§ Mr. Mike Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Energy for how many months a code of practice on the disconnection of electricity and gas supplies to low income households has been under discussion with the electricity and gas boards.
§ Mr. BennI informed my hon. Friend on 2nd August that the Government had agreed that the gas and electricity industries should apply a code of practice designed to protect genuine hardship cases from disconnection. Details of these arrangements have since been under consideration by the two industries, their trade unions, and consumer councils and have been the subject of discussions with Ministers. The code is being published by the industries today. The industries' staffs will put its provisions into practice with all possible speed. Some of the provisions, notably the suspension of disconnection of pensioner households during the winter months, are already in operation. I am grateful to the Electricity Council for its part in harmonising the practices in the various electricity board areas and for the valuable contribution of the British Gas Corporation. I shall of course be taking a continuing interest in the operation of the code. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I are sure that the industries will show the greatest good will in acting in the spirit as well as the letter of this new code, which is as follows: