§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what contact his Department has had with the North-West Electricity Board over helping blind people to distinguish meter readers calling at their homes from people whose purpose is theft; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisMy hon. Friend will be glad to learn that, following consultation I have had with the North-Western Electricity Board, all electricity boards in the country are now to participate in a scheme for helping blind people to identify the boards' meter readers. All blind people wishing to be included in the scheme will be helped to identify genuine meter readers through the use of a mutually agreed password, or similar arrangement, in each individual case. I warmly congratulate the North-Western Electricity Board on its initiative, and have asked for publicity to be given to what is now a national scheme in all journals available to blind people. I hope that everyone in contact with blind people will help by drawing this new safeguard to their attention as soon as possible.