HC Deb 13 October 1975 vol 897 cc646-8W
Mr. Teddy Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many households have had gas and electricity supplies, respectively, cut off because of the non-payment of accounts in the most recent annual period for which figures are available; and by what percentage these figures have increased or fallen compared with five years previously.

Mr. Benn

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 4th August 1975; Vol. 897, c. 21], gave the following information:

I wrote to the Chairman of the Electricity Council on 4th August as follows:

Sir Peter Menzies,

Chairman,

The Electricity Council,

30 Millbank,

S.W.1.

4th August 1975.

At our meeting last week we discussed the difficulties which the substantial increases in electricity prices announced earlier this year could cause, particularly in the coming winter, for consumers with low incomes.

I was pleased to learn that the Electricity Boards are already reviewing their arrangements for enabling consumers to spread the payment of their electricity bills and for informing consumers of the ways in which they could do this. Monthly budget schemes, weekly payments, savings stamps which can be bought at the electricity showrooms, can all help the consumer to plan his or her expenditure. You confirmed that the Boards would continue to provide pre-payment meters, although in many cases other forms of payment would be more suitable and convenient.

I was concerned that there might be cases where, despite the Boards' easy payment facilities, people might for one reason or another find themselves at the end of a quarter with a large bill to pay and insufficient money to be able to do so at once. You assured me that only a very small percentage of consumers were disconnected for non-payment of their bills and that disconnections would not take place in genuine hardship cases where there was an undertaking to pay off debt by regular instalments and to keep up with future payments, and similarly in such circumstances a cash deposit would not generally be required. You also described the way in which the Area Boards kept in close contact with local social services and Supplementary Benefit Commission liaison officers and with the voluntary associations, so that consumers suffering real difficulties might be given suitable help or guidance.

I know that the Boards will continue to exercise their responsibilities in a sympathetic and helpful manner. But I would be grateful if you would convey to them my particular concern about the problems which some consumers may face in the coming winter. I would ask them to do all they can to make it easier for consumers to pay their bills and to resolve cases of genuine hardship with sympathy and understanding. I hope that disconnections will be deferred until every possible effort has been made to avoid such action; and certainly until the circumstances have been examined and means of help have been explored.

He replied on 5th August as follows:

The Rt. Hon. Anthony Wedgwood Benn, MP,

Secretary of State for Energy,

Department of Energy,

Thames House South,

Millbank,

London,

SW1P 4QJ.

5th August 1975.

Dear Tony,

I have circulated copies of your letter of 4th August to Area Board Chairmen. Electricity Boards are already reviewing their arrangements for enabling consumers to spread the payment of electricity bills, and their procedures on disconnections. I am confident that they will bear your comments in mind. The Boards will, however, need to take all reasonable steps to recover the bills that are due to them, if only in fairness to the general body of consumers who pay promptly.

Sir Peter Menzies.