§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he is aware of the present position whereby gas and electricity boards make a minimum charge whether the customer consumes his minimum supply or not; and, as this is inflationary and harmful to those who try to conserve their use of these services, if he will give a general direction to the boards to end this practice so as to safeguard people from having to pay money for services not received.
§ Mr. MarshI have been asked to reply.
The gas and electricity boards, design their tariffs in consultation with the gas and electricity consultative councils. Minimum charges are designed to recover the inescapable costs of providing a supply no matter how little gas or electricity is used.