§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the estimated 794W cost of administering the 1978 electricity discount scheme; and how this compares with the preceding year.
§ Dr. John CunninghamEstimated administrative costs for the 1978 scheme compared with those for the 1977 scheme are as follows:
1977 1978 £ £ Post Office charges 994,000 1,100,000 Contribution to Electricity Board costs — 280,000 Printing and publicity 98,000 250,000 1,092,000 1,630,000 It was agreed to make a token payment of £20,000 to each area electricity board in recognition of additional costs incurred by them in operating the 1978 scheme.
The publicity budget for the 1978 scheme was substantially increased in response to appeals from the welfare and voluntary organisations that the scheme receive wider publicity.
§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for Energy how many electricity consumers have now claimed discount vouchers in respect of consumption during the March quarter; at what total cost; and how these figures compare with the same period of 1977.
§ Dr. John CunninghamProvisional figures show that almost 700,000 consumers have claimed discount totalling £5.2 million on electricity board bills based on meter readings due in the first quarter of this year. 1.6 million claims, amounting to £11 million, were lodged under the 1977 scheme, but over half of them were in respect of bills of £20 or less and under the 1978 scheme would have attracted only the £5 payment made in January.
Post Offices ceased to issue 1978 discount vouchers on 30th June, but area electricity boards will continue to accept vouchers up to 31st July.