§ Mr. Rostasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the differences in the statutory obligations of the nationalised gas and electricity industries which relate to the provision of supplies to households; and what would be the cost to British Gas if it were obliged to include as many households within its supply area, as is the Central Electricity Generating Board.
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§ Dr. John CunninghamThese obligations are set out in detail in Section 2 of and Schedule 4 to the Gas Act 1972, Section 1(2) of the Electricity Act 1947 and Section 27(1) of the Electric Lighting (Clauses) Act 1899.
The main provisions are that the gas industry has the duty to satisfy so far as it is economical to do so all reasonable demands for gas in Great Britain; the electricity industry has the duty, through its electricity boards, to carry out an efficient and economical distribution of supplies to persons in their area who require them; and that when requested, both industries are required to supply the owner/occupier of premises situated within a specified distance—25 yds. for gas, 50 yds. for electricity—of an existing distribution main currently in use. The cost for which the hon. Member asks is not known.
§ Mr. Rostasked the Secretary of State for Energy how many households are outside the national grid electricity supply area.
§ Dr. John CunninghamThe great majority of premises of all types in England and Wales are connected to the distribution networks of the area electricity boards. Premises for which an electricity supply is not available are estimated to number between 2,000 and 3,000 only and are overwhelmingly situated in extremely remote areas.
Electricity supply in Scotland is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.
§ Mr. Rostasked the Secretary of State for Energy what proportion of the costs of new connections of gas and electricity to households is met by British Gas and the Central Electricity Generating Board, respectively, and what proportion is met by the customer.
§ Dr. John CunninghamThis is a complex subject, on which I am therefore asking the Chairmen of the British Gas Corporation and the Electricity Council to write to the hon. Member.