§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Energy what percentage of consumers in each area electricity board in the United Kingdom were eligible for the electricity discount scheme in 1977; what percentage of those eligible actually claimed in 1977; and what steps are being taken in 1978 to ensure a higher take up rate.
§ Dr. John CunninghamInformation about recipients of supplementary benefit and family income supplement, the two groups eligible under the electricity 349W discount scheme, is not available in a form enabling a comparison to be made with the number of domestic consumers supplied by each area electricity board. In the United Kingdom generally an estimated 12 per cent. of all consumers directly billed by electricity boards were able to claim, and of these nearly 70 per cent. received a discount.
Under the first part of the 1978 scheme a £5 special electricity payment was made to all recipients of these allowances in the week beginning 16th January. The second part offers an additional discount on electricity charges over £20 to eligible consumers on production of an electricity board bill or statement and requires a claim to be made. We hope that the wider publicity arranged for this year will produce a high level of take-up.
§ Mr. Onslowasked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what estimate he has made of the number of households in England and Wales in which more than one person will have been paid the special £5 electricity payment for the week beginning 16th January; and what is the consequent cost to public funds;
(2) what estimate he has formed of the number of households in England and Wales in which a recipient of supplementary allowance, supplementary pension or family income supplement will be able to claim a discount on their electricity bill, in spite of the fact that one or more other members of the same household has already received the special £5 electricity payment; and what is the consequent cost to public funds.
§ Dr. John CunninghamIt is not possible to make these estimates from the information available. However, only a small proportion of the 3.1 million beneficiaries who received these payments are non-householders.