§ Mr. Sillarsasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he is able to estimate, by region, the amount of electricity bill arrears in each of the past two years.
§ Dr. John CunninghamThe electricity industry in Scotland and Northern Ireland is the responsibility of my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Northern Ireland respectively. With reference to those regions falling within my Department's responsibility, the debt owed to each area electricity board for electricity and work done is set out218W in the Electricity Council's statement of accounts for 1976–77, as follows:
DEBTORS (LESS PROVISION FOR BAD AND DOUBTFUL DEBTS) Electricity (consumption read in year) and work done £'000 at 31st March Area Board 1977 1976 London 68,636 52,399 South Eastern 35,351 30,144 Southern 45,927 37,209 South Western 24,085 19,396 Eastern 53,293 45,544 East Midlands 38,751 30,897 Midlands 51,383 43,236 South Wales 23,375 19,126 Merseyside and North Wales* 30,408 25,675 Yorkshire 56,413 48,046 North Eastern 31,436 26,588 North Western 40,386 34,232 Total 499,444 412,492 * Comprises part of England and part of Wales