§ Q27. Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Prime Minister if she will introduce legislation to prevent the public utilities from making a standing charge for the provision of services to those of their customers who receive retirement pensions.
§ The Prime MinisterNo. Standing charges are related to the basic costs of providing a supply or service and are not intended to take account of individual consumers' financial circumstances. Help is, however, available through supplementary benefit arrangements in relation to some charges for retirement pensioners who find difficulty in meeting them, and local authorities are empowered to assist with telephone rental charges in certain cases.