HC Deb 04 August 1972 vol 842 cc225-6W
Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many electricity meter test requests were outstanding on 30th June, 1972; and how many of these had been outstanding for periods of more than three months and more than six months.

Mr. Emery

151 applications for meter dispute determinations were outstanding at 30th June, 1972. Of these 45 had been outstanding for more than three months and 24 for more than six months. Because of the unsatisfactory nature of these figures, steps are already in train to increase the staff on this work in order to reduce the backlog of outstanding cases.

Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many gas meter test requests were outstanding on 30th June, 1972; and how many of these had been outstanding for periods of more than three months and more than six months.

Mr. Emery

I assume my hon. Friend refers to gas meters whose accuracy has been disputed. There were 874 such meters awaiting examination at official DTI testing offices on 30th June, 1972, none of which had been waiting for more than three months. Information about the periods outstanding between first request for a meter examination and the meter's delivery to a testing office could only be provided by the area gas board concerned.