§ Mr. Tierneyasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will seek powers to control the estimated increase in the numbers of disconnections of energy supplies due to non-payment by the winter of 1975–76.
§ Mr. John SmithNo. I have not seen any reason to suggest that the number of disconnections is likely to increase. The industries disconnect only when bills have remained unpaid for a number of weeks. There are already arrangements to deal with cases of genuine hardship.