commercial, small industrial and other small and medium-sized consumers in the year 1974–75. There is as yet no sign of any change in the incidence of disconnections since then. I have discussed the problem of hardship with the electricity supply and gas industries with a view to alleviating the problems that may arise this winter.