§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What representations they have received from Age Concern and others about the proposed ending of urban gas supplies in Northern Ireland; what has been their response; whether "least cost conversion" is adequate and what steps they are taking to prevent hardship to handicapped, elderly and unemployed consumers.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland Office (Lord Lyell)A number of statutory bodies and voluntary organisations, including Age Concern, the Right to Fuel (Northern Ireland) Group and the Retirement Association of Northern Ireland, have contacted the Department of Economic Development as part of the consultative process on the Draft Gas (Northern Ireland) Order following its publication for comment on 7th March.
These representations have concentrated on the Government's proposals for a Gas Conversion Assistance Scheme and, in particular, have sought to direct Government attention to the needs of the elderly and handicapped. Attention has been focused on the desirability of adequate advice and information for consumers in those categories and on the need for grant levels to take account of the suitability or otherwise of certain fuels for the less able consumers.
The Government have made clear their willingness to examine these matters in discussion with organisations such as Age Concern. In announcing their proposals for the Gas Conversion Assistance Scheme, the Government have emphasised that while the principle of "least cost conversion" will apply, the scheme is intended to be sufficiently flexible to cope with any particular needs or difficulties which may arise.