§ Mr. Elystan Morganasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will amend by subsequent orders the Electrical Heating (Restriction) Order 1973 so as to allow the electrical heating of churches and chapels and other places of worship for religious services ;
(2) if he will consult with leaders of religious denominations in Great Britain as to hardship caused to religious congregations by the banning of electrical heating in churches and chapels under the Electrical Heating (Restriction) Order 1973.
Mr. Mat-Arthurasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will permit the use of electric heating in churches for a reasonable period before and during church services; and if he will also permit the use of electric heating for buildings in which Sunday schools are held.
§ Mr. McGuireasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will amend the Electrical Heating (Restriction) Order 1973 so as to enable places of religious worship which have as their only form of heating electric underfloor heating to use electricity for such purposes during the hours of restriction.
§ Mr. Cormackasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will relax the emergency regulations regarding electric heating so as to enable places of worship heated by electricity to use their appliances on Sundays.
§ Mr. Tom BoardmanI have issued a licence authorising the consumption of electricity for the purpose of heating any premises for use as a church, chapel or other place of worship or religious education for not more than six hours in any206W period of seven days. This is in addition to night storage heaters provided electricity for these is used only between 00.30 hours and 07.30 hours.