HC Deb 15 December 1978 vol 960 cc480-1W
Mr. Cartwright

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many consumers of (a) gas and (b) electricity were disconnected for non-payment of accounts during the eight most recent quarters for which figures are available indicating, where possible, the numbers of domestic consumers.

Dr. John Cunningham:

The information is as follows:

Quarter ended Gas Electricity
31st December 1976 9,408* 24,873†
31st March 1977 6,327* 13,593†
30th June 1977:
Domestic 9,835 23,961†
Non-Domestic 100
30th September 1977:
Domestic 13,480 28,509†
Non-Domestic 137
31st December 1977:
Domestic 9,694 17,587†
Non-Domestic 155
31st March 1978:
Domestic 7,375 18,008†
Non-Domestic 105
30th June 1978:
Domestic 8,845 27,103†
Non-Domestic 139
30th September 1978:
Domestic 9,387 24,295†
Non-Domestic 136
* Total disconnections—Separate figures for domestic and non-domestic not available.
† Domestic consumers only—Separate figures for non-domestic not available.

Mr. Cartwright

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many domestic consumers were disconnected by each of the area gas and electricity boards following non-payment of accounts during the most recent quarter for which figures are available.

Dr. John Cunningham:

Disconnections of domestic electricity and gas consumers for non-payment of accounts in each Electricity Area Board and Gas Region for the quarter ended 30th September 1978 were as follows:

Area Electricity Board
London 3,223
South-Eastern 937
Southern 975
South-Western 630
Eastern 1,882
East Midlands 2,688
Midlands 2,650
South Wales 742
Merseyside and North Wales 2,919
Yorkshire 2,951
North Eastern 1,600
North Western 3,098
24,295
Gas Region
Scottish 497
Northern 1,105
North-Western 2,159
North-Eastern 650
East Midlands 1,018
West Midlands 1,224
Wales 260
Eastern 503
North Thames 767
South-Eastern 779
Southern 335
South Western 90
9,387