§ 63. Sir G. Nabarroasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, having regard to the deliberations by the Electricity Council into electricity billing since the recent suicide which arose from a deliberately inflated bill submitted to Mrs. Ann Hemmingway by the East Midlands Electricity Board, what steps have now been reported to him by the Electricity Council, in accordance with his earlier request to avoid the recurrence of such a calamity.
§ Mr. Tom BoardmanI do not accept the implication in the Question that this unfortunate incident was the direct result230W of action by the East Midlands Electricity Board.
As my hon. Friend knows, I have an assurance from the Electricity Council that the practice of exaggerated and deliberate inflation of accounts is not being and will not be followed by any board.
The Electricity Council's review covers billing and collection procedures generally and I have received a progress report. Details of measures being or to be adopted vary from board to board according to local circumstances.