§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Energy what was the total world energy production in million tons of coal equivalent during each of the last three years; and what proportion was provided by coal and lignite, crude oil, natural gas and primary electricity, respectively.
§ Mr. BennThe latest energy production figures for the whole world relate to 1973 and are published by the United Nations. Production in that year and the two preceding years was:
pensioner disconnections on 16th February 1976.
§ Mr. EadieMy right hon. Friend expressed to the gas and electricity industries last summer our concern about the effects of higher tariffs during the winter months on certain sections of the community and they responded very helpfully. The need for further reassurance for pensioner households during the cold weather became apparent following representations from a wide range of welfare orgainsations and individuals and my right hon. Friend of course spoke to the industries again before making his statement to the House on 16th February.—[Vol. 905, c. 938–43.]
§ Mr. Mike Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will list in the Official Report the changes in the electricity and gas boards' methods of working as far as poorer consumers are concerned, referred to by the noble Lord, Lord Lovell-Davis on 16th February 1976.
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§ Mr. EadieThe changes over the last six or seven months include the extension of easy payment schemes; the acceptance of undertakings to pay by regular instalments rather than requiring security deposits; the introduction of gas saving stamps and wider availability of electricity saving stamps; the provision of prepayment meters on request in all suitable cases and an increase in the discretion given to electricity disconnectors not to disconnect where genuine hardship seemed likely but to report such cases so that the social services would be brought in.
§ Mr. Mike Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will now extend the concession on disconnection of electricity and gas supplies announced on 16th February to households which consist exclusively of pensioners and/or persons living on social security benefits and their children under 16 years of age.
§ Mr. EadieThe Supplementary Benefits Commission and the electricity and gas industries have agreed arrangements to help to avoid disconnection for people entitled to supplementary benefit, where hardship would result.