§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will take steps to ensure that area electricity boards make available prepayment meters in cases where the consumer is in debt or on a quarterly account.
§ Mr. Norman LamontAs I announced to the House on 8 December—[Vol. 995, c. 435.]— area electricity boards have agreed to make prepayment meters more widely available and the industry's code of practice has been amended to make this clear. The only critieria now governing the installation of prepayment meters is that these be safe and practical. I understand that area boards are all applying these criteria, but decisions in individual cases as to safety and practicality must be for them to judge.