§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will introduce legislation to provide that electricity or gas supplies can only be disconnected from a dwelling as defined in the Rent Act after the obtaining of a court order.
§ Mr. BennThe industries are starting to exercise their discretion in a sensitive and humane manner. But powers to safeguard the interests of the majority of their consumers against those who deliberately defer payment of their bills are necessary.
§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will issue a general direction to regional gas and electricity boards requiring full consultation with local offices of the Department of Health and Social Security and local authority social services departments before supplies to households including retirement pensioners or young children are disconnected for non-payment of accounts.
§ Mr. BennBoth industries have assured me in meetings this week that their local offices are under close instructions to refer to the local social services all cases where it is possible that genuine hardship would result from disconnection. The cases in question include households where there were retirement pensioners, sick or disabled persons and families with young children.