§ Mr. Hoyleasked the Secretay of State for Social Services if he will introduce new measures to counter hardships in low income families who are without heat or light due to fuel disconnections.
§ Mr. WhitneyWe have no plans at present to introduce new measures to help low income families whose fuel supplies have been disconnected. The Government already provide substantial help through the social security system with the cost of fuel, including supplementary benefit heating additions on which we expect to spend some £400 million this financial year. The fuel industries have a range of schemes to help consumers pay bills in instalments and their present code of practice makes special provision for those with low incomes. People receiving supplementary benefit can be given payments to cover the cost of having their fuel supplies reconnected and, where appropriate, to have a prepayment meter installed; they may be assisted through the fuel direct scheme to retain their fuel supply and to pay their debts in instalments. Local authority social services departments also have powers to provide advice and guidance and, in exceptional circumstances, to make payments to help avoid the need to take children into care because of lack of fuel supplies.