§ Mr. Sillarsasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list all the measures taken by the present Administration to assist people to meet their electricity accounts.
§ Dr. John A. CunninghamThis Administration has shown particular concern about the impact of electricity prices on people with low incomes and published the reports on "Energy Tariffs and the Poor" and "A Review of Collection Methods for Gas and Electricity Bills" earlier this year. Following discussions with the Government arising out of these studies the electricity industry recently adopted a code of practice on the payment of domestic electricity bills. Substantial increases have been made in pensions and other allowances. The heating additions for supplementary benefit recipients with extra heating needs have also been increased and the number in payment, which is over a million, has doubled in the past three years. Special arrangements have been made for consumers in receipt of supplementary benefit who are in difficulty over electricity bills to have weekly sums deducted from their allowances and paid directly to the electricity board. The Government have allocated £25 million to provide for the discounting of electricity bills during part of the winter for consumers in receipt of supplementary benefit or family income supplement.